JPH10305382A - Beam catcher for laser processing and a processing device provided with beam catcher - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a means which secures a safety for operators even working mixed with a laser processing device, especially a three dimensional laser processing machine, by preventing the operators from being exposed to a transmitted laser diffusion of a laser penetration processing. SOLUTION: A laser processing beam catcher 3 is designed not to let the laser leak outside by absorbing the laser beam energy penetrated through a processing material 9 along the movement of a processing head 10 during the laser penetration processing, and is placed in opposition to a beam emitting nozzle 2 to receive the laser beam penetrated through the processing material 9 along the movement of the processing head 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a beam catcher for laser processing used in penetration processing such as laser welding and laser cutting, and a laser processing apparatus provided with the beam catcher.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional stationary laser processing apparatus, a laser processing head is usually mounted downward, and a sputter from a cutting member and a laser beam penetrating a workpiece are fixed to a box fixed on a floor surface. It was possible to catch it with a saucer in which Kenyama and so on were placed. In recent years, high-power three-dimensional laser processing machines that transmit high-level laser energy using optical fibers and perform processing in a free posture in combination with a robot have been actively developed. With a laser beam machine, it is extremely dangerous to work beside the laser beam machine because the direction of the laser beam is not fixed.Especially in laser welding and laser cutting, work is performed from the laser leaking through the plate to be processed. In order to protect the user, it was necessary to operate the laser beam machine in a separate room.

[0003]

However, a large number of laser processing machines are used in factories and sites, and the size of workpieces is increasing. A large space for isolating members has been required. In addition, there are cases where it is unavoidable for the operator to work on the machine side due to the necessity of installation and adjustment of the laser processing machine, or the need to teach work. There is a danger that laser exposure may occur. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a means that can ensure safety even when a laser processing machine and an operator work together.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is directed to a laser penetrating process, which receives a laser beam transmitted through a workpiece while following the movement of a processing head and absorbs energy to absorb external energy. Provided is a laser processing beam catcher that is prevented from leaking to a laser beam. According to the beam catcher for laser processing of the present invention, since the laser beam moves following the laser processing head, it is possible to receive a laser beam penetrating a workpiece with laser processing without escape. The beam catcher has a structure that absorbs the incident laser beam so as not to be reflected to the outside, and may be, for example, a fine mesh body, a plate member assembled in a lattice shape, or a refractory brick. Further, a special shape may be formed so as not to be reflected to the outside.

[0005] The beam catcher may be a metal pipe. The pipe shape can absorb energy while receiving the laser beam transmitted through the workpiece and reflecting the inner surface of the pipe many times. The metal pipe can conduct the absorbed laser energy well and increase heat dissipation. Further, a bent metal pipe may be used. Bending the pipe has the effect of making it difficult for the incident transmitted laser to leak out. further,
By providing a suction mechanism for sucking gas or spatter generated in the processing portion at the end of the pipe, the discharge pipe can be shared with the absorption pipe for the penetrating laser beam. Further, in order to more efficiently remove the heat energy absorbed by the beam catcher, a cooling mechanism such as an air cooling fin or a water cooling pipe can be added.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a laser processing apparatus according to the present invention includes the above-described laser processing beam catcher facing a laser beam emitting nozzle, and performs laser processing on a laser beam transmitted through a material to be processed. It is characterized in that it receives energy with a beam catcher for use and absorbs energy. Even when the laser beam emission direction changes three-dimensionally during processing or adjustment with a laser processing machine that performs laser penetration processing such as welding and cutting, a beam catcher always exists at the position facing the laser emission nozzle As a result, the laser beam transmitted through the workpiece is absorbed, so that even if the worker is near, the accident of being exposed to the laser beam can be prevented, and the worker is safe.

[0007] The laser processing apparatus of the present invention can include a shield gas blowing mechanism. If there is a shield gas spraying mechanism, the laser-processed portion can be shielded by atmosphere during laser welding and protected from oxygen in the air to perform welding. Further, a vacuum exhaust mechanism may be provided. With the vacuum evacuation mechanism, it is possible to perform welding under reduced pressure while maintaining the atmosphere of the laser processing portion at a low vacuum during laser welding. Further, the laser processing apparatus of the present invention may be provided with a suction mechanism to collect cutting chips and spatter generated during laser cutting.

In the laser processing apparatus of the present invention, the laser processing beam catcher may be integrated with the laser processing head so as to face the laser beam emitting nozzle. In such a configuration, since the beam catcher always moves following the laser processing head, it is possible to receive the laser beam penetrating through the workpiece without escaping to the outside due to the laser processing. Note that the laser processing beam catcher may be provided independently of the laser processing head, and may be moved in synchronization with the movement of the laser processing head while maintaining a state facing the laser emission nozzle. According to the laser processing apparatus configured as described above, the beam catcher can be held at a position facing the laser emission nozzle even when laser processing is performed at a middle position of the workpiece.

As described above, according to the laser processing apparatus using the laser processing beam catcher of the present invention, even when the laser processing head takes an arbitrary position and posture during the processing, the beam catcher follows the processing material and follows the processing material. Since the transmitted laser light is absorbed and leakage to the outside is suppressed, there is little danger that the worker will be directly exposed to the laser light even if the operator performs work such as adjustment or robot work teaching on the machine side of the laser processing apparatus. In addition, the necessity of installing a laser processing robot in a separate room to work in isolation from humans is eased, and it is now possible for workers to coexist with each other. Become.

[0010]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a laser beam machining apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0011]

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a beam catcher of the present invention is installed in a laser processing head and a plate is cut. The laser processing head 10 includes a main body case 1, a laser emission nozzle 2, and a beam catcher 3.

The laser emission nozzle 2 contains an optical system therein, and converges and narrows a laser supplied through, for example, an optical fiber 4 and irradiates the workpiece 9 with the laser. A shield gas is supplied to prevent the workpiece 9 heated during laser welding from reacting with oxygen in the air, and a cutting gas is used to efficiently remove a workpiece melted during laser cutting. A gas supply pipe 5 for supplying gas is provided, and gas is blown from the tip of the laser emission nozzle 2. The beam catcher 3 is fixed to the main body case 1 with a fixing rod 6 so that the light receiving surface is located on the extension of the emission direction of the laser emission nozzle 2 so as to face the emission port of the nozzle 2. Laser processing is performed by sandwiching the workpiece 9 between the laser emission nozzle 2 and the beam catcher 3.

The beam catcher 3 has a structure that takes in a laser beam that has once entered and does not leak it to the outside. For example, the one shown in FIG. 2 is used. In this beam catcher 3, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), a plurality of plates 12 arranged in a lattice as shown in FIG. 2 (b) are charged in a frame 11 and an incident laser beam is reflected on the plate surface. It was guided to the back and trapped so as not to go outside. Note that the structure of the beam catcher 3 may have a funnel-shaped recess as shown partially cut in FIG. By forming a steep slope on the inner wall, it has a function similar to a blackbody furnace,
The energy of the incident beam is absorbed by the wall with each reflection and finally completely absorbed in the innermost part. Since the absorbed laser energy is converted into heat and heats the beam catcher 3, it is preferable to use air-cooled fins or forced circulation of cooling water when using high-energy laser light.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, a bottomed cylinder having a bottom made of a light absorber can be used as the beam catcher 3. The incident laser light is reflected by the inner wall of the cylinder, guided to the back, reaches the bottom, and is absorbed. As such a light absorber, a firebrick whose surface roughness is appropriately adjusted can be used. Further, those having a large number of deep valleys formed by innumerable sharp needles, such as a sword, have a high laser beam absorbing ability. If the cylinder has enough depth,
Even if the bottom is just a metal surface, the leakage of the laser beam is substantially negligible.

[0015]

Embodiment 2 FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the present invention. The laser processing head 20 of this embodiment has a structure in which a U-shaped tubular beam catcher 21 is integrated with a laser emission nozzle 22.
Is opposed to the emission port of the laser emission nozzle 22. Further, the U-shaped pipe of the beam catcher 21 also serves as an exhaust pipe 23, and a suction pipe 24 is attached to the other end. The suction tube 24 is formed of a bellows tube or the like and is connected to a vacuum device or the like (not shown). A laser beam used for processing is supplied from a laser oscillator (not shown) through, for example, an optical fiber 25 for guiding a laser beam. The laser processing head 20 is mounted on a robot arm by a mounting shaft 26, and can take any position and posture with respect to the workpiece.

The robot clamps the workpiece between the beam catcher 21 and the laser emission nozzle 22 and irradiates a laser beam to perform welding and cutting. The laser beam transmitted through the workpiece during laser processing enters the opening of the beam catcher 21 and is repeatedly reflected on the inner wall of the U-shaped pipe while absorbing energy and attenuated by the pipe. The beam catcher 21 bends the laser light as soon as it enters, and sends it to the back of the pipe, so that the laser light that has entered once does not leak out of the beam catcher. This shape reliably absorbs the laser energy because the pipe for reflecting the laser light is long.

Further, since the opening of the beam catcher 21 is located very close to the workpiece, vacuum evacuation for maintaining the atmosphere of the Uranami weld at a vacuum by penetration welding of laser welding or the like, It is possible to easily perform the suction of the gas in the processing portion and the collection of chips (sputter), dross, fume, and the like during laser cutting. In addition, it is also possible to use the U-shaped tube of the beam catcher 21 as a shield gas supply tube to shield the atmosphere of the Uranami weld.

[0018]

Third Embodiment FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view showing a third embodiment of the present invention. The laser processing head 30 of the present embodiment has a structure in which a beam catcher 31 and a laser emission nozzle 32 are connected by a fixed arm 33.
The light receiving surface is disposed so as to face the emission port of the laser emission nozzle 32. Therefore, the laser beam transmitted through the workpiece during laser processing is not collected and leaked to the outside without missing. The beam catcher 31 can use various types as in the above embodiment,
The figure shows a case where a bottomed cylinder packed with a grid-like plate is used.

The fixed arm 33 has a mechanism for adjusting the distance between the beam catcher 31 and the laser emission nozzle 32 and a roller 34 that can move the workpiece while suppressing the workpiece. Radiation nozzle 32
Make sure that the machining position does not become unstable. Further, the laser emission nozzle 32 jets a cutting gas through the periphery of the laser focusing optical system 36. The beam catcher 31 may include an air-cooled fin that easily dissipates the absorbed heat.

[0020]

Embodiment 4 FIG. 6 is a side view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The beam catcher 41 of this embodiment is mounted on a robot independent of the robot equipped with the laser emission nozzle 42, tracks the laser emission nozzle 42 and moves in synchronization with the same, so that the light receiving surface of the beam catcher 41 always emits laser light. The nozzle 42 is opposed to the ejection port. Rollers 43 and 4 are used to smooth the movement of both.
4 are arranged so as to face each other with the workpiece 45 interposed therebetween.

[0021]

Embodiment 5 FIG. 7 is a side view showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The beam catcher 51 of this embodiment moves in synchronism with the laser emission nozzle 52 so that the light receiving surface always receives the laser light transmitted through the workpiece 53. A suction device 55 is connected to the beam catcher 51 via an excretory tube 54. Beam catcher 51
Is provided close to the workpiece 53, so that fumes and dross generated in the processed portion can be effectively collected.

[0022]

As described above in detail, the laser processing beam catcher of the present invention and the laser processing apparatus provided with the beam catcher according to the present invention, when operating in a factory or on-site, cause a laser leaking through a workpiece. Since the light is caught and absorbed, the danger of the worker on the machine side being exposed to the laser light is reduced, and the safety in maintenance adjustment of the laser machining robot and work teaching is enhanced. Further, it is necessary to handle the laser processing apparatus in isolation from other workers, and there is an effect that the installation area can be saved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an operation state of an embodiment of a beam catcher of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a shape of a beam catcher applicable to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a beam catcher according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross section showing a third embodiment of the beam catcher of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the beam catcher of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing a fifth embodiment of the beam catcher of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body case of laser processing head 2, 22, 32, 42, 52 Laser emission nozzle 3, 21, 31, 41, 51 Beam catcher 4, 25 Optical fiber 5 Gas supply pipe 6 Fixing rod 9, 35, 45, 53 Cover Processing member 10, 20 Laser processing head 11 Frame 12 Lattice plate 23 Exhaust pipe 24 Suction pipe 26 Mounting shaft 33 Fixed arm 34, 43, 44 Roller 54 Excretion pipe 55 Suction device

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI B23Q 11/00 B23Q 11/00 M

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A laser processing beam catcher that receives a laser beam transmitted through a workpiece while absorbing the movement of a processing head in laser penetration processing and absorbs energy so as not to leak to the outside. 2. The laser according to claim 1, wherein the beam catcher is a metal pipe, and the transmission laser is received in the pipe and energy is absorbed while reflecting the inner surface of the pipe. Beam catcher for processing. 3. A beam catcher for laser processing according to claim 2, wherein said metal pipe is bent so that said transmitted laser does not leak out of said metal pipe. 4. A beam catcher for laser processing according to claim 2, wherein a suction mechanism is provided at an end of said metal pipe to suck gas or spatter from a processing portion. 5. The beam catcher for laser processing according to claim 1, further comprising a cooling mechanism for removing absorbed heat energy. 6. A laser beam catcher according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the beam catcher is provided to face a laser beam emitting nozzle so as to receive a laser beam transmitted through a workpiece and absorb energy. A laser processing apparatus for performing laser welding or laser cutting. 7. A laser processing apparatus having a beam catcher according to claim 6, further comprising a shield gas blowing mechanism for shielding an atmosphere of a laser processing portion during laser welding. 8. The laser processing apparatus having a beam catcher according to claim 6, further comprising a vacuum exhaust mechanism, wherein an atmosphere of the laser processing section is kept at a low vacuum during laser welding. 9. A laser processing apparatus provided with a beam catcher according to claim 6, further comprising a suction mechanism for collecting cutting chips generated during laser cutting. . 10. A laser processing apparatus provided with a beam catcher according to claim 6, wherein said laser processing beam catcher is integrated into a laser processing head. 11. The laser processing beam catcher is provided independently of the laser processing head, and moves in synchronization with the movement of the laser processing head while maintaining a state facing the laser beam emitting nozzle. Claim 6
A laser processing apparatus comprising the beam catcher according to any one of claims 1 to 9.