KR20220150197A - A system for laser hardening for a surface of mother metal - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laser curing system comprising: a laser curing device; a control part for controlling operation of the laser curing device; a mode setting part connected to the control part and configured to set an operation mode of the laser curing device; a control box connected to the control part and manually controlling the laser curing device when the mode setting part is in a manual mode; and a data storage part connected to the control part, and providing data for controlling the laser curing device. Depending on the shape of a metal base material, laser curing can be performed with the most uniform temperature distribution.

Description

Laser hardening system for base metal

The present invention relates to a laser hardening system for a metal base material, and more particularly, to a laser hardening system for a metal base material capable of laser hardening with the most uniform temperature distribution for various shapes of a metal base material.

In general, surface hardening can be used to increase the wear resistance of a material, and also to increase the fatigue strength caused by residual compressive stress, wherein the surface hardening is , can be useful for hardening surfaces that are subject to significant wear in use, for example bearing surfaces, journal surfaces of crankshafts.

On the other hand, surface hardening by a method of heat treatment using a laser (hereinafter referred to as "laser surface hardening") has the feature that only the necessary parts are rapidly heated and then rapidly cooled, so that the surface is not deformed at all. , surface hardening can be done even after machining using a machine tool.

Such laser surface hardening is that selective processing is possible in necessary parts, that it is possible to cope with complex shapes, that high power density and low energy processing are possible, that it is cooled by rapid heat conduction inside the base material, processing It has advantages such as easy automation of

However, in the laser surface hardening, selective heat treatment is performed on a necessary part of the metal base material, that is, local heat treatment is performed, so in order to uniform heat treatment characteristics, the same temperature per unit area of the metal base material based on the output of the same laser beam It is necessary to proceed with heat treatment.

However, due to the characteristics of the metal base material, since the shape is not uniform, it is difficult to perform the heat treatment at the same temperature per unit area of the metal base material based on the output of the same laser beam. Therefore, heat treatment at the same temperature per unit area of the metal base material In order to proceed, it is necessary to control the laser beam according to the shape of the metal base material.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2021-0013308

An object of the present invention is to provide a laser curing system capable of controlling a laser beam according to the shape of a metal base material.

Objects of the present invention are not limited to the objects mentioned above, and other objects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a laser curing device; a control unit for controlling the operation of the laser curing apparatus; a mode setting unit connected to the control unit and configured to set an operation mode of the laser curing apparatus; a control box connected to the control unit and configured to manually control the laser curing apparatus when the mode setting unit is in a manual mode; and a data storage unit connected to the control unit and providing data for controlling the laser curing apparatus.

In addition, in the present invention, the mode setting unit is set to an automatic mode or a manual mode, and when the mode setting unit is set to an automatic mode, the laser curing apparatus is automatically driven according to the setting data stored in the data storage unit, When the mode setting unit is set to the manual mode, the laser curing apparatus is automatically driven according to the setting data stored in the data storage unit, and when an input signal by the control box is detected, according to the input signal It provides a laser curing system, characterized in that the laser curing device is driven.

In addition, in the present invention, the data storage unit includes data information of a laser heat treatment temperature, a laser beam size, a laser beam output, a transport path of the laser head unit, and a transport speed of the laser head unit for each metal base material, and the data storage unit includes: , and stores the input signal data input by the control box, and provides a laser curing system, characterized in that for storing the input signal data as setting data.

In addition, the present invention, the control box, the laser beam output control unit; and a laser beam size control unit disposed adjacent to the laser beam output control unit, wherein the input signal data includes input signal data for a laser beam output controlled by the laser beam output control unit, or the laser beam It provides a laser curing system, characterized in that the input signal data for the size of the laser beam adjusted by the size adjustment unit.

In addition, in the present invention, the control box further includes a mode conversion unit located in a first predetermined area of the control box, the mode conversion unit is divided into a manual control mode and an automatic control mode, the mode conversion unit is an automatic control mode is set to, the laser beam output control unit and the laser beam size control unit do not operate, and when the mode conversion unit is set to the manual control mode, the laser beam output control unit and the laser It provides a laser curing system, characterized in that the beam size adjustment unit is operative.

In addition, the present invention provides a method of operating a laser curing system, the laser curing system comprising: a laser curing device; a control unit for controlling the operation of the laser curing apparatus; a mode setting unit connected to the control unit and configured to set an operation mode of the laser curing apparatus; a control box connected to the control unit and configured to manually control the laser curing apparatus when the mode setting unit is in a manual mode; and a data storage unit connected to the control unit and providing data for controlling the laser curing apparatus, wherein the operating method of the laser curing system includes: setting an operation mode by the mode setting unit; determining whether an input signal is detected from the control box when the operation mode is a manual mode; And when an input signal is sensed from the control box, it provides a method of operating a laser curing system comprising the step of driving a laser curing apparatus according to the input signal.

In addition, the present invention provides a method of operating a laser curing system further comprising the step of driving the laser curing apparatus according to the first setting data when the operation mode is an automatic mode.

In addition, the present invention provides a method of operating a laser curing system further comprising the step of driving the laser curing apparatus according to the first setting data when the input signal is not detected from the control box.

In addition, the present invention after the step of driving the laser curing apparatus according to the input signal, storing the input signal data; evaluating the curing characteristics of the base material cured by the laser curing device driven according to the input signal, and determining whether the curing characteristics are satisfied; and when the curing characteristics of the cured base material are satisfied, storing the input signal data as second setting data.

In addition, the present invention further includes, after the step of driving the laser curing device according to the input signal, when the input signal is no longer detected from the control box, driving the laser curing device according to the first setting data again It provides a method of operating a laser curing system.

According to the present invention as described above, in the laser curing system according to the present invention, the user adjusts the output of the laser beam or the size of the laser beam by the control box, and the input signal for the output of the laser beam or the size of the laser beam Through the, by driving the laser curing device, according to the shape of the metal base material, it is possible to proceed with laser curing with the most uniform temperature distribution.

In addition, in the present invention, when the curing characteristics of the hardened base material are satisfied through the input signal, the input signal data is stored as setting data, and later, when laser curing is performed on the same base material group, the setting data is Laser curing can be performed automatically.

1 is a block diagram for explaining a laser curing system of a metal base material according to the present invention.
2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the laser curing system according to the present invention.
3 is a flowchart for explaining the further operation of the laser curing system according to the present invention.
Figure 4 (a) is a schematic perspective view for explaining the irradiation of the laser beam of the laser curing apparatus according to the present invention, Figure 4 (b) is the curing characteristics of the base material cured by the laser curing apparatus according to the present invention It is a schematic perspective view for explaining the evaluation of
5 is a schematic view for explaining laser curing according to the automatic mode and manual mode according to the present invention.
6 is a real photograph showing a control box according to the present invention.
7 is a real photograph showing a laser curing apparatus according to the present invention.
8 is a real photograph showing a display unit according to the present invention.
9 is a real photograph showing a laser oscillator according to the present invention.

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods of achieving them will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but will be implemented in a variety of different forms, only these embodiments allow the disclosure of the present invention to be complete, and common knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs It is provided to fully inform the possessor of the scope of the invention, and the present invention is only defined by the scope of the claims.

Detailed contents for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings below. Irrespective of the drawings, like reference numbers refer to like elements, and "and/or" includes each and every combination of one or more of the recited items.

Although the first, second, etc. are used to describe various elements, these elements are not limited by these terms, of course. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another. Therefore, it goes without saying that the first component mentioned below may be the second component within the spirit of the present invention.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing the embodiments and is not intended to limit the present invention. In this specification, the singular also includes the plural, unless specifically stated otherwise in the phrase. As used herein, “comprises” and/or “comprising” does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other components in addition to the stated components.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein may be used with the meaning commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. In addition, terms defined in a commonly used dictionary are not to be interpreted ideally or excessively unless clearly defined in particular.

Spatially relative terms "below", "beneath", "lower", "above", "upper", etc. It can be used to easily describe the correlation between a component and other components. A spatially relative term should be understood as a term that includes different directions of components during use or operation in addition to the directions shown in the drawings. For example, when a component shown in the drawing is turned over, a component described as “beneath” or “beneath” of another component may be placed “above” of the other component. can Accordingly, the exemplary term “below” may include both directions below and above. Components may also be oriented in other orientations, and thus spatially relative terms may be interpreted according to orientation.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram for explaining a laser curing system of a metal base material according to the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1, the laser curing system of a metal base material according to the present invention, a laser curing device 150; a control unit 160 for controlling the operation of the laser curing apparatus 150; a mode setting unit 100 connected to the control unit 160 and configured to set an operation mode of the laser curing apparatus 150; a control box 110 connected to the control unit 160 and manually controlling the laser curing apparatus when the mode setting unit 100 is in a manual mode; and a data storage unit 140 connected to the control unit and providing data for controlling the laser curing apparatus.

On the other hand, the laser curing system of the metal base material according to the present invention may further include a display unit 130 for displaying the operating state of the laser curing apparatus and the control state of the control unit.

More specifically, the laser curing apparatus 150 may include a robot arm and a laser head positioned at one side of the robot arm.

For example, in the present invention, the laser head unit uses LDF6000-40 (made in Germany/Laserline) having a maximum output of 6 kW, however, the type of the laser head unit is not limited in the present invention.

In addition, the laser head unit may be mounted on an end of the robot arm unit, and may condense laser light from a semiconductor device built into the laser head unit and directly irradiate the product onto the surface of the product.

Meanwhile, in the present invention, not only the movement of the laser head by the robot arm, but also the automatic rotation of the workpiece, that is, the metal base material, is possible by arranging a positioner under the laser head, even in the case of a complex three-dimensional shape of the workpiece. It is possible to process by laser irradiation at high speed.

In addition, the laser beam oscillated from the laser head can be heat-treated according to the shape of the product by using a plurality of laser focus lenses other than 3mm×3mm. By installing the focus lens to be variable up to 8mm×45mm, it is possible to irradiate a large area with one pass.

Since the details of the laser curing apparatus correspond to general matters in the art, a detailed description thereof will be omitted below, but the type of the laser curing apparatus is not limited in the present invention.

In addition, the mode setting unit 100 is for setting the operation mode of the laser curing apparatus 150, it may be set to an automatic mode or a manual mode.

At this time, the mode setting unit is located on the side of the laser oscillator to be described later, when the mode setting unit is set to the automatic mode, the laser curing apparatus, it can be automatically driven according to the setting data stored in the data storage unit.

For example, the laser curing device may be composed of a laser head including a diode laser having a maximum output of 6.0 kW and a robot arm including a 6-axis articulated robot, according to the setting data stored in the data storage unit, The laser curing device is automatically driven to heat the surface of the metal base material.

In addition, when the mode setting unit is set to the manual mode, the laser curing apparatus is automatically driven according to the setting data stored in the data storage unit, and when an input signal by the control box is detected, the Accordingly, the laser curing apparatus may be driven.

On the other hand, the data storage unit, may provide data for controlling the laser curing apparatus, the data, for each metal base material, laser heat treatment temperature, laser beam size, laser beam output, the transfer path of the laser head unit, It may include information such as the feed speed of the laser head unit.

For example, when laser curing is automatically performed on the first metal base material, the mode setting unit 100 is set to an automatic mode, and stored in the data storage unit to laser harden the first metal base material, By providing information such as laser heat treatment temperature, laser beam size, laser beam output, a transport path of the laser head part, a transport speed of the laser head part, to the control unit, the control unit drives the laser curing apparatus according to the data , it is possible to automatically proceed with laser curing on the first metal base material.

In addition, for example, when laser hardening is performed manually on the second metal base material, the mode setting unit 100 is set to a manual mode, and in order to laser harden the second metal base material, the data storage unit Stored, information such as laser heat treatment temperature, laser beam size, laser beam output, a transport path of the laser head unit, a transport speed of the laser head unit, etc. is provided to the control unit, and the control unit, according to the data, operates the laser curing device By driving, it is possible to automatically proceed with laser curing on the second metal base material.

At this time, while the laser curing is automatically performed on the second metal base material, when an input signal by the control box is detected, the laser curing apparatus may be driven according to the input signal.

That is, in the present invention, the manual mode set by the mode setting unit is defined as a manual mode because the input signal can be adjusted by a user's arbitrary control, but the manual mode is the data stored in the data storage unit. In accordance with the automatic laser curing process, when an input signal by the control box is detected, it is manually switched, so it can be substantially defined as a semi-automatic mode, however, in the present invention, the meaning of the manual mode or semi-automatic mode is not limited to

Meanwhile, as will be described later, the input signal input by the control box may be an input signal for a laser beam size or a laser beam output. In particular, in the present invention, the input signal corresponds to an input signal for a laser beam output do.

This will be described later.

In addition, as described above, the data storage unit provides data for controlling the laser curing apparatus to the control unit, and the data is, for each metal base material, laser heat treatment temperature, laser beam size, laser beam output, It may include information such as a transport path of the laser head unit, a transport speed of the laser head unit.

At this time, as described above, when laser curing is performed by the manual mode, the laser curing apparatus is driven according to an input signal by the control box, and the input signal is an input signal for a laser beam size or a laser beam output. can

In addition, as described above, the input signal input by the control box is adjusted by the user's arbitrary control, and in this case, the data storage unit may store the input signal information input by the control box. have.

That is, the data storage unit may store data for laser curing for each metal base material, that is, not only store setting data, but also store input signal data input by the control box, and as will be described later, the Input signal data can be saved as setting data.

This will be described later.

Hereinafter, the operation of the laser curing system according to the present invention will be described in more detail.

2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the laser curing system according to the present invention.

1, the laser curing system of the metal base material according to the present invention, the laser curing device 150; a control unit 160 for controlling the operation of the laser curing apparatus 150; a mode setting unit 100 connected to the control unit 160 and configured to set an operation mode of the laser curing apparatus 150; a control box 110 connected to the control unit 160 and manually controlling the laser curing apparatus when the mode setting unit 100 is in a manual mode; and a data storage unit 140 connected to the control unit and providing data for controlling the laser curing apparatus.

At this time, referring to FIG. 2, the operation of the laser curing system according to the present invention includes the step of setting a mode by the mode setting unit (S110).

As described above, the mode setting unit 100 is for setting the operation mode of the laser curing apparatus 150, and may be set to an automatic mode or a manual mode.

In this case, as described above, the manual mode may be defined as a semi-automatic mode.

In addition, the mode setting unit may be located on the side of the laser oscillator, and by the operation mode set by the mode setting unit, the laser curing apparatus may be driven.

That is, when the mode setting unit is set to the automatic mode, the laser curing apparatus operates in the automatic mode, and therefore, the input signal by the above-described control box is not input.

In addition, when the mode setting unit is set to the manual mode, the laser curing apparatus operates in an automatic mode, when an input signal by the control box is detected, the laser curing apparatus may be driven according to the input signal .

However, in the present invention, it has been described that the mode setting unit is located on the laser oscillator side, but the position of the mode setting unit is not limited in the present invention.

Next, the operation of the laser curing system according to the present invention includes the step of determining the operation mode by the mode setting unit (S120), and when the operation mode is an automatic mode, laser curing according to the first setting data and driving the device (S150).

As described above, the first setting data is stored in the data storage unit and provided to the control unit, and the control unit may drive the laser curing apparatus according to the first setting data.

In this case, the first setting data may include information such as a laser heat treatment temperature, a laser beam size, a laser beam output, a transport path of the laser head unit, a transport speed of the laser head unit for each metal base material, and the like. The data storage unit may provide first setting data according to each metal base material to the control unit.

Next, the operation of the laser curing system according to the present invention includes the step of determining the operation mode by the mode setting unit (S120), and when the operation mode is a manual mode, whether an input signal from the control box is detected and determining whether or not (S130).

In addition, the operation of the laser curing system according to the present invention, when the input signal is not detected from the control box (NO), includes the step of driving the laser curing apparatus according to the first setting data (S150).

At this time, the operation of the laser curing system according to the present invention, when the input signal is detected from the control box (YES), includes the step of driving the laser curing apparatus according to the input signal (S140).

That is, as described above, when the mode setting unit is set to the manual mode, the laser curing apparatus is automatically driven according to the first setting data stored in the data storage unit, and the input signal by the control box is detected In this case, the laser curing apparatus may be driven according to the input signal.

At this time, the input signal input by the control box may be an input signal for the laser beam size or laser beam output, and this input signal is transmitted to the control unit, and the control unit operates the laser curing apparatus according to the input signal. can drive

For example, when the input signal is an input signal for the laser beam output, the laser curing apparatus may include the first setting data, that is, for each metal base material, laser heat treatment temperature, laser beam size, laser beam output, laser It is driven by information such as the transfer path of the head and the transfer speed of the laser head, and in the case of the laser beam output, it is adjusted according to the input signal, and the output of the laser beam of the laser curing apparatus is adjusted, the laser beam output According to the data, it is possible to proceed with laser curing by the laser curing apparatus.

In this case, the data other than the data on the output of the laser beam, that is, the data of the information such as the laser heat treatment temperature, the laser beam size, the transport path of the laser head part, the transport speed of the laser head part, for each metal base material is left as it is. While being maintained, it is possible to proceed with laser curing by the laser curing device.

On the other hand, although not shown in the drawings, the operation of the laser curing system according to the present invention further includes the step of driving the laser curing apparatus according to the first setting data when the input signal is no longer detected from the control box. .

That is, in the present invention, when an input signal is sensed from the control box by the above-described step S140 (YES), the laser curing apparatus is driven according to the input signal, and thereafter, no more input signals from the control box When is not detected, it is possible to drive the laser curing apparatus according to the first setting data again.

This will be described in more detail through the configuration of the control box to be described later.

In this way, the laser curing system according to the present invention can be operated.

Hereinafter, an additional operation of the laser curing system according to the present invention will be described.

3 is a flowchart for explaining the further operation of the laser curing system according to the present invention.

Referring to Figure 3, as described above, the operation of the laser curing system according to the present invention, when the input signal is detected from the control box (YES), the step of driving the laser curing apparatus according to the input signal includes (S140).

Next, the further operation of the laser curing system according to the present invention includes the step of storing the input signal data (S141).

That is, as described above, the input signal input by the control box may be an input signal for a laser beam size or a laser beam output, and this input signal is transmitted to the control unit, and the control unit according to the input signal The laser curing device may be driven.

In this case, the data for the input signal may be stored in the above-described data storage unit ( 140 in FIG. 1 ).

Next, the further operation of the laser curing system according to the present invention includes the step of evaluating the curing characteristics of the base material cured by the laser curing device driven according to the input signal, and determining whether the curing characteristics are satisfied. (S142).

Figure 4 (a) is a schematic perspective view for explaining the irradiation of the laser beam of the laser curing apparatus according to the present invention, Figure 4 (b) is the curing characteristics of the base material cured by the laser curing apparatus according to the present invention It is a schematic perspective view for explaining the evaluation of

4 (a) and 4 (b), along the surface of the base material (M), a laser beam (BEAM) irradiation surface (H) may be formed, and the evaluation of curing properties is the irradiation surface ( It can be measured in the direction perpendicular to H).

At this time, the curing characteristics can be evaluated through the curing depth (15㎛ or more), the hardness of the cured layer (Hv600 or more), the cross-sectional structure of the cured layer (martensite layer distribution), etc. However, in the present invention, the curing characteristics It is not intended to limit the elements and standards of

On the other hand, the base material according to the present invention may be as shown in Table 1 below.

[Table 1]

The base material according to the present invention in Table 1 may be cast iron of FC300 and FCD600, FC300 is flaky cast iron, and FCD600 corresponds to pearlite-type nodular cast iron.

That is, the FC300 material has graphite flakes, the matrix structure is flake graphite cast iron, which is a pearlite type, and FCD600 shows a tissue distribution of spheroid graphite and pearlite matrix structure.

However, the type of the base material is only an example, and the type of the base material is not limited in the present invention.

Continuing, referring to Figure 3, the further operation of the laser curing system according to the present invention, when the curing characteristics of the cured base material are satisfied (YES), the step of storing the input signal data as second setting data includes (S143).

That is, in the present invention, when the mode setting unit is set to the manual mode, the laser curing apparatus is automatically driven according to the first setting data stored in the data storage unit, and the input signal by the control box is detected. In this case, the laser curing apparatus may be driven according to the input signal.

At this time, the input signal input by the control box may be an input signal for the laser beam size or laser beam output, and this input signal is transmitted to the control unit, and the control unit operates the laser curing apparatus according to the input signal. can drive

When the curing characteristics of the hardened base material are satisfied by the manual mode operation of the laser curing system, it means that the input signal data input by the control box is valid. Therefore, in the present invention, the input signal data is By storing it as the second setting data, in the future, when laser curing is performed on the same base material group, laser curing can be automatically performed through the second setting data.

In this case, the input signal input by the control box is adjusted by the user's arbitrary control, and according to step S140, the data storage unit may store the input signal data inputted by the control box.

In addition, the data storage unit, by storing the input signal data as setting data and second setting data, in the future, in proceeding laser curing to the same base material group, laser curing can be automatically proceeded through the second setting data have.

Hereinafter, the meaning of the manual mode according to the present invention will be described in more detail.

5 is a schematic view for explaining laser curing according to the automatic mode and the manual mode according to the present invention.

First, assuming that there is a first base material group (M1) having a uniform width and shape of the base material, as shown in FIG. , conditions for laser curing the first base material group M1 may be simple.

For example, in the first base material group M1, laser curing should be performed uniformly at a first predetermined temperature. In the case of the first base material group M1, since the width and shape of the base material are uniform, the same laser Through the curing conditions, laser curing may be performed on the first base material group M1.

Therefore, setting data for laser hardening the first base material group M1 can be easily derived, and through this setting data, the first base material group M1 can be laser hardened.

Next, assuming that there is a second base material group M2 including a hole in a predetermined area of the base material, as in FIG. 5(b), in the case of the second base material group M2 including the hole, Non-uniform curing may occur in the area of the hole.

For example, in the second base material group M2, laser curing should be performed uniformly at a second predetermined temperature. In the case of the second base material group M2, since it includes a hole, the area adjacent to the hole b1 ) and the boundary region b2 of the hole become non-uniform.

That is, in the boundary region b2 of the hole, the temperature according to the irradiation of the laser beam becomes higher than in the region b1 adjacent to the hole by the influence of the laser beam irradiated to the hole.

For this reason, non-uniform hardening occurs in the second base material group M2 as a whole, and in the present invention, when laser hardening is performed in the area including the hole, the user controls the output of the laser beam by the control box. By controlling, by driving the laser curing device through the input signal for the laser beam output, it is possible to proceed with laser curing with the most uniform temperature distribution in the second base material group (M2).

At this time, the control of the output of the laser beam can be adjusted according to the skill level of the user, and as shown in FIG. 3 above, when the hardening characteristics of the hardened base material are satisfied (YES), the input signal data is set data and, later, when laser curing is performed on the same second base material group (M2), laser curing may be automatically performed through the setting data.

Next, assuming that there is a third base material group M3 having a reduced width including a groove in a certain area of the base material, as shown in FIG. 5C , the third base material group M3 including the groove ), non-uniform curing may occur in the region of the groove.

For example, in the third base material group M3, laser curing should be performed uniformly at a third predetermined temperature. ) and the temperature of the boundary region c2 of the groove become non-uniform.

That is, in the boundary region c2 of the groove, the temperature due to the laser beam irradiation becomes higher than in the region c1 adjacent to the groove due to the influence of the laser beam irradiated to the groove.

For this reason, the third base material group (M3) is completely non-uniform hardening occurs, and in the present invention, when laser hardening is performed in the region including the groove, the user controls the size of the laser beam by the control box. By controlling, by driving the laser curing device through the input signal for the laser beam size, it is possible to proceed with laser curing with the most uniform temperature distribution in the third base material group (M3).

At this time, the adjustment of the size of the laser beam can be adjusted according to the skill level of the user. and, later, when laser curing is performed on the same third base material group (M3), laser curing may be automatically performed through the setting data.

As described above, in laser hardening, selective heat treatment is performed on the required part of the metal base material, that is, local heat treatment is performed. It is necessary to proceed with the heat treatment at a temperature.

At this time, since the shape of the metal base material is not uniform, it is difficult to perform the heat treatment at the same temperature per unit area of the metal base material based on the output of the same laser beam. In order to proceed, it is necessary to control the laser beam according to the shape of the metal base material.

However, in the laser curing system according to the present invention, the user controls the output of the laser beam or the size of the laser beam by the control box, and through the input signal for the output of the laser beam or the size of the laser beam, the laser curing apparatus By driving, according to the shape of the metal base material, laser curing can be performed with the most uniform temperature distribution.

In addition, in the present invention, when the curing characteristics of the hardened base material are satisfied through the input signal, the input signal data is stored as setting data, and later, when laser curing is performed on the same base material group, the setting data is Laser curing can be performed automatically.

Hereinafter, an example of a laser curing system according to the present invention will be described.

1, the laser curing system according to the present invention, the laser curing device 150; a control unit 160 for controlling the operation of the laser curing apparatus 150; a mode setting unit 100 connected to the control unit 160 and configured to set an operation mode of the laser curing apparatus 150; a control box 110 connected to the control unit 160 and manually controlling the laser curing apparatus when the mode setting unit 100 is in a manual mode; and a data storage unit 140 connected to the control unit and providing data for controlling the laser curing apparatus.

6 is a real photograph showing a control box according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6 , the control box 110 according to the present invention includes a laser beam output control unit 111 ; and a laser beam size control unit 112 disposed adjacent to the laser beam output control unit 111 . However, in the present invention, the laser beam output control unit 111; and the arrangement relationship of the laser beam size adjusting unit 112 is not limited.

In this case, the laser beam size adjusting unit 112 includes a laser beam X-axis size adjusting unit 112a for adjusting a beam size of an X-axis (horizontal axis) in a square type laser beam; and a laser beam Y-axis size adjustment unit 112b for adjusting the beam size of the Y-axis (vertical axis).

As described above, according to the present invention, the laser beam oscillated from the laser head can be heat-treated according to the shape of the product by using a plurality of laser focus lenses other than 3mm×3mm, and also, the deformation and precision of the product , it is possible to irradiate a large area with one pass by installing the laser focus lens to be variable up to 8mm×45mm for quality stabilization.

That is, varying the laser focus lens up to 8mm×45mm includes: the laser beam X-axis size adjusting unit 112a; and the laser beam Y-axis size adjustment unit 112b.

Meanwhile, FIG. 6 shows the laser beam output control unit 111; and the laser beam size adjusting unit 112 is shown to be controlled by the jog shuttle method, but in the present invention, the laser beam output adjusting unit 111; and the method of adjusting the laser beam size adjusting unit 112 is not limited.

In addition, since the principle of adjusting the output of the laser beam and the principle of adjusting the size of the laser beam are obvious in the art, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Continuingly, referring to FIG. 6 , the control box 110 according to the present invention includes a mode conversion unit 113 positioned in a first predetermined area of the control box.

At this time, as shown in the drawing, the mode conversion unit 113 may be divided into a manual control mode and an automatic control mode.

As described above, when the mode setting unit is set to the manual mode, the laser curing apparatus is automatically driven according to the setting data stored in the data storage unit, and when an input signal by the control box is detected, the The laser curing apparatus may be driven according to an input signal.

At this time, when the mode conversion unit is set to the automatic control mode, the laser curing apparatus is automatically driven according to the setting data stored in the data storage unit.

In addition, when the mode conversion unit is set to the automatic control mode, the laser beam output control unit 111; and the laser beam size adjusting unit 112 does not work, and therefore, even if the jog shuttle is rotated, the laser beam output or the laser beam size is not adjusted.

In this situation, when the mode conversion unit sets the manual control mode, the laser beam output control unit 111; and the laser beam size adjusting unit 112 is operable, and thus, an input signal for adjusting the laser beam output or the laser beam size may be generated by the rotation of the above-described jog shuttle.

On the other hand, as described above, by the above-described step S140, when the input signal is sensed from the control box (YES), the laser curing apparatus is driven according to the input signal, and thereafter, no more input from the control box When the signal is not detected, it is possible to drive the laser curing apparatus according to the setting data again.

In this case, the case in which the input signal is no longer detected from the control box may correspond to a case in which the mode conversion unit is set from the manual control mode to the automatic control mode again.

That is, the control box according to the present invention may be operated as follows.

First, when the mode conversion unit is set to the automatic control mode, the laser curing apparatus is automatically driven according to the setting data stored in the data storage unit, it is possible to proceed with laser curing.

Next, according to the user's need, for example, when laser hardening the hole area of FIG. 5(b) or laser hardening the groove area of FIG. By setting the switching unit to the manual control mode, and operating the laser beam output control unit 111 or the laser beam size control unit 112 to generate an input signal for adjusting the laser beam output or the laser beam size, the Laser curing can be performed through a laser curing device.

Next, after the user completes the operation of the laser beam output control unit 111 or the laser beam size control unit 112, by setting the mode conversion unit to the automatic control mode again, the laser curing apparatus, the It is automatically driven according to the setting data stored in the data storage unit, so that laser curing can be performed.

Therefore, the mode switching unit according to the present invention can prevent unnecessary operation of the laser beam output control unit 111 or the laser beam size control unit 112, and also, the input signal is no longer detected from the control box. can be converted to a non-existent case.

On the other hand, the mode setting unit 100 of FIG. 1 as described above is for setting the operation mode of the laser curing apparatus 150, and may be set to an automatic mode or a manual mode, and the mode setting unit is set to an automatic mode. When set, the laser curing apparatus operates in an automatic mode, in this case, the input signal by the control box is not input.

In addition, only when the mode setting unit is set to the manual mode, the laser curing apparatus operates in an automatic mode, when an input signal by the control box is detected, the laser curing apparatus can be driven according to the input signal is as described above.

6 , the control box 110 according to the present invention includes a laser beam ON/OFF unit 114 positioned in a second predetermined area of the control box.

As described above, in the present invention, since the laser beam output control unit 111 or the laser beam size control unit 112 can be adjusted through the control box, by the user's arbitrary manipulation, the laser A safety accident may occur due to a malfunction of the beam.

Accordingly, the control box according to the present invention includes the laser beam ON/OFF unit 114, so that the user can turn the laser beam OFF or ON, if necessary.

7 is a real photograph showing a laser curing apparatus according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7 , the laser curing apparatus 150 according to the present invention includes: a robot arm unit 151; and a laser head unit 152 positioned on one side of the robot arm, however, the type of the laser curing apparatus is not limited in the present invention.

8 is a real photograph showing a display unit according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8 , the laser curing system of the metal base material according to the present invention may include a display unit 130 for displaying the operating state of the laser curing apparatus and the control state of the controller, however, in the present invention The presence or absence of the display unit is not limited.

9 is a real photograph showing a laser oscillator according to the present invention.

As described above, the mode setting unit is located on the side of the laser oscillator 170, and when the mode setting unit is set to an automatic mode, the laser curing device automatically according to the setting data stored in the data storage unit may be driven, and since it is the same as described above, a detailed description below will be omitted, but the type of the laser oscillator is not limited in the present invention.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the above and the accompanying drawings, those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains can practice the present invention in other specific forms without changing its technical spirit or essential features. You will understand that there is Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive.

Claims (5)

laser curing device;
a control unit for controlling the operation of the laser curing apparatus;
a mode setting unit connected to the control unit and configured to set an operation mode of the laser curing apparatus;
a control box connected to the control unit and configured to manually control the laser curing apparatus when the mode setting unit is in a manual mode; and
A laser curing system connected to the control unit and comprising a data storage unit for providing data for controlling the laser curing apparatus. The method of claim 1,
The mode setting unit is set to an automatic mode or a manual mode,
When the mode setting unit is set to the automatic mode, the laser curing device is automatically driven according to the setting data stored in the data storage unit,
When the mode setting unit is set to the manual mode, the laser curing apparatus is automatically driven according to the setting data stored in the data storage unit, and when an input signal by the control box is detected, according to the input signal Laser curing system, characterized in that the laser curing device is driven. 3. The method of claim 2,
The data storage unit includes data information of a laser heat treatment temperature, a laser beam size, a laser beam output, a transport path of a laser head part, and a transport speed of the laser head part for each metal base material,
The data storage unit stores the input signal data input by the control box, the laser curing system, characterized in that for storing the input signal data as setting data. 4. The method of claim 3,
The control box, the laser beam output control unit; and a laser beam size adjusting unit disposed adjacent to the laser beam output adjusting unit,
wherein the input signal data is input signal data for the laser beam output controlled by the laser beam output control unit, or input signal data for the laser beam size controlled by the laser beam size control unit laser curing system. 5. The method of claim 4,
The control box further includes a mode conversion unit located in a first predetermined area of the control box,
The mode conversion unit is divided into a manual control mode and an automatic control mode,
When the mode switching unit is set to the automatic control mode, the laser beam output control unit and the laser beam size control unit do not operate, and when the mode switching unit is set to the manual control mode, the laser Laser curing system, characterized in that the beam output control unit and the laser beam size control unit operates.

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