JPS60184488A - Method and device for laser working - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To transmit successively laser light to plural points and to work the plural parts by moving relatively the laser light and the input ends of optical transmission means and irradiating the laser light to the work in optional positions thereby working the work. CONSTITUTION:A laser working device is formed of a laser oscillator 21, plural optical transmission means (optical fibers 25a-25d) which receive the laser light 22 oscillated therefrom at input ends 26a-26d and transmit said light, a laser light shielding device 35 which shields and opens the laser light 22, condensing means 32a-32d which condense the laser light 22 and irradiate the same to works 40a-40d and a relative moving means 29. The laser light 22 and the optical fiber 25a-25d are relatively moved by such means 29 to irradiate the light 22 to the works 40a-40d in optional positions by which the works are worked.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a laser processing device, and particularly to a laser processing device that transmits laser light to multiple arbitrary positions using optical transmission means such as a plurality of optical fibers, and The present invention relates to a device for processing a workpiece.

[Technical background of the invention]

Conventionally, the laser beam from a single laser oscillation device is split into multiple parts and simultaneously transmitted to multiple arbitrary positions using an optical fiber or other optical transmission means, and the multiple processing parts of the workpiece are simultaneously irradiated and processed. Simultaneous multi-point processing is being performed. In addition, without dividing the laser beam into multiple parts, by relatively moving the laser beam and the input ends of the multiple optical transmission means, the laser beam is sequentially incident on the input ends, and the optical transmission means sequentially moves the laser beam to an arbitrary position. Sequential multi-point machining is also performed, in which the information is transmitted to the machine and multiple machining parts are machined. in this way.

As an application of laser light, efficient processing is performed by effectively utilizing the properties of laser light.

For example, in the above-mentioned machining technique, an example of an apparatus that sequentially performs multi-point machining is shown in FIG. (
1) is a laser oscillator, and a YAG laser is often used.

A laser beam (2) oscillated from this laser oscillator (1) has its optical path changed by a reflecting mirror (3).

The light is focused by a focusing lens (4). Laser light (2)
A plurality of optical fibers (5
a), (5b), (5C), (5d) input terminal (
6a), (6b), (6C), and (6d) are the holders (7
) is maintained by. In addition, the holder (7) is
It is connected to the Y table (8) and can freely move on a two-dimensional plane. On the other hand, optical fiber (5a)
~ (5d) output ends (9a), (9b), (9C
).

(9d) are output end holders (xoa), (1
0b), (100).

(10d). There is an output end (9a) inside these output end holders (10a) to (10d).
A condensing lens (lla) for condensing the laser light from ~(9d).

(llb), (llc), and (lid) are provided.

With such a device, for example two steel plates (one.

Suppose spot welding is to be performed at multiple points α■.

The welding method when
(10d) are positioned and fixed at the points to be welded on the steel plate (1). Then, the laser beam (2) is oscillated from the laser oscillator (1), and the X-Y table (8
) to operate the input ends (
The holder (force is moved in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 so that the laser beam (2) is incident on 6a) to 6d. At this time,
The laser beam (2) enters the input ends (6a) to (6d) at the point where it is condensed by the condenser lens (4).

Here, when the holder (force) moves in the direction of the arrow, the laser beam (2) first enters the input end (6a) and the optical fiber (
5a) and output from the output end (9a). After this, the laser beam (2) is condensed by a condensing lens (lla),
Then, irradiate point A on steel plate 02. Weld θ■. Next, the laser beam (2) enters the input end (6).

B directly below the condenser lens (ob) via the optical fiber (5b)
Weld the points in the same way. Furthermore, by moving the force in the direction of the arrow on the holder, the laser beam is sequentially transmitted to the input end (
5C) and (5d), and similarly weld points C and D sequentially.

In this way, by slightly shifting the force of the holder (121, (13)), welded the separate points A, B, C, and D of the steel plate (121, (13)) using one laser oscillator (1). Furthermore, since the moving speed of the holder (7) can be relatively high, there is an advantage that a plurality of points can be welded in a very short time.

[Problems with background technology]

However, the above-mentioned conventional technology has the following drawbacks. It inputs the laser beam (2) to the input end (6a
) to (6d), the holder (7) is moved while the laser beam (2) is oscillated. In this case, the laser beam (2) is transmitted from the input end (6a) to (6d
), the laser beam (2) scans the holder (7), and at this time the holder (7)
However, there were cases where it was destroyed due to heat. Furthermore, when the laser beam (2) scans and approaches the ends of the incident ends (6a) to (6d), the incident ends (6a) to (6d) themselves may be burned out. Optical fibers (5a) to (5d
) is generally made of quartz and has a core in the center and a clad layer around the periphery. If the laser beam (2) focused on such an optical fiber is applied to the cladding layer in the peripheral area instead of the central area, the cladding layer is often burnt out by the energy of the laser beam (2). Therefore, when using a conventional device, the output of the laser beam (2) is limited to the holder (7).
, input terminals (6a) to (6d) (D To prevent damage,
It was limited to relatively small items.

However, today, with the expansion of laser light applications, processing equipment that uses high-power laser light has also appeared.

Various types of processing are performed using high-power laser light. Therefore, there has been a desire for a processing apparatus using the above-mentioned method even when using a high-output laser beam.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made with attention to the above points, and it is possible to sequentially transmit laser light to a plurality of locations without damaging a part of the device even with a high output laser light.

An object of the present invention is to provide a laser processing device and a processing method that can efficiently process multiple parts of a workpiece.

[Summary of the invention]

In the present invention, the laser beam is moved relative to the input end of the optical transmission means, the laser beam is irradiated to either input end, the laser beam is transmitted to an arbitrary position by the optical transmission means, and the laser beam is transmitted at this position. The laser beam is irradiated onto the workpiece to process the workpiece, and at this time, if the laser beam is moving relative to the input end, the laser beam is blocked,
A laser processing apparatus and a processing method are characterized in that, if the laser light and the input end are positioned, the laser light is released from blocking and is made to enter the input end.

[Embodiments of the invention]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing this embodiment. Qυ is a laser oscillator, and the laser beam (A) oscillated from this laser oscillator eυ
A reflecting mirror (2nd floor) is provided on the optical path of the laser beam (2 beams), which changes the optical path, and a condensing lens (24) is provided on this optical path. Furthermore, below the condensing lens, there are four optical fibers (25a) and (25) made of quartz that serve as optical transmission means.
b), (25C), input end (26a) of (25d)
, (26b).

(26C) and (26d) are respectively cylindrical protectors (goods)
and are fixed to the holder t2 in a uniaxial manner. At this time, the input terminals (26a) to (2
6d) are each adjusted to the same height from the holder, but this is because the mounting of the cylindrical protector (27) can be adjusted by changing the height. In addition, the holder (c) is
- It is attached to the Y table (g) and can move within a two-dimensional plane, and can move relative to the laser beam (2).

Optical 7 fiber (25a) ~ (25d) (7) Output end (
30a), (30b).

(30C) and (30d) are cylindrical output end holders (
31a), (slb).

(31C) and (31d) are supported and fixed. The output end holders (31a) to (31d) include condensing lenses (a2a) and (32b) that condense the laser beams output from the output ends (30a) to (30d), respectively.
(32C) and (32d) are provided. In addition, the output end holders (31a) to (31d) are variable movement devices (a3a), (33b), (33C), (
33d) and is movable.

On the other hand, in front of the laser oscillator (21), a laser beam interrupter C35) made of a solenoid or the like is provided.

This laser beam interrupter 0!9 is equipped with a shirt plate (G),
By protruding this shutter plate onto the optical path of the laser beam (2), the laser beam (2) can be blocked.

Shirt plate (to) of such a laser beam interrupter C351
The opening and closing of is controlled by a control unit 07) consisting of a microcomputer or the like. In addition, this control unit 07) also includes a laser oscillator (21), an X-Y table top, and a variable movement device (
33a) to (33d), and can control these operations.

Next, the operation of the apparatus of this embodiment will be explained. As an example,
As shown in FIG. 2, a metal workpiece (40a),
It is assumed that processing is performed by irradiating the surfaces of (40b), (40C), and (40d) with laser light.

Is the control section 0 in Fig. 3? ) under the control of each party fiber (25
It is a figure which shows the transmission situation of the laser beam of a)-(25d), and the opening/closing situation of a laser beam interrupter (c). Ca>~ in Figure 3
(d) shows the laser beam transmission status of each party fiber (25a) to (25d), and (e) shows the opening/closing status of the laser beam interrupter (c).

In addition, ON in FIG. 3(e) is a state in which the shutter plate (G) protrudes and blocks the laser beam (2nd side), and OFF is a state in which the laser beam (2nd side) is released from being blocked.

First, the respective machining output end holders (31a) to (31d) of the workpieces (40a) to (40d) are positioned.

Further, at this time, the holder (21O) is set so that the input end (27a) is the optical axis of the condenser lens 04, that is, the optical axis of the laser beam (the optical axis of the second side is also located on the left side in the figure).

Here, the control unit (37) causes the laser oscillator (21) to oscillate a laser beam (2 odors), and also causes the laser beam interrupter 0 to oscillate.
The laser beam (2) is blocked by driving ω to turn it on and protruding the shutter plate (G). That is, the state is as shown in FIG. Therefore, the control unit 07) drives the X-Y table frame, moves the holder (goods) in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and moves the laser beam (2) relative to it.

When this holder (c) moves a predetermined distance, time 1
, it is assumed that the axis of the incident end (26a) and the optical axis of the condensing lens, that is, the optical axis between the laser beams coincide with each other.

At this time, the control unit 07) turns off the three laser beam interrupters as shown in FIG.
The movement of the holder Q is stopped by releasing the 2-kong and stopping the X-Y table kiln.

The released laser beam C2a has its optical path changed downward by the reflecting mirror (to), enters the condensing lens (24), and is condensed. At this time, as shown in FIG.
and output from the output terminal (30a). The beam diameter of this output laser beam (2) expands, but it is focused again by the condenser lens (3Za) and is focused on the workpiece (4).
Irradiate the processed part (A) of 0a). Here, the processing part (A
) is subjected to predetermined processing using a laser beam (2).

When the processing of the workpiece (40a) is finished at time t, the control unit 07) turns on the laser light interrupter (c) again to cut off the laser light Q and switch the X-Y table down. ) Move the holder (c) further in the direction of the arrow. This movement requires time 1. In this case, the incident end (27b) is located on the optical axis of the condenser lens. At this time, control unit 0
7) is the same as above, turning off the laser beam interrupter (G) to release the laser beam @ and stopping the holder ((G). In this state, the laser beam 021 is as shown in Fig. 3 (b).
As shown in FIG.
After the light is focused by the processing part (40b) of the workpiece (40b),
Process B).

When the processing of the workpiece (40b) is completed, the control unit 07) turns on the laser beam interrupter 05) to cut off the laser beam, and returns the holder to the incident end (27) as described above.
:) until it is located on the optical axis of the condenser lens. (Status from time t4 to 111) After that, by similar operations, the workpiece (40C), the processed part (C) of (40d),
After (D) is processed in the primary processing parts (A) to (D) K sequentially, when processing is performed at a different position,
The output end holders (31a) to (31d) are positioned at predetermined positions by the variable movement devices (33a) to (33d), respectively, and the p workpiece (408
) to (40d) may be sequentially irradiated with laser light and processed. In this case, the holder 0I111 is moved in the opposite direction to the arrow in FIG.

The incidence of the laser beam (2a) may start from the input end (26d).

As described above, in this embodiment, when the laser beam 04 and the incident ends (26a) to (26d) are moving relative to each other by moving the holding device using the X-Y table, the laser beam interrupter G9 is turned on to block the laser beam, and the optical axis of the condenser lens, that is, the optical axis of the laser beam (c) and the axes of the incident ends (26a) to (26d) are aligned. When the positioning is done,
Turn off the laser beam interrupter (C), release the C26 Peza light (A), and use the input end (26a) to If the holders (c) etc. are damaged, multi-point machining is now possible.Also, even if the laser beam is a continuous wave YAG laser with relatively low output.

Conventionally, when the light enters the peripheral part of the incident end (26Jl) to (26d), there are disadvantages such as abnormal heat generation in this part and the adhesion of the evaporated material generated, although small, to the incident end (26a) to (26d). was occurring. However, this embodiment eliminates the disadvantages of the fiber optic (2S).
Always stable laser beam transmission of a) to (25d) is realized.

In this example, the incident ends (26g) to (26d) are held by a holder (2 marks), and the laser beam (24 and the incident Although relative movement with the ends (26a) to (26d) was performed.

The incident ends (26a) to (26d) may be fixed and the reflecting mirror (23) and condensing mirror (24) may be moved.

In addition, the laser beam interrupter C3S is provided not only in front of the laser oscillator (2υ but also between the reflecting mirror (to) and the condensing lens C4J or below the condensing lens I24), and the laser beam (2υ) at these locations is provided. ) may be blocked or released. Furthermore, the shirt flap plate 06) may not be made of a material that completely blocks the laser beam (23), but may be made of a material that allows a portion of the laser beam (221) to pass through when the shirt flap plate (to) protrudes. In this case, it is necessary to sufficiently reduce the output of the transmitted laser light, but the laser light serves as a mark of the optical axis during relative movement with the incident ends (26a) to (26d).

Note that in this embodiment, the output end holders (31a) to (31d
) are provided with variable movement devices (aaa) to (33d), which are used to move the individual output end holders (31 There is an advantage that !l) to (atd) can be moved independently. For example, in a production line, different parts are flowed as workpieces (40a) to (4od), and even if the processing parts such as welding and drilling are different, each variable movement device (33a) to (4od) is
33d) to independently hold the output end (31a) to (3
1d) may be moved and processed. At this time.

The laser beam (22 is the incident end (26 m
) to (26d), it is sufficient to perform only one relative movement, and very efficient processing becomes possible. In addition, in such a case, the laser beam (2) is from the incident end (26&) to (z6d
) may be made to be incident sequentially at any necessary location, for example, after the incident end (26M) and then the incident end (26C), instead of making the light incident regularly from (a) to (d).

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the laser processing apparatus and processing method of the present invention, even if the laser beam oscillated by the laser oscillator has a high output, it can be applied to several J@ order parts without damaging a part of the apparatus. It was possible to transmit laser light and process multiple parts of the workpiece. Therefore, the scope of use of such a laser processing machine is expanded, and productivity in this field is greatly improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a conventional example, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operating state of the embodiment. Qυ... Laser oscillator, (23... Laser light. (2fl), (25b), (25C), (25d
)...Optical fiber. (26a), (26b), (26C), (26d
) - Input end. Q3---X -Y f-pull, (30a), (
30b), (30C), (30d) - output end. (32a), (32b), (32c), (32d
) --- Condensing lens. 0!9...Laser light interrupter. Agent: Patent attorney Kensuke Norichika (1 person) Figure 1

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) a laser oscillator; and a plurality of optical transmission means for receiving laser light emitted from the laser oscillator through an input end and transmitting the laser light, and transmitting the laser light between the laser oscillator and the input end. a laser beam breaker for blocking and opening; and a condensing means provided on each output end side of the optical transmission means and condensing the laser beam from the output end and irradiating the workpiece. , a laser comprising a relative moving means for relatively moving a laser beam oscillated from the laser oscillator and the input end, and guiding the laser beam to enter one of the input ends. Processing equipment. (2) The laser processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical transmission means is an optical fiber. (3) The laser processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the relative moving means is a nine XY table provided at the input end. (4) By relatively moving the laser beam from the laser oscillator and the input ends of a plurality of optical transmission means for transmitting the laser beam, the laser beam is made to enter any of the input ends, and the optical transmission is performed. A laser processing method for processing a workpiece by irradiating a laser beam output from an output end of a means. The laser beam is blocked when the laser beam and the input end move relative to each other, and when the laser beam and the input end are positioned, the laser beam is released and made to enter the input end. Laser processing method. (5) The laser beam is blocked and released by the laser oscillator. (6) The relative movement between the laser beam and the input end is performed by moving the input end. laser processing method.