JPH04190987A - Laser beam machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify laser beam machining of blanks different in quality and thickness by providing a blank properties detecting means and an automatically deciding means for machining conditions which decides machining conditions correspondingly to the detected result in a laser beam machine. CONSTITUTION:In the blank W on a work table 6, each of the thickness and quality of the blank is detected by a blank thickness detector 12 and a blank quality detector 13 and inputted into the automatically deciding means 22 for machining conditions. By the automatically deciding means 22 for machining conditions a laser output command (b), a gas pressure regulating command (c), each blank feed speed command (d) in the X, Y directions are decided automatically from input values of these blank thickness and quality and outputted to a laser beam oscillator 1, a valve 8 and an arithmetic controlling part 16 of a numerical controller 14. When a command value of a laser output and a feed speed are inputted in a machining program 15, the automatically deciding means 22 for machining condition is outputted to correct the value.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a laser processing machine that performs processing such as cutting of a plate-shaped material.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in numerically controlled laser processing machines, an operator determines processing conditions depending on the material and inputs laser output, processing speed, assist gas pressure, etc. into a cutting program.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, there is a problem in that advanced knowledge is required to create a Canadian program taking these various conditions into account, and it cannot be operated by an inexperienced person.

Laser processing machines are becoming more popular due to their improved performance and lower prices, and it is expected that more and more small and medium-sized companies will install them in the future.

Therefore, it is thought that there will be more opportunities for people who are unfamiliar with the operation to use it, and there is a strong demand for improved operability.

An object of the present invention is to provide a laser processing machine that can be easily operated even by an inexperienced person.

[Means to solve the problem]

The configuration of this invention is shown in FIG.

This laser processing machine is provided with a material property detection means 14 and an automatic processing condition determination means 22 that determines processing conditions according to the detection results.

The material property detection means 14 is a means for detecting at least one of the thickness and material of the plate-shaped material W. The processing condition automatic determination means 22 has a control rule setting means 24, and according to the control rule, the processing including the output of the laser oscillator 1 and the relative feed rate of the material is determined according to the detection result of the material property detection means 14. Decide on conditions.

[For production]

According to this configuration, the thickness, material, etc. of the material are automatically detected by the material property detection means 14, and the detection results are input to the processing condition automatic determination means 22.

The processing condition automatic determining means 22 determines processing conditions such as the output of the laser oscillator 1 and the relative feed rate of the material from the input values in accordance with the set control rules.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of this invention will be described based on FIG. 2.

The laser oscillator 1 is a solid-state laser or gas laser type oscillator, and includes a decoder for decoding a laser output command based on an NC code and a high-frequency power source. Laser light generated by a laser oscillator 1 is guided from an irradiation head 5 to a workpiece W on a processing table 6 via an optical system consisting of a mirror 3 and a lens 4 in a beam duct 2. The irradiation head 5 has an assist gas nozzle, and assist gas such as oxygen gas is supplied to the gas lower part through a valve 8 and a pump 9. The mirror 3 is a half mirror that transmits part of the laser beam, and is provided with a laser output detector 26 that detects the laser output value from the transmitted light.

The work table 6 consists of an X and a Y table, and is equipped with an X-axis servo motor 10 and a Y-axis servo motor 11 for moving in the orthogonal X and Y directions, respectively.

[Material property detection means] 4 consists of a plate thickness detector 12 that detects the thickness of the material W on the work table 6, and a material detector 13 that detects the material of the material W. Plate thickness detector 12
For example, an eddy current thickness meter or a device that measures the material W by holding it therebetween is used. The material detector 13 determines whether the material W is a metal plate or a resin plate, or if it is a metal plate, whether it is a steel plate or a copper plate, and detects the current carrying resistance of the material W. It consists of multiple types of detectors that measure things such as capacitance and capacitance. The material detector 13 may detect the material in consideration of the plate thickness detection result of the plate thickness detector 12.

Next, the control system will be explained. The numerical control device 27 has an arithmetic control section 16 that analyzes and executes the machine program 15, and uses its shaft drive output to control each servo motor 10.1 of the work table 6 via the servo controller 17.
1 is controlled. The numerical control device 16 includes an interaction processing means 1
8, a display 19 and a keyboard 20 are provided, and it is possible to create a computer program 15 through manual interaction.

The programmable controller 21 includes a processing condition automatic determination means 22 consisting of a fuzzy controller and a sequence control section 25.

The sequence control unit 25 is a means for performing sequence control of the entire laser processing machine except for adjusting the laser output and gas pressure, and performs control according to the sequence control code a of the cannibal program 15 transferred from the numerical control device 27. .

The processing condition automatic determination means 22 is a means for automatically determining each processing condition according to the detection values of the plate pressure and material detectors 12 and 13 and the detection value of the laser output detector 26,
When a laser output command is issued, a gas pressure adjustment command C is output to the laser oscillator 1 and the valve 8, and a material feed speed command d is output to the numerical control device 27.

The processing condition automatic determination means 22 has a fuzzy inference means 23 and a rule setting means 24, and the rule setting means 24 has written therein a large number of control rules for performing inference.

An IF-THEN format rule is used for this control rule, and a label representing the degree within the rule is defined using a membership function. The contents of the control rules can be freely set according to various purposes. Further, the control rules are set at the time of installation or maintenance of the laser processing machine.

The operation of the above configuration will be explained. Canada program 15 includes:
The codes for laser output, assist gas pressure, and material feed speed may be omitted, or these values may be entered as predetermined values regardless of the type of material W.

Before the start of machining, the plate pressure and material of the workpiece W on the work table 6 are detected by the plate pressure detector 12 and the material detector 13, respectively, and are input to the processing condition automatic determining means 22.

The processing condition automatic determination means 22 automatically determines a laser output command, a gas pressure adjustment command C1, and each material feed speed command d in the X and Y directions from these input values of plate pressure and material,
It is output to the laser oscillator 1, the valve 8, and the arithmetic control section 16 of the numerical control device 14. When the laser output command value and feed rate are input to the cutting program 15, the automatic machining condition determining means 22 outputs so as to correct the values.

Detection by the laser output detector 26 is performed throughout the processing or at any time, and the detected value is used for error correction with the laser output command value.

Since the processing conditions of this laser processing machine are automatically determined in this way, it is no longer necessary to input the program such as the output of the laser oscillator 1 and the feed rate of the material W depending on the thickness and material of the material W. Become. Therefore, even those who are unfamiliar with the operation can easily perform laser processing on materials of various materials and thicknesses.

In addition, although the work table 6 consisting of an X and Y table was used in the above embodiment, a laser beam may be used for scanning. In that case, the command value of the scanning speed is automatically determined by the processing condition automatic determination means 22.

Further, the material property detection means 14 may be provided on a material carrying path (not shown) to the work table 6.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The laser processing machine of the present invention is equipped with a material property detection means for detecting the thickness and material quality of the material, and an automatic processing condition determining means for determining processing conditions according to the detection results. It is no longer necessary to input the relative feed speed and other information into programs depending on the thickness and material of the material. Therefore, even those who are not familiar with the operation can easily perform laser processing on materials of various materials and thicknesses.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the invention. I... Laser oscillator, 5... Irradiation head, 6...
Work table, 8... Valve, 10.11... Servo motor, 12... Plate pressure detector, 13... Material detector, 14... Material property detection means, 21... Programmable controller , 22... Processing condition automatic determination means, 23... Fuzzy inference means, 24... Rule setting means, 25... Sequence control means, 27... Numerical control device, b... Laser output command , C... Gas pressure adjustment command, d... Feed speed command Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] It has a material property detection means for detecting at least one of the thickness and material quality of the material, and a control rule setting means, and the output of the laser oscillator and the material property are controlled according to the control rule according to the detection result of the material property detection means. A laser processing machine equipped with automatic processing condition determining means for determining processing conditions including relative feed speed.