JPS58224091A - Profiling device of laser processing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To maintain the distance between a nozzle and the work at a prescribed value up to the end part of the work, by providing a means for selecting sensors which puts plural pieces of sensors disposed near the circumference of the nozzle selectively in an operating state. CONSTITUTION:In the case of cutting a work 3 from the left end side, a right sensor 2d is connected to an amplifier 11 by a switching part 10 and a vertically movable motor 8 is run normally and reversely to control the height of a nozzle 1 and while the distance between the work 3 and the nozzle 1 is maintained at an optimum distance, the nozzle 1 is moved rightward and the work is cut. When the nozzle 1 approaches to the right end, the right sensor 2d tries to deviate from the work 3. Thereupon, a sensor selection signal 12 is emitted from an NC control device 9 to connect a left sensor 2c in place of the sensor 2d to the amplifier 11. Even if the nozzle 1 approaches to the right end of the work 3 and the sensor 2d deviates from the work 3, the height of the nozzle 1 is controlled by the left sensor 2c in accordance with the above-mentioned switching, whereby the cutting up to the end part of the work 3 is made possible.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a laser processing machine for processing a workpiece such as a steel plate using a laser beam, and particularly relates to a nozzle that emits a laser beam toward a workpiece and a processing machine opposite thereto. The present invention relates to a copying device that maintains the distance to an object at a predetermined value suitable for processing.

Cutting by laser light? When processing, set the distance between the nozzle and the workpiece to match the focal position of the laser beam, and set the assist gas air volume and pressure so that they are in the appropriate state when the distance is set to the above distance. Let's do it. However, if the distance between the nozzle and the workpiece changes, the focal position shifts, and the amount and pressure of the assist gas change, making it impossible to perform machining in an optimal state. By the way, recently, a large capacity QO2 laser oscillator has been developed, and as it has become possible to cut thick steel plates, etc., the thickness of the workpiece has become thicker, and due to ridges, curves, etc. of the workpiece. Since the distance between the nozzle and the workpiece changes, it is necessary to provide a sensor in the nozzle to detect the distance and move the nozzle to keep the distance constant. For this reason, conventionally, there are devices X as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4.

In the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an eddy current ring-shaped sensor 2a is fixed concentrically to the tip side of a nozzle 1, and the sensor 2a detects the distance to the workpiece 3, and The distance between the nozzle 1 and the workpiece 3 is maintained at a predetermined value even if the nozzle 3 is undulating as shown in FIG. For example, one pneumatic sensor 2bi is fixed near the tip side to maintain the distance between the nozzle 1 and the workpiece 3 at a predetermined value. However, in the case of the ring-shaped sensor 2a shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, unless almost the entire sensor 2a faces the workpiece 3, the relative distance between the two is maintained at a predetermined distance. If the sensor 2a deviates from the workpiece 3 by several tens of percent, control becomes uncontrollable.

Therefore, the laser beam 4 hitting the center of the nozzle 1, that is, the workpiece 3, cannot be moved to the end of the workpiece 3. For this reason, the edge of the workpiece 3 cannot be machined over a predetermined width. For example, when cutting a plate of a predetermined shape from a steel plate, the edge of the steel plate cannot be used and the edge must be cut by cutting it. did not become. This can be seen in Figures 3 and 4.
The devices shown in the figure also have some common features, and when the center of the nozzle 1 is located at the end of the workpiece 3, the sensor 2b is located at the end where it comes off from the workpiece 3 (in Figure 3, the left end). Department)
becomes impossible to process and is scrapped.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, and to maintain the distance between the nozzle and the workpiece at a predetermined value to ensure that the workpiece can be machined up to the end of the workpiece. The present invention provides a copying device for a laser processing machine.

To achieve this object, the present invention arranges a plurality of flexible sensors shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 near the periphery of the nozzle, and controls these sensors relative to the workpiece by NC control. Sensor selection means is provided to selectively activate the sensor in a predetermined order according to the moving position of the nozzle to be moved, and the sensor selection means is arranged so that the sensor selection means is placed on the workpiece even when the center of the nozzle is located at the end of the workpiece. The distance between the nozzle and the workpiece can be maintained at a predetermined value until the end of the workpiece can be machined by selecting and activating the sensor. This is what I did. In addition to the pneumatic type sensor, various types such as eddy current, magnetic, and ultrasonic sensors can be used.

5 and 6 showing one embodiment of the present invention will be described below. A ring is also rotatably attached to the nozzle 1 via a guide 5, and an arm 7.7 is attached to this ring 6.
Sensors 2c and 2cl are attached via. These sensors 2c, 2d are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the nozzle 1, as shown in FIG. The nozzle 1 is configured to be moved in the vertical direction, that is, in the Z-axis direction, by a lifting motor 8, and further to be moved in the horizontal direction, that is, in the X and Y-axis directions, relative to the workpiece 3 by the Nozzle control device 9. has been done. the two sensors 2c,
2d is connected to the lifting motor 8 via the switching unit 10 and the amplifier 11. The switching unit 10 selects the sensor 2C12d based on the sensor selection signal 12 and connects it to the amplifier 11. This sensor selection signal 12 is transmitted from the No. control device 9 by X% of the nozzle 1 to the workpiece 3.
It is given according to the position in the Y-axis direction. 1
3 is a nozzle lift signal, which is given from the NC control device 9 according to the position of the nozzle 1 in the X and Y axis directions with respect to the workpiece 3;
Sensor 2c.

Separately from the output signal 2d, for example, the nozzle 1 is moved up and down before and after processing.

Next, the operation of this device will be explained. Sensor 2c, 2
df: Position the nozzle 1 to the left and right in FIG. 6, move the nozzle 1 to the left and right with respect to the workpiece 3 as shown by the two-dot chain line A in FIG. 7, and apply the laser beam to the workpiece 3. When cutting with the light 4, when the nozzle 1 is located at the left end of the workpiece 3 in FIG. 2C is separated from the workpiece 3 and cannot be detected. On the other hand, when the nozzle 1 is located at the right end of the workpiece 3 in FIG.
The sensor 2C on the left side is positioned on the workpiece 3 and can detect it. Therefore, when cutting the workpiece 3 from the left end side of the two-dot chain line A, first connect the right sensor 2d to the intensifier 11 by the switching part, and raise and lower it by the output signal from this sensor 2d. The height of the nozzle 1 is controlled by rotating the motor 8 in forward and reverse directions to move the nozzle 1 to the right and perform cutting while keeping the distance between the workpiece 3 and the tip of the nozzle 1 at an optimum value. In this way, the nozzle 1
If you look closely at the right end of the image, the sensor 2d on the right side is
trying to get away from it. The position of the nozzle 1 relative to the workpiece 3 when the sensor 2d comes off the workpiece 3 can be known in advance. Therefore, in relation to the control of the nozzle 10
d is removed from the workpiece 3, the sensor selection signal 12 is issued to connect the left sensor 2C to the amplifier 11 in place of the right sensor 2d. By switching the sensors, even if the nozzle 1 approaches the right end of the workpiece 3 and the right sensor 2d comes off the workpiece 3, the height of the nozzle 1 remains the same as that of the left sensor 2d.
c, allowing cutting to the edge of the workpiece 3.

In addition, in FIG. 7, when cutting the workpiece 3 in the downward direction, the ring 6 is fully rotated with respect to the guide 5.
in the vertical direction with respect to the two sensors 2c and 2di nozzle 1,
These sensors 2c, 2d may be arranged.
If it is set diagonally, for example, at 45 degrees with respect to the fX and Y axis directions, it can be applied to either the left, right or two downward directions. Also,
As shown by the two-dot chain line B in Fig. 7, when cutting at the lower left corner, the sensors 2c and 2d are tilted at 45 degrees with respect to the X and Y axes so that the sensor 2d is located in the first quadrant. , while cutting the two-dot chain line B, the sensor 2d can always be positioned on the workpiece 3, and furthermore, if it is tilted downward to the right as shown by the two-dot chain line C, the sensor 2d can be tilted 45 degrees to the opposite side. For example, if the sensor 2C is located in the second quadrant, the sensor 2c can always be located above the workpiece 3.

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of sensors arranged near the periphery of the nozzle are used to
By selectively activating the nozzle according to the position in the Y-axis direction, the distance between the nozzle and the workpiece can be maintained at a predetermined value until the end of the workpiece. It is possible to process even the edges.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1 and 3 are longitudinal cross-sectional views of main parts of different conventional devices, respectively, and Figures 2 and 4 are line X-U in Figure 1 and IV in Figure 3.
- A cross-sectional view taken along the line IV, FIG. 5 is a cross-section of the main part of the noil part showing one embodiment of the present invention, and a diagram showing the 1tllII system as a block, and FIG. 6 is a cross-section taken along the line ■-■) in FIG. 7 are explanatory diagrams showing the relationship between the nozzle intersecting the workpiece and the sensor. 1... Nozzle, 2a, 2b+ 2c+ 2(1
・-Centu, 3... Workpiece, 4... Laser light, 5... Guide, 6... Ring, 7
... Arm, 8... Lifting motor, 9...
NO control device, 10... switching unit, 11... increase (
1] device, 12... sensor selection signal, 13...
Nozzle lifting/lowering A word. Applicant: Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. When a nozzle that emits a laser beam toward a workpiece and the workpiece are relatively moved according to the machining shape by Na control, the distance between the nozzle and the workpiece facing it is determined by the nozzle. In a copying device of a laser processing machine that detects with a sensor provided on the side and maintains the distance at a predetermined value,
A plurality of the sensors are arranged near the periphery of the nozzle, and the N. Laser processing characterized by providing sensor selection means for selectively activating the sensors in a predetermined order according to the movement position of the nozzle that is moved relative to the workpiece by control. Machine copying device. 2. The copying device for a laser processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is rotatably attached to the nozzle.