KR20080101625A - Alignment module for holding a cutting nozzle on a laser processing head, as well as laser processing head - Google Patents

Abstract

An alignment module for fixing a cutting nozzle on a laser machining head and a laser machining head are provided to simplify the relative control of the laser beam and cutting nozzle. A laser machining head comprises a casing(10), a focusing optical device(14) determining the optical path of processing beam, and a cutting nozzle(18). Laser beam(13) is ejected through the cutting nozzle. In order to simplify the relative control of the laser beam and cutting nozzle, the cutting nozzle is movably fixed to the casing. An alignment module(21) for fixing the cutting nozzle to be movable comprises a guide unit(22) which is fixed to the casing of the laser machining head, and a connecting unit(23) which is movably guided in the guide unit. The cutting nozzle can be fixed to the connecting unit.

Description

ALIGNMENT MODULE FOR HOLDING A CUTTING NOZZLE ON A LASER PROCESSING HEAD, AS WELL AS LASER PROCESSING HEAD}

The present invention relates to an alignment module for fixing a cutting nozzle to a laser processing head and a laser processing head thereof.

Laser machining heads are used in laser cutting systems and / or laser welding systems to focus the laser beam at a machining point on the workpiece. The laser processing head comprises a casing in a conventional manner for this purpose, in which the focusing optics is arranged. The focusing optics focus the laser beam on the workpiece through the opening of the cutting nozzle. In addition, the gas is blown into the area of interaction between the laser beam and the workpiece in a conventional manner via a cutting nozzle to assist in the cutting or welding process.

Thus, in order to enable the complete machining of the workpiece using the laser beam, the focused laser beam must pass exactly through the nozzle opening of the cutting nozzle, that is, the center beam of the concentrated laser beam bundle passes exactly through the center point of the nozzle opening. And the concentrated laser beam bundle is concentrated and positioned at the cutting nozzle opening. In this way, in a conventional manner, the focusing optics for the laser beam can not only be moved in the radial direction to provide perfect focusing, but also transversely relative to the radial direction, whereby the laser beam bundle can be cut by the cutting nozzle. Aligned in a concentrated manner at the opening.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the above-described alignment module and laser processing head which simplify the relative adjustment of the cutting nozzle and laser beam in the above-mentioned alignment module and laser processing head, starting from the prior art. have.

This object is achieved through an alignment module according to claim 1 and a laser machining head according to claim 15.

According to the invention, the cutting nozzle is fixed to the casing so as to be movable in the transverse direction with respect to the optical axis, through which the laser beam is discharged. Such movable fixation is achieved particularly simply using an alignment module. The alignment module includes a guide unit that can be fixed to the casing, and a connection unit that is movably guided in the guide unit, wherein the cutting nozzle can be fastened to the connection unit.

According to the present invention, unlike the prior art concept of providing the focusing optics with all settables for the adjustment and alignment of the laser beam, the cutting nozzle is casing so as to be transversely movable relative to the optical axis of the laser beam optical path. Is fixed to. In other words, the setting of the focusing position relative to the casing is realized by always locating the focusing optics correspondingly movably within the casing, whereas the position of the laser beam relative to the nozzle opening is, in other words, the optical of the laser beam optical path. The position of the axis or the position of the center beam of the concentrated laser beam bundle is determined by adjusting the cutting nozzles against the casing of the laser machining head. By distributing various setting possibilities of the laser beam position relative to the casing and cutting nozzles to various adjusting and aligning means, it not only simplifies the adjustment of the laser beam relative to the casing of the laser cutting head and the cutting nozzle, but also during the machining operation. It is possible to improve the maintenance of the set.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connecting unit can be moved back and forth in two cutting directions, preferably the two moving directions are perpendicular to each other.

Particularly accurate alignment of the cutting nozzles against the laser beam is achieved by providing at least one adjusting screw for each direction of movement. Here, the adjusting screw is assigned a counter element, through which the connecting unit can be moved opposite to the movement which can be caused by the adjusting screw.

Basically, it is conceivable to assign a spring as a counter member of each adjusting screw. By doing so, the connecting unit is moved in the right direction, for example, by turning the adjusting screw in the direction of tightening on one side, while the connecting unit is moved in the same direction to the left in the same direction by the spring when the adjusting screw is turned to the release side. However, according to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the counter member may be an adjusting screw. In so doing, the alignment of the cutting nozzles after setting is fixed by further uniformly tightening the adjusting screws which react with each other.

A preferred improved embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the adjustment outward interacts with the support blocks. In this regard, the stop faces of the support blocks are located parallel to each other's direction of movement, and the support blocks are fixed to the guide plate of the guide unit, while the adjustment screws are provided to the connection unit.

Although basically it is possible to realize the fixing of the connecting unit to the guide unit via a corresponding guide device independent of the setting or adjustment means consisting of adjustment screws and support blocks, according to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention The support blocks can form guide slots together with the guide plate, in which the guide members of the connection unit are received in such a way that the connection unit is movably fixed to the guide plate. By doing so, the configuration of the alignment module is further simplified.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a sealing ring is provided between the guide unit and the connecting unit, which is arranged around the through-holes facing each other within the guide unit and the connecting unit and fixed against radial movement. do. By doing so, in order to be able to be supplied to the processing area through the nozzle opening of the cutting nozzle, the compressed gas guided into the passing channel through which the laser beam is guided can not be leaked between the guide unit and the connecting unit.

In order to ensure that the passage channels for the laser and gas are sealed in a reliable manner even after movement, a sealing ring is arranged in the annular groove, which is formed around the through hole for the laser beam in the connection unit.

In order to further provide a gas supply into the passage channel for the laser beam, the gas passage in the guide unit comprises a gas through hole sealed against the gas supply line provided to the casing on the inlet side, the gas passage in the connecting unit A gas inlet is enclosed against the guide unit, the gas inlet is connected to a gas channel, and the gas channel is opened into a gas outlet provided in the cutting nozzle or in the connection area for the cutting nozzle unit.

In a preferred improved embodiment of the invention, the gas inlet in the connection unit comprises an inlet zone at the inlet side, the diameter of the inlet zone being larger than the outlet side diameter of the gas through hole in the guide unit. By doing so, the flow resistance in the gas passage can be kept constant irrespective of each relative position between the guide unit and the connecting unit.

The airtightness of the gas passage in the switching area between the guide unit and the connecting unit is again ensured by the sealing ring, which is arranged in the annular groove in such a way that it is fixed against the radial movement. The annular groove surrounds the gas inlet in the connection unit at the inlet side.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sealing rings provided between the guide unit and the connecting unit each comprise a C-shaped cross section which is open towards the pressure side. In the sealing ring, by its C-shaped cross section open to the pressure side, the sealing ring can also be pressed by gas pressure while in hermetic contact with each sealing surface even after movement.

According to the present invention has the following effects.

First, the focused laser beam can be neatly passed through the nozzle opening.

Second, by using the alignment module, the opening of the cutting nozzle can be simply oriented toward the focusing optical device.

Third, in particular, by using the C-shaped sealing ring there is an effect that can easily seal the gas passage or the passage channel even if the movement between the connecting member and the guide plate is made.

In the accompanying drawings, corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 1, the laser processing head according to the present invention has an inlet 11 and an outlet 12 and has a casing 10 schematically shown, and passes through the casing 10 to the laser beam 13. ) Is guided. The parallel laser beam 13 entering through the inlet 11 is focused on the workpiece 16 in the machining region 15 by the focusing optics 14. The focusing optics can be moved in both directions parallel to the optical axis in order to be able to set the focusing position relative to the casing 10. This bidirectional movement is indicated by arrows (+ z and -z).

Instead of the incoming parallel laser beam, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 1, a diverging laser beam 13 supplied through the optical fiber 17 may be provided. In this case, the diverging laser beam 13 'is focused using a collimator optics and converted into a parallel beam.

As will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the cutting nozzle 18 is fixed to the sensor unit 20 via a ceramic member 19, and the sensor unit itself has an alignment module ( Mounted to the casing 10 via 21, the alignment module 21 comprises a guide unit 22 as a fixed component and a connection unit 23 as a movable component.

The outlet 12 of the casing 10 for the laser beam 13 is provided in the guiding unit 22, the connecting unit 23, the sensor unit 20, the ceramic member 19, and the cutting nozzle 18. The various through holes communicated to form a pass channel 24 for the laser beam 13, through which the process gas is also guided. The processing gas is discharged together with the laser beam 13 through the nozzle opening 25 (see FIG. 4) of the cutting nozzle 18.

As can be seen according to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the guide unit 22 of the alignment module 21 according to the invention is provided with a guide plate 26 with a central through hole 27 and a guide plate 26. ), The support blocks 28 are fixed using screws 29. However, the support blocks 28 can also be fastened to the guide plate 26 through riveting or welding operations. According to the illustrated embodiment, the support blocks 28 are fixed to the guide plate 26 while the screws 29 are aligned to the casing 10 of the laser processing head in a manner not described in detail. It also serves to fix).

A corresponding sealing ring provided around the through hole 27 for sealing the passage channel 24 for the laser beam communicating with the through hole 27 in the outlet plate 12 and the guide plate 26 against the casing. 30 is housed in a suitable annular groove 31.

In order to secure the connecting unit 23 to the guide unit 22, the support blocks of the angular steel are provided with a circular shoulder 32. The circular shoulder is positioned facing the guide plate 26 in such a way that the guide slots 33 are formed. The guide members 34 provided in the connecting unit 23 are accommodated in the guide slots 33 in such a manner that the connecting unit 23 is movably fixed to the guide plate 26.

In order to move the connecting unit 23 relative to the guide unit 22, adjustment screws 35 are provided. In this connection, in order to be able to adjust the connecting unit 23 in both directions in the x direction, in accordance with FIG. 4, each of the two adjusting screws is mutually opposed to each other along one direction with self-assigned support blocks. Located. As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, in order to be able to move the connecting unit in both directions in a second direction transverse to the first direction, only one of the adjustment screws 35 (only one of these is shown) Is provided). According to the illustrated embodiment, the second direction is indicated by y and is perpendicular to the first direction indicated by x.

In the center of the connecting unit 23, a second through hole 36 is provided to face the through hole 27 in the guide plate 26, and the second through hole is surrounded by the annular groove 37. The sealing ring 38 is received in the annular groove 37 in a manner that is fixed against radial movement. The sealing ring 38 may be embodied as an O ring, as schematically shown in FIG. 4. However, according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sealing ring 38 can be embodied as a sealing ring with a C-shaped cross section, as clearly shown in FIG. 5, with the C-shaped cross section being at the pressure side. Toward the passage channel 27.

The second through hole 36 of the connecting unit 23 includes an accommodating section 39 having an enlarged diameter, and the sensor unit 20 having the connecting tube 40 is hermetically stored in the accommodating section. In order to secure the sensor unit 20 to the connection unit 23, screws 41 are provided.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the insulated ceramic member 43 is fixed to the sensor unit 20 through which the conical through channel 42 penetrates using the union nut 44, and the ceramic member is passed through the channel 45. It includes. In addition, a cutting nozzle 18 including a connector section 46 is inserted into the passage channel 45.

The cutting nozzle 18 used as the sensor member and electrically connected with the sensor circuit, not shown in detail, includes a radial flange 47. The radial flange 47 forms with the workpiece a measuring capacitor for capacitive gap measurement. However, it is also conceivable that the cutting nozzle 18 is implemented in such a way that the cutting nozzle 18 is used together with the sensor unit 20 as an induction device for measuring the induction gap.

Referring to FIG. 5, in the region of the passage channel 42, alignment is conducted to guide the gas discharged through the nozzle opening 25 together with the laser beam 13 into the passage channel 24 for the laser beam 13. The module 22 is provided with a gas passage 50, which includes a gas through hole 51 in the guide plate 22 and a gas channel 53 in communication with the gas through hole 51. It is formed by the gas inlet 52. In this regard, the gas channel 53 opens into the gas outlet 54 provided in the connection area for the sensor unit 20. In the sensor unit 20 forming the cutting nozzle unit together with the cutting nozzle, a gas inlet 55 is provided, which leads to the gas channel 56. Through the gas channel 56 additional gas can be led into the pass channel 42 and thus into the pass channel 24 for the laser beam in a manner not shown in detail. A sealing ring 57 is provided to seal the transition area between the gas outlet 54 and the gas inlet 55.

A sealing ring 58 is arranged to seal the gas through hole 51 in the guide unit against the gas supply line provided in the casing 10 and not shown in detail.

The switching area between the gas through hole 51 and the gas inlet 52 in the guide plate 22 is sealed by the C-shaped sealing ring 59, and the sealing ring 59 is disposed in the annular groove including the inlet area. do. In this regard, the diameter of the inlet region is larger than the diameter of the outlet side of the gas through hole 51 in the guide unit. The sealing ring 59 has a C-shaped cross section which is again opened in the pressure side direction.

As shown in accordance with the embodiment, orienting the nozzle opening 25 of the cutting nozzle 18 relative to the center beam of the concentrated laser beam bundle, typically in a manner consistent with the optical axis of the focusing optics 14. To this end, among the two adjusting units located in one direction, the adjusting screw 35 located on the side of the direction in which the connecting unit 23 is moved is slightly turned toward the loosening, whereby the adjusting screw 35 located opposite the By means of the operation of the coupling unit 23, the connecting unit 23 can be moved to face the guide plate 26 until the center of the nozzle opening is located in a line with the optical axis in the moving direction located in the transverse direction. As soon as it arrives, the adjusting screw 35, which is located in the direction in which the connecting unit 23 is moved, is operated until the connecting unit 23 can be fixed in the corresponding position. This process is repeated for the second direction of movement until the optical axis OA of the focusing optical device 14 is exactly positioned at the center of the nozzle opening 25.

In order to be able to move the connection unit 23 in the direction of movement on the other side again after fixing the connection unit 23 in the direction of movement of one side, the adjusting screws 35 support or support the adjacent support blocks 28. The contact surfaces are each designed parallel to the direction of movement on the other side. That is, the contact surfaces of the support blocks 28 shown in FIG. 4 are perpendicular to the plane of the drawing plane and are thus devised in parallel to the direction of y movement perpendicular to the plane of the drawing plane.

In other words, to ensure that the focused laser beam 13 passes neatly through the nozzle opening 25, using the alignment module according to the invention, the nozzle opening 25 of the cutting nozzle 18 is simply focused. Is oriented towards the optical device 14. In this connection, in particular by using a C-shaped sealing ring, even after carrying out the movement between the connecting member 23 and the guide plate 26, not only the gas passage 50 but also the passage channel 24 in the alignment module are adapted accordingly. It can be sealed in a reliable way.

The invention is described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings below.

1 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing a very simplified laser processing head according to the present invention.

2 is a perspective view of the alignment module including a sensor unit connected to itself according to the present invention as viewed obliquely from below.

3 is a perspective view showing the alignment module according to FIG. 2 obliquely from above.

4 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing the center of the alignment module according to the present invention.

5 is a perspective view of the alignment module of the present invention cut essentially along a cutting line V-V.

Claims (16)

In the alignment module 21 for movably fixing the cutting nozzle 18 to the laser processing head, A guide unit 22 which can be fixed to the casing 10 of the laser processing head; And a connecting unit 23 guided to be movable in the guide unit. Alignment module for fixing the cutting nozzle to the laser processing head, characterized in that the cutting nozzle (18) can be fixed to the connection unit (23). The method of claim 1, Alignment module, characterized in that the connection unit (23) can be moved back and forth in two cutting directions (x, y). The method of claim 2, And the two moving directions (x, y) are perpendicular to each other. The method according to claim 2 or 3, At least one adjustment screw 35 is provided for each movement direction (x, y), The adjusting screw 35 is provided with a counter member, and through the counter member, the connecting unit 23 can be moved against the movement that may be caused by the adjusting screw 35. An alignment module. The method of claim 4, wherein Alignment module, characterized in that the counter member is an adjustment screw (35). 6. Alignment module according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the adjustment screws interact with the support blocks (28), wherein the contact surfaces of these support blocks are each located parallel to the direction of movement of the other side. The method of claim 6, The support blocks (28) are fixed to the guide plate (26) of the guide unit (22), whereas the adjustment screws (35) are provided to the connection unit (23). The method of claim 7, wherein The support blocks 28 form guide slots 33 together with the guide plate 26, in which the connection unit 23 is movably fixed to the guide plate 26. Guiding members (34) of the connection unit (23). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, A sealing ring 38 is provided between the guide unit 22 and the connection unit 23, The sealing ring is characterized in that it is arranged around the through-holes (27, 36) which face each other in the guiding and connecting unit (22, 23) and is fixed against radial movement. The method of claim 9, The sealing ring 38 is disposed in the annular groove 37, The annular groove is formed in the connecting unit (23) around the through hole (26) for the laser beam (13). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, A gas passage 52 is provided, and the gas passage 52 includes a gas through hole 51 which is sealed against the gas supply line provided to the casing at the inflow side in the guide unit 22, In the connection unit 23 includes a gas inlet 52 which is sealed against the guide unit 22, A gas channel 53 is connected to the gas inlet 52, Said gas channel (53) opens into a gas outlet (54) provided in the cutting nozzle or in the connection area for the cutting nozzle unit. The method of claim 11, The gas inlet 52 in the connecting unit 23 includes an inlet region 60 at the inlet side, the diameter of the inlet region being more than the outlet side diameter of the gas passage 51 in the guide unit 22. Alignment module, characterized in that large. The method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein The gas inlet 52 in the connecting unit 23 is surrounded by an annular groove on the inlet side, Alignment module, characterized in that in the annular groove the sealing ring (59) is arranged in a fixed manner against radial movement. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, Alignment module, characterized in that the sealing rings (38, 59) provided between the guide unit (22) and the connecting unit (23) each have a C-shaped cross section open towards the pressure side. In the laser processing head, Casing 10; A focusing optical device (14) disposed in the casing (10) for determining a processed beam optical path comprising an optical axis (OA) for the laser beam (13) between the inlet (11) and the outlet (12); And A cutting nozzle; The laser beam 13 is discharged through the cutting nozzle, and the cutting nozzle 18 is fixed to the casing 10 so as to be movable laterally with respect to the optical axis OA. Laser cutting head. The method of claim 15, Laser cutting head, characterized in that the cutting nozzle (18) is fixed to the casing (10) using an alignment module (21) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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