JPH0431797B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a laser marking method for forming a mark on a workpiece using a laser beam.

(Prior art) When forming a predetermined mark on a workpiece using laser light, the laser light is irradiated onto a mask on which a pattern is formed, and the pattern is projected onto the surface of the workpiece using a lens. There are two methods: one method is to scan the surface of the workpiece with a laser beam, and the other method is to mark the surface of the workpiece with a single stroke.

In the case of the former method of projecting a pattern using a mask, the mask pattern can be freely formed by etching, so that complex-shaped marks can be easily and sharply marked. However, in order to mark a two-digit serial number, such as a lot number or a model number, using this method, two rotating masks 2 each driven by a motor 1 are required, as shown in FIG. must be used. Patterns 0 to 9 are formed on each rotating mask 2 at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction, and a through hole 3 is formed inside each pattern in the radial direction. The two rotating masks 2 are arranged so that the pattern of one rotating mask 2 overlaps the through hole 3 of the other rotating mask 2. Thereby, a two-digit number can be marked by irradiating a laser beam onto the pattern of one rotating mask 2 and the pattern of the other rotating mask 2 located in the through hole 3 inside the pattern. can.

However, according to this method, in the case of a two-digit serial number, 10 patterns must be formed on each rotating mask 2, which inevitably increases the size of the rotating mask 2 and increases the device size. This will lead to an increase in size. Furthermore, if you want to set the serial number to 3 or 4 digits, you will need 3 or 4 rotating masks, which not only increases the size of the device but also makes it mechanically complex. Become.

On the other hand, with the method of scanning a laser beam and marking with a single stroke, simple marks such as serial numbers can be marked relatively easily, but complex marks such as company marks and kanji can be marked relatively easily. Not only is it not easy to program for pattern scanning, but there are also problems such as not being able to draw lines smaller than the spot diameter of the laser beam, and corners becoming rounded, making it impossible to make high-quality markings.

Therefore, when it is necessary to mark marks that are simple in shape, such as serial numbers, but have many digits, and whose mask patterns are frequently replaced, and complex marks, such as company marks or kanji characters, together, This leads to larger equipment and more complicated work.
It was not possible to perform marking easily and reliably.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) As described above, although the shape of the conventional marking method is simple, it must be replaced frequently, multiple marks must be lined up, and the shape is complicated to scan with a laser beam. When it is necessary to mark together marks that are not frequently replaced, the work cannot be done easily and reliably.

This invention was made based on the above circumstances, and its purpose is to create a mark that is simple in shape but must be replaced frequently, requires multiple marks to be lined up, and a shape that is difficult to scan with laser light. It is an object of the present invention to provide a laser marking method that can easily and reliably mark marks that are complex and are replaced less frequently.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means and Effects for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a laser marking method in which a desired pattern is marked on an object by scanning a laser beam in a two-dimensional direction. , it has a pattern creation mode that uses a pattern mask and a pattern creation mode that uses a single stroke. As a result, marks with complex shapes are marked by forming them as patterns on the mask, and marks with simple shapes, such as serial numbers, are marked by scanning laser light.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 shows a marking device used in the laser marking method of the present invention,
This marking device includes a laser oscillator 11. As the laser oscillator 11, one that can provide a Q-switch output with a high peak power is suitable.

The laser beam L output from the laser oscillator 11 is focused by a condenser lens 12 and sent to the first mirror 1.
3. This first mirror 13 is rotatably driven by a first galvanometer scanner 14 which is a driving source. The laser beam L reflected by the first mirror 13 is transferred to the second mirror 1.
It is designed to be incident on 5. This second mirror 15 is rotatably driven by a second galvanometer scanner 16. 1st above
The rotation axes of the above-mentioned galvanometer scanner 14 and the above-mentioned second galvanometer scanner 16 are 90 degrees
They are arranged at different angles. Therefore, if the first mirror 13 is rotated by the first galvanometer scanner 14, the laser beam L incident thereon can be swung in the X direction, and the laser beam L incident thereon can be swung in the Therefore, by rotating the second mirror 15, the laser light L incident thereon can be swung in the Y direction.

The laser light L reflected by the second mirror 15 irradiates the workpiece 21 as an object via the relay lens 17, the mask 18, and the imaging lens 19. The mask 18 has a rectangular shape, and on the left side there is formed a pattern 22 such as "T NO", which is infrequently exchanged and has a complicated shape for scanning, and on the right side, a rectangular pattern 22 is formed. An opening 23 is bored.

The laser beam L reflected by the second mirror 15 is transmitted to the pattern 22 of the mask 18 or the opening 2.
3, the relay lens 17
The beam is made incident on the imaging lens 19 by the . The laser beam L made incident on the imaging lens 19 by the relay lens 17 is focused by the imaging lens 19 and irradiates the workpiece 21 .

The following procedure is used to mark the mark "T NO" (unchanged part) and the serial number "22" (changed part), which are replaced infrequently, such as "T NO22", using the marking device having the above structure. First, the laser beam L emitted from the laser oscillator 11 hits the area a surrounded by the chain line in FIG.
The rotation angles of the first mirror 13 and the second mirror 15 are controlled so as to scan in the direction. As a result, the laser beam L scans the entire portion a, so that the laser beam L passes through the pattern 22 formed on the mask 18 and is focused on the workpiece 21 by the imaging lens 19. imaged on top. Therefore, the mark m ₁ of "T NO" can be formed on this workpiece 21.

Next, the first mirror 13 and the second mirror 15
The rotation angle of the mask 18 is controlled so that the laser beam L is
The workpiece 21 passes through the opening 23 of the
Scan the serial number “22” on the top. Thereby, the mark m ₂ of the serial number "22" can be marked on the workpiece 19 next to the mark m ₁ of "T NO".

In other words, the mask 18 is used for parts that are replaced less frequently.
Since the pattern 22 is formed and the marking is made by scanning the pattern 22 with the laser beam L, the scanning range can be determined by specifying two points on the diagonal line, which is a simple programming operation.

In addition, because we designed parts that have a simple shape like a serial number and are frequently replaced to be marked by scanning the laser beam L in a single stroke, many masks are used as in the case of the mask method. This prevents the equipment from becoming larger and more complex, and from requiring time and effort to replace the mask, which reduces work efficiency.

Note that the order in which the workpiece is marked may be marked with a single stroke and then marked with a pattern, and there is no limitation in this respect. Also,
The means for rotating the mirror may be other means such as a motor. Furthermore, scanning is not limited to a galvanometer scanner, and scanning may be performed using a polygon mirror. Moreover, if this part is a translucent member, it is not necessary to form an opening. Alternatively, only a mask with an unchangeable portion formed thereon may be used.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, in the present invention, among patterns to be marked, a changed part that is frequently replaced is scanned according to the changed part, and an unchanged part that is replaced less frequently is scanned according to this unchanged part. The formed mask was scanned and marked. Therefore, when marking a mark with a complex shape and a mark with a simple shape but frequently replaced, it is possible to mark the former by a mask pattern and the latter by sharpening. , not only can you improve work efficiency, but also
This does not cause the device to become complicated or large.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a marking device showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mask,
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a marked workpiece, and FIG. 4 is a front view of a conventional rotary mask. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Laser oscillator, 14, 16... First and second galvanometer scanners, 13, 15... First and second mirrors, 18... Mask, 21... Workpiece, 22... Pattern , 23...opening.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A laser marking method in which a desired pattern is marked on an object by scanning a laser beam in two-dimensional directions, characterized by having a pattern creation mode that uses a pattern mask and a pattern creation mode that uses a single stroke. Laser marking method.