A Flexible Laser Marking System and Method Based on MES

Abstract

A flexible laser marking system and method based on MES is proposed. The system includes a laser marking module, an MES subsystem, a clamping device, a servo moving slide module, and a production line PLC. It can effectively improve the production efficiency of laser marking, ensure production cycle and information accuracy, and achieve flexible production. It can form a highly efficient and flexible laser marking mode, and can mark various texts, symbols and patterns. It is easy to design marking patterns and change marking content with software, adapt to high production efficiency, and effectively improve production quality.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a flexible laser marking system and method based on MES, belonging to the field of industrial laser processing and information-based production technology. Background Technology

[0002] Laser processing involves irradiating a workpiece surface with a laser beam, using the laser's high energy to cut, melt, and alter the surface properties of the object. Because laser processing is non-contact, it causes minimal damage to the workpiece and boasts advantages such as high efficiency, zero pollution, high precision, and a small heat-affected zone. Therefore, it is highly suitable for manufacturing lightweight and aesthetically pleasing household appliances. It can process various metals and non-metals, such as cutting and welding the casings of washing machines, refrigerators, and air conditioners; marking brand logos; and drilling and cutting metal and plastic parts.

[0003] Laser marking is one of the most widely used technologies in the field of laser processing. It's a new processing technology developed after laser welding, laser heat treatment, laser cutting, and laser drilling. It utilizes a processed laser beam to irradiate the surface of a material, instantly converting light energy into heat energy. As the laser beam moves rhythmically across the material surface while its on / off state is controlled, the surface melts instantly, creating a designated pattern. Marking typically involves creating a contrast between the engraving depth or thermal effect and the original material color. Laser marking is mainly divided into CO2 laser marking, semiconductor laser marking, fiber laser marking, and YAG laser marking. Laser marking is primarily used in applications requiring higher precision and finer details, and has been applied to marking various materials such as plastics, metals, electronic components, tool parts, precision instruments, jewelry, and automotive parts. This invention utilizes fiber laser marking. In recent years, laser marking has been widely applied in many fields, replacing traditional marking methods and becoming a standard processing method. It offers high precision, low production costs, flexible and convenient control, and a certain degree of anti-counterfeiting capability.

[0004] Traditional labels for home appliances typically use coated paper barcode labels, which require manual printing followed by manual pasting onto the machine. This process is not only inefficient but also prone to tearing, misalignment, and bulging, consuming large amounts of label paper and other consumables. This marking method is costly, environmentally unfriendly, and requires increased manpower and production time. Furthermore, the varying material dimensions of products necessitate a flexible and automated system. Currently, most laser marking processes operate as independent units, lacking integration with production and failing to guarantee production cycle time. Therefore, integrating laser marking into production has become a key research focus. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The technical problem solved by this invention is that in the current technology, manual marking is too costly, the material size standards of the products vary, and existing laser marking, as an independent unit, cannot guarantee the production cycle and is not suitable for production line mode. Therefore, a flexible laser marking system and method based on MES is proposed.

[0006] The present invention solves the above-mentioned technical problem through the following technical solution:

[0007] A flexible laser marking system based on MES includes a laser marking module, an MES subsystem, a clamping device, a servo moving slide module, and a production line PLC, wherein:

[0008] The MES subsystem sends work order plans to the laser marking module. The laser marking module periodically obtains the work order serial number of the current production process from the MES subsystem. After all the serial numbers are obtained, the servo moving slide module automatically slides to the corresponding position before the laser marking module starts sequential production and sends feedback to the laser marking module. The laser marking module automatically selects the corresponding type of board and marking template according to the work order plan for sequential production. When the production line process of the laser marking module reaches the laser marking point, the production line PLC triggers the start marking signal, the clamping device presses down to clamp and fix the board, the laser marking module performs marking, and after marking is completed, the marking success signal is automatically uploaded to the MES subsystem and the marking completion signal is output to the production line PLC. The production line PLC then continues to the next production process.

[0009] The laser marking module includes a fiber laser, a laser power supply, a galvanometer scanning unit, a focusing unit, and a computer control unit, wherein:

[0010] The laser marking module is installed on the production line equipment. The fiber laser is set inside the housing of the laser marking module and is powered by a laser power supply. The galvanometer scanning unit is controlled by the computer control unit to scan the trajectory of the material. The focusing unit focuses the laser beam emitted by the fiber laser. The computer control unit performs unified control of the fiber laser, the galvanometer scanning unit, and the focusing unit to complete the marking action.

[0011] When the laser marking module performs the marking action, the fiber laser outputs a laser beam with a specified wavelength of 1064μm, which is reflected by the lens in the galvanometer scanning unit and focused onto the working surface. The galvanometer scanning unit swings under the control of the computer control unit to control the laser beam to scan and focus on the laser marking area of ​​the board for burning and marking. The marking content is a preset arrangement of characters and graphics.

[0012] The clamping device includes an upper pressure plate, a lower base plate, a cylinder, an air supply on / off solenoid valve, and a positioning sensor, wherein:

[0013] The lower chassis is mounted on the fiber laser base of the laser marking module. The upper pressure plate is connected to the cylinder. The cylinder controls the upper pressure plate to press down and rise through the air supply solenoid valve. The position sensor collects the pressing and rising positions of the upper pressure plate. After the pressing and rising are controlled to be in place, the position sensor transmits the position signal to the laser marking module. When the material reaches the marking position, it is pressed and fixed by the upper pressure plate and the lower chassis to keep the focal point of the laser marking position unchanged. After marking is completed, the upper pressure plate and the lower chassis reset and release the material, waiting for instructions from the subsequent production process.

[0014] After obtaining the production task, the MES subsystem completes the binding of the production task through material sorting and matching. It sorts and matches the materials in the production task and scans and confirms them. After confirmation, the production task is dispatched. It also monitors and manages the materials, equipment and quality data involved in the production task in a unified manner. According to the production scheduling rules, it performs automatic production scheduling and production work order planning. It monitors the production process of the work order plan and sends it to the laser marking module.

[0015] The servo-driven sliding table module includes a sliding table mechanism, a motor, a control board, and sensors. It is controlled by a laser marking module. The upper part of the sliding table mechanism is connected to the fiber laser base and moves in the X-axis direction with the fiber laser base. During the process of the laser marking module calling up the material, the control board sends a drive signal to the motor to drive the sliding table mechanism to automatically slide to the working position. The sensor collects the current position information of the sliding table mechanism. After the sliding table mechanism reaches the working position, the sensor feeds back the position information to the laser marking module.

[0016] The production line PLC sends a start marking signal to the laser marking module. After the marking action is completed, the laser marking module sends a marking completion signal to the production line PLC. The current work order plan is completed, and the production line PLC enters the next production process.

[0017] A flexible laser marking method based on MES includes:

[0018] Set up a laser marking system including a laser marking module, MES subsystem, clamping device, servo moving slide module, and production line PLC. Initialize the laser marking system, configure the key switch to the open state and the emergency stop switch to the released state, and power on the laser marking system.

[0019] The laser marking module obtains the work order plan for the current production task and the work order serial number for the current production process from the MES subsystem. The servo moving slide module automatically slides to the corresponding position before the laser marking module performs sequential production and feeds back to the laser marking module.

[0020] Once the laser marking module is ready, the laser marking location is determined, and the corresponding model of sheet material and marking template are called through the laser marking module for sequential production.

[0021] When the current production process reaches the laser marking stage, the production line PLC outputs a marking start signal, the clamping device presses down to clamp and fix the plate, the laser marking system performs marking, and after marking is completed, the marking success signal is automatically uploaded to the MES subsystem and the marking completion signal is output to the production line PLC, and the production line PLC completes the production.

[0022] After obtaining the work order plan for the current production task from the MES subsystem, the laser marking module refreshes the data in the MES subsystem periodically. When an emergency order is inserted, the laser marking module regenerates the work order plan after the insertion and performs actions according to the inserted work order plan.

[0023] When an emergency order is inserted, the work order plan is automatically regenerated or manually selected and marked. When the work order plan is manually selected and generated, the data is updated in the MES subsystem.

[0024] The advantages of this invention compared to the prior art are:

[0025] (1) The present invention provides a flexible laser marking system and method based on MES, which uses laser to make marks. There is no processing force between the laser and the material, which has the advantages of non-contact, no cutting force, and small heat-affected zone, thus ensuring the original precision of the material. At the same time, it has a wide range of material adaptability and can make very fine marks on the surface of various color, type and model materials with good durability, low material consumption, no thermal deformation. Marks made by laser marking technology are very difficult to counterfeit and alter, and have high anti-counterfeiting properties.

[0026] (2) The present invention has a great degree of freedom in terms of material, shape and size, and is particularly suitable for flexible and automated processing. It can meet the requirements of industrial mass production, and has a nearly unmanned operation mode. It can achieve high speed and high efficiency on the production line and can be used as part of flexible production.

[0027] (3) The laser processing used in this invention has no pollution source and is a clean and environmentally friendly processing technology. It also has the advantages of high output power, small size, high precision, fast speed, good stability, low noise and low material consumption. At the same time, the laser marking system can be combined with the information system and automatic control system to form an efficient and flexible laser marking mode, which can effectively ensure the production cycle. It can mark various texts, symbols and patterns, and it is easy to design marking patterns and change marking content with software. It adapts to high production efficiency, effectively improves production quality and reduces production costs. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1A schematic diagram of the overall composition of the MES-based flexible laser marking system provided for the invention;

[0029] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the laser marking module provided for the invention;

[0030] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the clamping device provided for the invention;

[0031] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of signal transmission in the MES subsystem provided for the invention;

[0032] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the servo-driven moving slide provided for the invention;

[0033] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of PLC signal transmission in a production line provided for the invention;

[0034] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the marking implementation process provided for the invention; Detailed Implementation

[0035] A flexible laser marking system and method based on MES is proposed. The system includes a laser marking module, an MES subsystem, a clamping device, a servo-driven moving slide module, and a production line PLC. This system effectively improves laser marking production efficiency, ensuring production cycle time and information accuracy while achieving flexible production. It can form a highly efficient and flexible laser marking mode, capable of marking various texts, symbols, and patterns. The marking patterns are easily designed and modified using software, adapting to high production efficiency and effectively improving production quality. Specifically, the laser marking system is as follows:

[0036] The MES subsystem sends work order plans to the laser marking module. The laser marking module periodically obtains the work order serial number of the current production process from the MES subsystem. After all the serial numbers are obtained, the servo moving slide module automatically slides to the corresponding position before the laser marking module starts sequential production and sends feedback to the laser marking module. The laser marking module automatically selects the corresponding model of board and marking template according to the order of the work order plan for sequential production. When the production line process of the laser marking module reaches the laser marking point, the production line PLC triggers the start marking signal, the clamping device presses down to clamp and fix the board, the laser marking system performs marking, and after marking is completed, the marking success signal is automatically uploaded to the MES subsystem and the marking completion signal is output to the production line PLC. The production line PLC then continues to the next production process.

[0037] The laser marking module includes a fiber laser, a laser power supply, a galvanometer scanning unit, a focusing unit, and a computer control unit.

[0038] The fiber laser is housed inside the laser marking module and powered by a laser power supply. The galvanometer scanning unit is controlled by a computer control unit to scan the trajectory of the material. The focusing unit focuses the laser beam emitted by the fiber laser. The computer control unit provides unified control over the fiber laser, galvanometer scanning unit, and focusing unit to complete the marking action.

[0039] When the laser marking module performs the marking action, the fiber laser outputs a laser beam with a specified wavelength of 1064μm, which is reflected and focused onto the working surface by the lens in the galvanometer scanning unit. The galvanometer scanning unit swings in the computer control unit to control the laser beam to scan and focus on the laser marking area of ​​the board for burning and marking. The marking content is a preset arrangement of characters and graphics.

[0040] The clamping device includes an upper pressure plate, a lower base plate, a cylinder, an air supply on / off solenoid valve, and a position sensor, wherein:

[0041] The lower chassis is mounted on the fiber laser base of the laser marking module. The upper pressure plate is connected to the cylinder. The cylinder controls the pressing down and raising of the upper pressure plate through the air supply on / off solenoid valve. The position sensor collects the pressing down and raising position of the upper pressure plate. After the pressing down and raising are controlled to be in place, the position sensor transmits the position signal to the laser marking module. When the material reaches the marking position, it is pressed and fixed by the upper pressure plate and the lower chassis to keep the focal position of the laser marking point unchanged. After the marking is completed, the upper pressure plate and the lower chassis reset and release the material, waiting for the instructions of the subsequent production process.

[0042] After the MES subsystem obtains the production task, it completes the binding of the production task through material sorting and matching, sorts and matches the materials in the production task and scans and confirms them. After confirmation, the production task is dispatched, and the materials, equipment and quality data involved in the production task are uniformly monitored and managed. According to the production scheduling rules, automatic production scheduling and production work order planning are carried out, and the production process of the work order plan is monitored and sent to the laser marking module.

[0043] The servo-moving slide module includes a slide mechanism, a motor, a control board, and sensors. It is controlled by the laser marking module. The upper part of the slide mechanism is connected to the fiber laser base and moves in the X-axis direction with the fiber laser base. During the process of the laser marking module picking up the material, the control board sends a drive signal to the motor to drive the slide mechanism to slide automatically to the working position. The sensor collects the current position information of the slide mechanism. After the slide mechanism reaches the working position, the sensor feeds back the position information to the laser marking module.

[0044] The production line PLC sends a start marking signal to the laser marking module. After the marking action is completed, the laser marking module sends a marking completion signal to the production line PLC. The current work order plan has been completed, and the production line PLC enters the next production process.

[0045] Based on the structure of the laser marking system described above, flexible laser marking based on MES is performed. The specific steps are as follows:

[0046] Set up a laser marking system including a laser marking module, MES subsystem, clamping device, servo moving slide module, and production line PLC. Initialize the laser marking system, configure the key switch to the open state and the emergency stop switch to the released state, and power on the laser marking system.

[0047] The laser marking module obtains the work order plan for the current production task and the work order serial number for the current production process from the MES subsystem. The servo moving slide module automatically slides to the corresponding position before the laser marking module performs sequential production and feeds back to the laser marking module.

[0048] Once the laser marking module is ready, the laser marking location is determined, and the corresponding model of sheet material and marking template are called through the laser marking module for sequential production.

[0049] When the current production process reaches the laser marking stage, the production line PLC outputs a marking start signal, the clamping device presses down to clamp and fix the board, the laser marking module performs marking, and after marking is completed, the marking success signal is automatically uploaded to the MES subsystem, and the marking completion signal is output to the production line PLC, and the production line PLC completes the production.

[0050] The laser marking module obtains the work order plan for the current production task from the MES subsystem and refreshes the data in the MES subsystem periodically. When an emergency order is inserted, the laser marking module regenerates the work order plan after the insertion and performs actions according to the work order plan after the insertion.

[0051] Furthermore, when an emergency order is inserted, the work order plan can be automatically regenerated or manually selected to generate a work order plan for the inserted order and then marked. When the work order plan is generated manually, the data is updated in the MES subsystem.

[0052] The laser marking process takes place on the sheet metal forming production line. The marking position is on the surface of the metal sheet. Since the marking position is on the outside of the sheet, while the processing direction of the production line is the inside of the sheet, the laser marking head needs to be reversed, that is, the laser marking head points from bottom to top. The laser is fixed below the production line and needs to be close to the fixture position of the production line. The dwell time of this process is 7 seconds. Therefore, the marking time needs to be controlled to be less than or equal to 6 seconds. In order to realize the automatic translation of the marking position, a servo moving slide system is configured.

[0053] The laser marking pattern is a DPM QR code, measuring 1.2cm x 1.2cm. The marking content includes the specific production line, production date, product model, serial number, and DPM QR code information for each specific material. The QR code uses the DataMatrix code system, consisting of 21 alphanumeric characters. The QR code array is automatically generated by software. The marking data can be automatically saved, recorded, and uploaded, and is integrated with the MES system. The QR code content is transmitted as a batch of serial numbers by the upper-level MES subsystem via a wireless network. The laser marking system marks each serial number one by one. After marking each serial number, it is transmitted to the MES subsystem in real time via the wireless network.

[0054] The interaction between the MES subsystem and the laser marking module includes: The interaction method uses WEBSERICE technology and the RSET method, transmitting data in JSON format; the production plan transmission method is as follows: the laser marking module initiates the process, and the MES subsystem passively returns or receives the data. The MES subsystem sends the production sequence plan requiring laser marking to the laser marking module, including the specific production line, production date, product model, sequence number, and QR code information for each specific material; after starting, the laser marking module actively accesses the MES to obtain the production plan work order serial number; the production plan sent by the MES subsystem includes normal production plans and revised production plans; after receiving the production plan information from the MES subsystem, the laser marking module provides real-time feedback, marks the QR codes, records the QR code marking information (marking equipment, marking time), and returns each marking record to the MES subsystem in real time.

[0055] The following is a further explanation based on specific embodiments:

[0056] like Figure 1 As shown, a laser marking system is constructed, including a laser marking module, an MES subsystem, a clamping device, a servo moving slide module, and a production line PLC. Specifically:

[0057] 1. Laser marking module

[0058] like Figure 2 As shown, the laser marking module includes a fiber laser, a laser power supply, a galvanometer scanning unit, a focusing unit, and a computer control unit;

[0059] (1) Fiber laser

[0060] The laser marking module uses an imported pulsed fiber laser, which has a good output laser mode and a long service life, and is designed to be installed inside the marking machine housing.

[0061] (2) Laser power supply

[0062] The laser power supply for laser marking is a device that provides power to the fiber laser, and its input voltage is AC220V. It is installed inside the main unit chassis;

[0063] (3) Galvanometer Scanning Unit

[0064] The galvanometer scanning unit consists of two parts: an optical scanner and a servo control system. The optical scanner is divided into X-axis scanning and Y-axis scanning. Each servo motor shaft is equipped with a laser reflector, and each servo motor is controlled by digital signals from a computer to track its scanning path.

[0065] (4) Focusing Unit

[0066] Its function is to focus a parallel laser beam onto a single point. It mainly uses an f-θ lens. Different f-θ lenses have different focal lengths, resulting in different marking effects and ranges. The fiber laser marking module uses imported high-performance focusing devices, and the standard configuration lens has a focal length of f = 160mm.

[0067] (5) Computer control unit

[0068] It is the control and command center of the entire laser marking system, and also the carrier for software installation. It completes the product marking process through the coordinated control of acousto-optic modulation and galvanometer scanning.

[0069] The working principle is that the laser beam with a wavelength of 1064μm output from the laser resonant cavity is expanded by the beam expander, then reflected by the lenses of the X-axis and Y-axis galvanometer scanners, and then passed through the optical focusing lens to the working surface. The galvanometer scanners oscillate rapidly under computer control, so that the laser beam scans in the X and Y directions of the plane. The laser beam is focused on the surface of the workpiece to form micro-facets and create engraving. Through this continuous process controlled by the computer, the pre-arranged characters, graphics and other markings are permanently engraved on the surface of the object.

[0070] The main technical parameters of the laser marking module are as follows: laser power: 30W; maximum power consumption of the whole machine: <800W; marking range: 110mm×110mm; laser marking speed: ≤12000mm / s continuously adjustable; minimum laser marking line width: 0.01mm (adjustable depending on the material); laser marking depth: 0.01~0.3mm (adjustable depending on the material); minimum laser marking character size: 0.05mm (adjustable depending on the material); cooling method: air cooling.

[0071] 2. Clamping device

[0072] like Figure 3As shown, it consists of an upper pressure plate, a lower base plate, a cylinder, an air supply on / off solenoid valve, and a positioning sensor. The lower base plate is mounted on the laser base, and the upper pressure plate is connected to the cylinder. The cylinder presses down and raises the upper pressure plate by controlling the air supply. When the upper and lower pressure plates reach their designated positions, the corresponding positioning sensors transmit signals to the laser marking module. The laser marking module operates according to the corresponding workflow. When the material reaches the marking position, it is pressed and fixed by the upper pressure plate and the lower base plate to ensure the material is stable and prevent vibration during pauses. It also keeps the laser marking focus height constant to ensure marking stability. After marking is completed, the pressing device resets, the material is released, and the production line proceeds to the next production process.

[0073] 3. MES Subsystem

[0074] The MES subsystem adopts a three-tier software architecture, consisting of the system support layer, platform business layer, and system portal layer from bottom to top. This architecture reflects mainstream trends and is both scientific and reasonable. The tasks and functions implemented by each layer are described as follows:

[0075] System support layer: includes operating system, SCADA system, and database storage;

[0076] Platform Business Layer: The platform establishes factory models, manages basic data, and performs production management, material management, and quality control. Using refrigerator production as the foundation for creating a production business model, the platform ultimately implements MES (Manufacturing Execution System) functionality. The business layer is configured with ten modules: System Management, Basic Data Management, Production Order Management, Production Scheduling Management, Production Execution Management, Quality Management, Manufacturing Resource Management, Material Warehouse Management, Equipment Management, and System Integration.

[0077] System portal layer: Enables enterprise users to monitor and optimize the production process in real time through personal task processing, production process monitoring, and quality data analysis, providing comprehensive support for pre-production planning, in-production monitoring, and post-production tracking;

[0078] MES receives production plans from SAP at the factory, automatically generates production work orders, and transmits them via network to the operation boards of each production team on the production line. The production teams then produce according to the work order plans and monitor production progress and status. Simultaneously, it generates production work orders for laser marking, which are then distributed to the laser marking module's computer via network connection. Figure 4 As shown.

[0079] The MES subsystem binds materials to production plans through material sorting. Before processing materials, operators confirm their authenticity by scanning barcodes. The MES subsystem uses backend data binding to provide error prevention reminders. It is stable, efficient, has a large scanning area and precise positioning, can process any graphics and text, and offers convenient and quick graphic editing. It is also simple to operate. The one-item-one-code planning and construction of materials is mainly used for quality traceability of various product components during the production process. A laser marking module is used to complete laser marking of product accessories, providing reliable data support for research and development, production, sales, and service, and realizing quality traceability throughout the entire production lifecycle.

[0080] The MES subsystem dispatches production tasks, monitors and controls the production process in real time, integrates and optimizes each production link, and uniformly monitors and manages materials, equipment, quality, personnel and data involved in the production process. At the same time, it tracks and provides feedback on the gap between production execution and planning, providing a basis for formulating practical and effective production plans. By making the production process transparent and centrally managing production data, it achieves comprehensive and effective management and control of the production process.

[0081] The MES subsystem automatically generates process-level work plans based on production scheduling rules. Shop floor planners set relevant parameters such as completion time, operator, and related equipment in the production plan through the MES subsystem. The system automatically schedules MES orders based on process data in the process specification and the set parameter requirements, forming a complete process-level work plan and generating work orders. It manages the entire production process for all tasks, and through the formulation of reasonable, feasible, accurate, and coordinated work plans, it effectively guides and controls the execution of production on-site, material matching and sorting, production preparation and delivery services, and other aspects.

[0082] 4. Servo moving slide module

[0083] like Figure 5 As shown, it consists of a slide mechanism, a motor, a control board, sensors, and control software. The control software is integrated with the laser marking module software. The upper part of the slide mechanism is connected to the laser base, ensuring the translational movement of the laser base in the X-axis direction. When the laser marking module software automatically calls each type of material, the slide is automatically driven to the corresponding position by the motor through the control board. The position arrival signal is fed back to the control software by the sensor, forming effective servo control.

[0084] 5. Production line PLC

[0085] like Figure 6As shown, the MES subsystem issues production scheduling tasks to the production line PLC. The production line and the laser marking module are integrated and designed with signal communication to ensure production cycle time. Therefore, the production line PLC provides the laser marking module with a marking start signal. After the marking action is completed, the laser marking module sends a marking completion signal to the production line PLC so that the production line can continue to carry out other production processes, prevent incomplete marking, and effectively improve marking stability. At the same time, the emergency stop signal of the laser marking module is also connected to the production line. In the event that the laser marking module has a hardware failure and must be stopped urgently, the entire production line production is effectively cut off to prevent accidents.

[0086] The specific implementation process of the current embodiment is as follows: Figure 7 As shown, preparations need to be made in the following three aspects before the system runs: First, the MES receives the SAP plan for production scheduling, generates laser marking production plan work orders, and sends them to the MES server database. The MES sends work order plans for one week, and the marking software refreshes to obtain the work order plans for the previous three days and the next three days based on the current date. Second, corresponding marking basic templates are established according to different types, colors, and materials of sheet metal, and are automatically called after the laser marking system software obtains the work order plan. The marking content, size, and effect are set in the template file. Third, a sheet metal production model database is established on the laser marking system software based on the factory's basic production data. The marking position corresponding to each model is set in the software, and the parameters corresponding to the production model are automatically obtained from the software database after the laser marking system software obtains the work order plan.

[0087] The specific implementation process is as follows:

[0088] During system initialization, the on-site key switch is set to the open state and the emergency stop state is set to the released state. When the production line is powered on, the laser marking module will be powered on directly. Do not toggle the key switch again. The touch screen computer is set to start automatically upon power-on. The computer will automatically power on after the production line is powered on, and the laser marking system software will also automatically start after the computer is powered on.

[0089] The laser marking module retrieves production plan work orders from the MES system and executes marking tasks. It refreshes the MES data to obtain the production plan for the entire week. For temporary and urgent order insertions, it also has the function of automatically refreshing the MES data at corresponding time intervals.

[0090] The laser marking module automatically retrieves the marking template according to the MES production plan and receives the marking information. Upon receiving the production plan, the slide moves once and automatically moves to the marking position. If the production plan remains unchanged, the slide does not move. The other processes repeat in sequence. The marking template and the position of the slide can be flexibly adjusted.

[0091] Once the laser marking module is ready, when the production process flows to the laser marking module, the production line PLC outputs a marking start signal. The laser marking module receives this signal and controls the cylinder of the clamping device to move upward through the marking software, thereby clamping and stabilizing the sheet material.

[0092] After the board material enters the marking position and stabilizes, the marking software starts driving the laser marking module to perform marking. After marking is completed, the marking software controls the cylinder of the clamping device to reset and acquires the next marking data. The marking data is quickly acquired, and a marking completion signal is output. At the same time, the corresponding marking template is automatically called, and the slide table automatically moves to the corresponding marking position. After the production line PLC receives the marking completion signal, the production line continues to the next production process. Then the laser marking module waits for the marking start signal output by the next production line PLC, and so on.

[0093] The laser marking module communicates with the MES. After marking is completed, the interface is called to update the status of the marking completion work order serial number to the MES subsystem, update the marking completion serial number flag to 1, wait for the MES response, and modify the display status after the MES response.

[0094] For MES work order plans, there may be occasional order insertions. This invention is designed so that if an order is inserted, the system will refresh periodically and execute the marking according to the order of the inserted work orders. Moreover, operators can also manually select work order plans to execute and mark at any time according to the actual production situation. The MES will also receive relevant information on the records of inserted orders and manually selected work order executions, and keep them consistent with the production scheduling plan issued by the MES to the production line, ensuring the accuracy of information.

[0095] In summary, this invention integrates laser marking into the production line. The combination of laser marking with information technology and automatic control can form a highly efficient and flexible laser marking mode, which meets the needs of flexible production, ensures production cycle, and is easy to design marking patterns and change marking content using software. It adapts to high production efficiency, effectively improves production quality, and reduces production costs.

[0096] Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make possible changes and modifications to the technical solutions of the present invention by utilizing the methods and techniques disclosed above without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, any simple modifications, equivalent changes and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the content of the technical solutions of the present invention shall fall within the protection scope of the technical solutions of the present invention.

[0097] The contents not described in detail in this specification are common knowledge to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A flexible laser marking system based on MES, characterized in that: This includes a laser marking module, an MES subsystem, a clamping device, a servo moving slide module, and a production line PLC, among which: The MES subsystem sends work order plans to the laser marking module. The laser marking module periodically obtains the work order serial number of the current production process from the MES subsystem. After all the serial numbers are obtained, the servo moving slide module automatically slides to the corresponding position before the laser marking module starts sequential production and sends feedback to the laser marking module. The laser marking module automatically selects the corresponding type of board and marking template according to the work order plan and starts sequential production. When the production line process of the laser marking module reaches the laser marking position, the production line PLC triggers the start marking signal, the clamping device presses down to clamp and fix the board, the laser marking module performs marking, and after marking is completed, the marking success signal is automatically uploaded to the MES subsystem and the marking completion signal is output to the production line PLC. The production line PLC then continues to the next production process. The servo-moving slide module includes a slide mechanism, a motor, a control board, and sensors. It is controlled by the laser marking module. The upper part of the slide mechanism is connected to the fiber laser base and moves in the X-axis direction with the fiber laser base. During the process of the laser marking module calling up the material, the control board sends a drive signal to the motor to drive the slide mechanism to slide automatically to the working position. The sensor collects the current position information of the slide mechanism. After the slide mechanism reaches the working position, the sensor feeds back the position information to the laser marking module. Meanwhile, the laser marking pattern is a DPM QR code, with a size of 1.2cm*1.2cm. The marking content includes the specific production line, production date, product model, serial number, and DPM QR code information for each specific material. The QR code uses the Data Matrix code system, consisting of 21 alphanumeric characters. The QR code array is automatically generated by software. The marking data can be automatically saved, recorded, and uploaded, and is integrated with MES. The QR code content is transmitted by the upper computer MES subsystem via a batch of data serial numbers through a wireless network. The laser marking system marks each serial number one by one. After the marking of each serial number is completed, it is submitted to the MES subsystem in real time via wireless network. After receiving the production plan information from the MES subsystem, the laser marking module receives and provides real-time feedback. The laser marking module marks QR codes, records the QR code marking information, including the marking equipment and marking time, and returns each marking record to the MES subsystem in real time. A database of sheet production models is established on the laser marking system software. The marking position corresponding to each model is set in the software, and the parameters corresponding to the production model are automatically obtained from the software database after the laser marking system software obtains the work order plan.

2. The flexible laser marking system based on MES according to claim 1, characterized in that: The laser marking module includes a fiber laser, a laser power supply, a galvanometer scanning unit, a focusing unit, and a computer control unit, wherein: The laser marking module is installed on the production line equipment. The fiber laser is set inside the housing of the laser marking module and is powered by a laser power supply. The galvanometer scanning unit is controlled by the computer control unit to scan the trajectory of the material. The focusing unit focuses the laser beam emitted by the fiber laser. The computer control unit performs unified control of the fiber laser, the galvanometer scanning unit, and the focusing unit to complete the marking action.

3. The flexible laser marking system based on MES according to claim 2, characterized in that: When the laser marking module performs the marking action, the fiber laser outputs a laser beam with a specified wavelength of 1064μm, which is reflected by the lens in the galvanometer scanning unit and focused onto the working surface. The galvanometer scanning unit swings under the control of the computer control unit to control the laser beam to scan and focus on the laser marking area of ​​the board for burning and marking. The marking content is a preset arrangement of characters and graphics.

4. The flexible laser marking system based on MES according to claim 3, characterized in that: The clamping device includes an upper pressure plate, a lower base plate, a cylinder, an air supply on / off solenoid valve, and a positioning sensor, wherein: The lower chassis is mounted on the fiber laser base of the laser marking module. The upper pressure plate is connected to the cylinder. The cylinder controls the upper pressure plate to press down and rise through the air supply solenoid valve. The position sensor collects the pressing and rising positions of the upper pressure plate. After the pressing and rising are controlled to be in place, the position sensor transmits the position signal to the laser marking module. When the material reaches the marking position, it is pressed and fixed by the upper pressure plate and the lower chassis to keep the focal point of the laser marking position unchanged. After marking is completed, the upper pressure plate and the lower chassis reset and release the material, waiting for instructions from the subsequent production process.

5. A flexible laser marking system based on MES according to claim 4, characterized in that: After obtaining the production task, the MES subsystem completes the binding of the production task through material sorting and matching. It sorts and matches the materials in the production task and scans and confirms them. After confirmation, the production task is dispatched. It also monitors and manages the materials, equipment and quality data involved in the production task in a unified manner. According to the production scheduling rules, it performs automatic production scheduling and production work order planning. It monitors the production process of the work order plan and sends it to the laser marking module.

6. The flexible laser marking system based on MES according to claim 5, characterized in that: The production line PLC sends a start marking signal to the laser marking module. After the marking action is completed, the laser marking module sends a marking completion signal to the production line PLC. The current work order plan is completed, and the production line PLC enters the next production process.

7. A flexible laser marking method based on MES implemented by the flexible laser marking system according to claim 6, characterized in that... include: Set up a laser marking system including a laser marking module, MES subsystem, clamping device, servo moving slide module, and production line PLC. Initialize the laser marking system, configure the key switch to the open state and the emergency stop switch to the released state, and power on the laser marking system. The laser marking module obtains the work order plan for the current production task and the work order serial number for the current production process from the MES subsystem. The servo moving slide module automatically slides to the corresponding position before the laser marking module performs sequential production and feeds back to the laser marking module. Once the laser marking module is ready, the laser marking location is determined, and the corresponding model of sheet material and marking template are called through the laser marking module for sequential production. When the current production process reaches the laser marking stage, the production line PLC outputs a marking start signal, the clamping device presses down to clamp and fix the plate, the laser marking system performs marking, and after marking is completed, the marking success signal is automatically uploaded to the MES subsystem and the marking completion signal is output to the production line PLC, and the production line PLC completes the production.

8. A flexible laser marking method based on MES according to claim 7, characterized in that: After obtaining the work order plan for the current production task from the MES subsystem, the laser marking module refreshes the data in the MES subsystem periodically. When an emergency order is inserted, the laser marking module regenerates the work order plan after the insertion and performs actions according to the inserted work order plan.

9. A flexible laser marking method based on MES according to claim 8, characterized in that: When an emergency order is inserted, the work order plan is automatically regenerated or manually selected and marked. When the work order plan is manually selected and generated, the data is updated in the MES subsystem.

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