Laser machining device and laser oscillation control method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10478923-B2
Application number	US-201314372626-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 16, 2013
Priority date	Jan 18, 2012
Publication date	Nov 19, 2019
Grant date	Nov 19, 2019

Abstract

A laser machining device includes a laser oscillator for oscillating a laser beam to have a variable output according to a machining condition, an optical fiber for propagating the laser beam, a sensor for detecting an intensity of a light leaking from a cladding side face of the optical fiber and outputting a detection signal indicating that intensity, and an oscillation control unit for controlling an operation of that laser machining device based on the detection signal. The oscillation control unit compares a first threshold that is set in correspondence to that output with an intensity or an amount of light obtained from the detection signal, compares a second threshold that is set in correspondence to that output with an intensity or an amount of light obtained from the detection signal, and controls the operation of that laser machining device based on a result of comparing.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A laser machining device, comprising:
a laser oscillator for oscillating a laser beam to have a variable output according to a machining condition,
an optical fiber for propagating said laser beam,
a photoelectric sensor for detecting an intensity of light leaking from a cladding side face of said optical fiber and outputting a detection signal indicating said intensity, and
a laser oscillation control device for controlling an operation of said laser machining device based on said detection signal,
the laser oscillation control device comprising:
a control unit,
said photoelectric sensor, and
a monitor unit comprising a CPU and a memory, said monitor unit being configured to receive the detection signal outputted by the photoelectric sensor and to carry out signal exchanges with the control unit,

an output display and/or speech unit configured to output information from the control unit externally,
an input unit configured for a user to input information to the control unit,
wherein said CPU compares a first light value threshold that is set according to a laser beam output with said intensity or an amount of light obtained from said detection signal, when an output of said laser oscillator is less than or equal to a prescribed output, and
compares a second light value threshold that is set according to the laser beam output with an intensity or an amount of light obtained from said detection signal, when an output of said laser oscillator is greater than said prescribed output, and
generates a command signal to the laser oscillator to stop an oscillation of the laser beam at said laser oscillator to thereby prevent an occurrence of a defect of the optical fiber,
wherein the first and the second light value thresholds are each set based upon respective predetermined reference levels.

2. The laser machining device as recited in claim 1 , wherein said laser oscillation control device stops the oscillation of said laser beam at said laser oscillator, when said intensity or said amount of light exceeds said first light value threshold in a first state, or when said intensity or said amount of light exceeds said second light value threshold in a second state.

3. The laser machining device as recited in claim 1 , wherein said laser oscillation control device increases the output of said laser oscillator, or decelerates a relative moving speed of a work on which said laser beam is irradiated, when said intensity or said amount of light exceeds said first light value threshold in a first state, or when said intensity or said amount of light exceeds said second light value threshold in a second state.

4. The laser machining device as recited in claim 1 , wherein said first light value threshold or said second light value threshold includes a plurality of thresholds with different sizes, and said laser oscillation control device compares each of said plurality of thresholds with said intensity or said amount of light, and carries out a different operation control for each of the comparison results.

5. The laser machining device as recited in claim 1 , wherein controlling the operation of said laser machining device based on a result of said comparing prevents an occurrence of a defect caused by a returning light.

6. The laser machining device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and the second light value thresholds are each a product of the respective predetermined reference levels and respective magnification values.

7. The laser machining device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the respective predetermined reference levels indicate intensity levels of said light leaking from the cladding side face of said optical fiber based solely on direct light detected by said photoelectcric sensor, when there is no returning light.

8. A laser oscillation control method mounted on a fiber laser machining device, for controlling an operation of a laser oscillator capable of oscillating a laser beam to have a variable output according to a machining condition, the laser oscillation control method comprising:
detecting, by a sensor, an intensity of leakage light leaking from a cladding side face of an optical fiber through which said laser beam is propagating, and obtaining a detection signal indicating said intensity,
obtaining said intensity or an amount of light from said detection signal, and comparing said intensity or said amount of light obtained, with a light value threshold that is set in advance, and
controlling an operation of said laser oscillator according to a result of said comparing, by a laser oscillation control device that includes a CPU and a memory and further comprises the sensor, a control unit and a monitor unit, the monitor unit being configured to receive a detecting signal outputted by the sensor and to carry out signal exchanges with the control unit, the fiber laser machining device comprising an output display and/or speech unit configured to output information from the control unit externally, and an input unit configured for a user to input information to the control unit,
wherein said light value threshold is set to be a different value according to each of a plurality of outputs of said laser oscillator,
said comparing compares, by the CPU, said light value threshold according to a laser beam output that is being oscillated by said laser oscillator, with said intensity or said amount of light, and
said controlling stops a laser oscillation of said laser oscillator, increases the output of said laser beam oscillated by said laser oscillator, or decelerates a relative moving speed of a work on which said laser beam is irradiated, when said intensity or said amount of light exceeds a light value threshold, based on a result of said comparing,
wherein the light value threshold is set based upon a predetermined reference level.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the controlling prevents an occurrence of a defect caused by a returning light.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein said light value threshold is a product of the predetermined reference level and a magnification value.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined reference level indicates an intensity level of said leakage light leaking from the cladding side face of said optical fiber based solely on direct light detected by said photoelectric sensor, when there is no returning light.

12. A laser machining device, comprising:
a laser oscillator for oscillating a laser beam to have a variable output according to a machining condition;
an optical fiber for propagating said laser beam;
a sensor for detecting an intensity of light leaking from a cladding side face of said optical fiber and outputting a detection signal indicating said intensity; and
a laser oscillation control device for controlling an operation of said laser machining device based on said detection signal,
the laser oscillation control device comprising a CPU and a memory and further comprising:
a control unit,
said sensor, and
a monitor unit configured to receive the detection signal outputted by the sensor and to carry out signal exchanges with the control unit,

an output unit configured to output information from the control unit externally,
an input unit configured for a user to input information to the control unit,
wherein said CPU compares a first light value threshold that is set according to a laser beam output with said intensity or an amount of light obtained from said detection signal, when an output of said laser oscillator is less than or equal to a prescribed output, and
compares a second light value threshold that is set according to the laser beam outpu

Assignees

• Amada Co Ltd

Inventors

• Funaki Koji
• Kagiwada Yoshito

Classifications

• B23K26/0648

  comprising lenses · CPC title

• B23K26/02

  Positioning or observing the workpiece, e.g. with respect to the point of impact; Aligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam · CPC title

• B23K37/006 Primary

  Safety devices for welding or cutting · CPC title

• B23K26/064

  by means of optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors or prisms · CPC title

• B23K26/0626

  Energy control of the laser beam (B23K26/0622 takes precedence) · CPC title