A laser welding control method, apparatus, equipment and its storage medium

Abstract

This invention discloses a laser welding control method, comprising: detecting whether the welding torch switch is on; if so, controlling the laser's output power to continuously decay for a first preset time, stopping the output power after it reaches a preset off power; controlling the wire feeder to begin retraction after the welding torch switch is on; controlling the wire feeder to stop retraction after a third preset time and beginning wire feeding; controlling the wire feeder to stop wire feeding after a fourth preset time. The laser welding control method provided by this invention solves the technical problem of automatically cutting the wire at the end of laser welding without manual torch lifting.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of laser welding technology, and in particular to a laser welding control method, apparatus, equipment and its storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the most common handheld laser welding arc breaking method on the market is basically lifting the gun to break the wire, that is, lifting the gun head the moment the gun switch is released to break the wire.

[0003] Currently, this wire-breaking method requires certain skills and is quite complex for beginners. Wire sticking often occurs at the end of the weld. Furthermore, because this method requires manual operation, the aesthetic appearance of the weld end cannot be guaranteed. In addition, for some special welds, such as repeatedly processing short welds, the frequent lifting of the torch can easily cause fatigue for the welder. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides a laser welding control method, apparatus, equipment, and storage medium to solve the technical problem of how to automatically cut the wire at the end of laser welding without manual torch lifting.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a laser welding control method is provided, comprising:

[0006] Check if the welding torch switch is on;

[0007] If so, control the laser's output power to continuously decrease for a first preset time, so that the output power reaches a preset off power and then stops outputting light;

[0008] The wire feeder begins to retract after the welding torch switch is turned on.

[0009] After the wire feeder retracts to the third preset time, it stops retraction and begins wire replenishment.

[0010] The wire feeder is controlled to feed wire until the fourth preset time is reached, after which the wire feeding stops.

[0011] Optionally, controlling the wire feeder to begin retraction after the welding torch switch is turned on includes:

[0012] The wire feeder is controlled to begin retraction at a second preset time after the welding torch switch is turned on;

[0013] The second preset time is shorter than the first preset time.

[0014] Optionally, the laser can be stopped emitting light before the wire feeder begins to replenish the wire.

[0015] Optionally, the first preset time is between 200ms and 250ms.

[0016] Optionally, when the output power is less than a preset value, the off power is 0;

[0017] When the output power is greater than a preset value, the off power is not equal to 0.

[0018] Optionally, the fourth preset time is shorter than the third preset time.

[0019] According to another aspect of the present invention, a laser welding control device is provided, comprising:

[0020] The welding torch switch status detection module is used to detect whether the welding torch switch is on.

[0021] The laser control module is used to control the continuous decay of the laser's output power for a first preset time, so that the output power stops emitting light after reaching a preset off power.

[0022] The wire feeder control module is used to control the wire feeder to start retracting after the welding torch switch is turned on. The wire feeder control module is also used to control the wire feeder to stop retracting after retracting to a third preset time and start wire feeding. The wire feeder control module is also used to control the wire feeder to stop feeding wire after feeding wire to a fourth preset time.

[0023] Optionally, it further includes: a time setting module, used to set the values ​​of the first preset time, the second preset time, the third preset time, and the fourth preset time.

[0024] According to another aspect of the present invention, a welding apparatus is provided, the welding apparatus comprising:

[0025] At least one processor; and

[0026] A memory communicatively connected to the at least one processor; wherein,

[0027] The memory stores a computer program that can be executed by the at least one processor, which enables the at least one processor to perform the laser welding control method according to any embodiment of the invention.

[0028] According to another aspect of the present invention, a computer storage medium is provided, characterized in that the computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions, which are used to cause a processor to execute and implement the laser welding control method according to any embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] This invention discloses a laser welding control method, comprising: detecting whether the welding torch switch is on; if so, controlling the laser's output power to continuously decay for a first preset time, stopping output power after reaching a preset off power; controlling the wire feeder to begin retraction after the welding torch switch is on; controlling the wire feeder to stop retraction after a third preset time and beginning wire feeding; controlling the wire feeder to stop wire feeding after a fourth preset time. This invention solves the technical problem of automatically cutting the wire at the end of laser welding without manual torch lifting.

[0030] It should be understood that the description in this section is not intended to identify key or essential features of the embodiments of the present invention, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the invention. Other features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following description. Attached Figure Description

[0031] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0032] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of a laser welding control method provided according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 2 This is a timing logic diagram of laser welding control signals provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a laser welding control device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the welding equipment for implementing the laser welding control method of this invention. Detailed Implementation

[0036] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0037] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this invention are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of the invention described herein can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0038] Example 1

[0039] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of a laser welding control method according to an embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is applicable to handheld laser welding arc interruption situations. The method can be executed by a laser welding control device, which can be implemented in hardware and / or software and is generally integrated into welding equipment. The welding equipment may include terminal equipment, server equipment, or microcontroller equipment. The embodiments of the present invention do not limit the specific type of welding equipment. (Reference) Figure 1 The method includes:

[0040] S110. Check if the welding torch switch is on.

[0041] S120. If so, control the output power of the laser to continuously decrease for a first preset time, so that the output power reaches the preset off power and then stops outputting light.

[0042] Optionally, in this embodiment of the invention, the first preset time is between 200ms and 250ms.

[0043] Optionally, in this embodiment of the invention, when the emitted light power is less than a preset value, the off-light power is 0; when the emitted light power is greater than the preset value, the off-light power is not equal to 0.

[0044] It is understood that the first preset time, the light output power, and the light-off power are all adjustable. In this embodiment of the invention, setting the first preset time between 200ms and 250ms can avoid the problem of wire sticking due to an excessively short light-off time, and avoid the risk of excessively long light-off time. The light-off power can be adjusted according to the actual welding situation. In principle, the lower the light-off power, the better, as it can avoid the formation of arc craters. When the actual light output power is not high, it is usually set to 0. However, when the actual light output power is too high, the light-off power needs to be increased to extend the service life of the protective lens.

[0045] S130, Control the wire feeder to start retracting after the welding gun switch is turned on.

[0046] Optionally, in this embodiment of the invention, controlling the wire feeder to begin retraction after the welding torch switch is turned on includes:

[0047] The wire feeder is controlled to begin retraction at a second preset time after the welding torch switch is turned on.

[0048] The second preset time is shorter than the first preset time.

[0049] S140. Control the wire feeder to retract to the third preset time and then stop retracting, and start wire replenishment.

[0050] Optionally, in this embodiment of the invention, the laser stops emitting light before the wire feeder starts feeding wire.

[0051] S150: Control the wire feeder to feed wire until the fourth preset time, then stop feeding wire.

[0052] In this embodiment of the invention, the fourth preset time is less than the third preset time.

[0053] It is understandable that the retraction time and the wire replenishment time need to be matched, because wire will remain in the wire feeding tube during the welding process. Therefore, the fourth preset time is slightly smaller than the third preset time to ensure that the exposed welding wire length after the welding is completed is just enough for the next welding.

[0054] For example, Figure 2 This is a timing logic diagram of laser welding control signals provided in an embodiment of the present invention. (Reference) Figure 2 The laser welding control signals include: controller gun switch signal S1, wire feeder gun switch signal S2, analog signal A1, enable signal EN, wire feed signal A2, and retraction signal A3.

[0055] In this embodiment of the invention, the controller gun switch signal S1 acts on the controller to detect whether the welding gun switch is open. When the welding gun switch is open, the controller gun switch signal S1 changes from a first level to a second level. The analog signal A1 and the enable signal EN are generated by the controller and act on the laser. The analog signal A1 is used to control the power of the laser, and the enable signal EN is used to enable the laser. The wire feeder gun switch signal S2, the wire feed signal A2, and the retraction signal A3 are generated by the controller and act on the wire feeder. The wire feeder gun switch signal S2 is used to control the wire feeder switch, the wire feed signal A2 is used to control the wire feeder to feed wire, and the retraction signal A3 is used to control the wire feeder to retract.

[0056] Continue to refer to Figure 2In this embodiment of the invention, before the welding gun switch is turned on, the levels of the controller gun switch signal S1, the wire feeder gun switch signal S2, the analog signal A1, the enable signal EN, and the wire feed signal A2 are all at the first level, and the level of the pullback signal A3 is at the second level.

[0057] Continue to refer to Figure 2 Within a first preset time t1 after the controller gun switch signal S1 changes from a first level to a second level, the level of analog signal A1 gradually decreases from the first level. When the decrease in the level of analog signal A1 reaches the first preset time t1, the level of analog signal A1 changes to the second level. Similarly, the level of enable signal EN remains at the first level for the first preset time t1 after the controller gun switch signal S1 changes from the first level to the second level. When the first preset time t1 is reached, the level of enable signal EN changes to the second level. This controls the laser's output power to continuously decay for a first preset time, stopping output power once a preset off power is reached.

[0058] Continue to refer to Figure 2 The level of the wire feeder gun switch signal S2 changes from the first level to the second level at a second preset time t2 after the level of the controller gun switch signal S1 changes from the first level to the second level; the level of the wire feed signal A2 changes from the first level to the second level when the level of the wire feeder gun switch signal S2 changes from the first level to the second level, and at the same time, the level of the pullback signal A3 changes from the second level to the first level. This controls the wire feeder to begin pulling back at the second preset time after the welding gun switch is turned on.

[0059] Continue to refer to Figure 2 When the wire feeding signal A2 changes from the first level to the second level and reaches a third preset time t3, it changes back to the first level. Simultaneously, the level of the pullback signal A3 changes from the second level to the first level. This controls the wire feeder to stop pulling back after the third preset time and begin wire replenishment.

[0060] Continue to refer to Figure 2 When the wire feeding signal A2 changes from the second level to the first level and reaches a fourth preset time t4, it changes back from the first level to the second level. This controls the wire feeder to stop feeding wire after the fourth preset time.

[0061] This invention discloses a laser welding control method, comprising: detecting whether the welding torch switch is open; if so, controlling the laser's output power to continuously decay for a first preset time, stopping the output power after reaching a preset off-light power; controlling the wire feeder to begin retraction after the welding torch switch is open; controlling the wire feeder to stop retraction after a third preset time and beginning wire feeding; controlling the wire feeder to stop wire feeding after a fourth preset time. This invention solves the technical problem of automatically cutting the wire at the end of laser welding without manual torch lifting. This solution effectively solves the problem of wire sticking at the end of laser welding. Furthermore, this solution does not require manual torch lifting by the welder; it only requires adjusting the corresponding parameters according to the actual situation, thus requiring less skill in welding techniques. It also ensures a beautiful weld end at the end of the weld, and because of the added off-light progressive time, it reduces the risk of damage to the protective lens and extends its service life.

[0062] Example 2

[0063] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a laser welding control device provided in an embodiment of the present invention, for reference. Figure 3 The laser welding control device 300 includes:

[0064] The welding torch switch status detection module 310 is used to detect whether the welding torch switch is open;

[0065] The laser control module 320 is used to control the continuous decay of the laser's output power for a first preset time, so that the output power stops emitting light after reaching a preset off power.

[0066] The wire feeder control module 330 is used to control the wire feeder to start retracting after the welding torch switch is turned on. The wire feeder control module is also used to control the wire feeder to stop retracting after retracting to a third preset time and start wire feeding. The wire feeder control module is also used to control the wire feeder to stop feeding after feeding wire to a fourth preset time.

[0067] It further includes: a time setting module 340, used to set the values ​​of the first preset time, the second preset time, the third preset time and the fourth preset time.

[0068] The aforementioned laser welding control device can execute the laser welding control method provided in any embodiment of the present invention, possessing the corresponding functional modules and beneficial effects for executing the method. Technical details not described in detail in this embodiment can be found in the laser welding control method provided in any embodiment of the present invention. Since the laser welding control device described above is capable of executing the laser welding control method in the embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art can understand the specific implementation methods and various variations of the laser welding control device in this embodiment based on the laser welding control method described in the embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, how this laser welding control device implements the laser welding control method in the embodiments of the present invention will not be described in detail here. Any device used by those skilled in the art to implement the laser welding control method in the embodiments of the present invention falls within the scope of protection of this application.

[0069] Example 3

[0070] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a welding apparatus 10, which can be used to implement embodiments of the present invention, is shown. The welding apparatus may include various forms of digital computers, such as laptop computers, desktop computers, workbenches, personal digital assistants, servers, blade servers, mainframe computers, microcontrollers, and other suitable computers. The welding apparatus may also include various forms of mobile devices, such as personal digital processors, cellular phones, smartphones, wearable devices (e.g., helmets, glasses, watches, etc.), and other similar computing devices. The components shown herein, their connections and relationships, and their functions are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the implementation of the invention described and / or claimed herein.

[0071] like Figure 4 As shown, the welding equipment 10 includes at least one processor 11 and a memory, such as a read-only memory (ROM) 12 or a random access memory (RAM) 13, communicatively connected to the at least one processor 11. The memory stores computer programs executable by the at least one processor. The processor 11 can perform various appropriate actions and processes based on the computer program stored in the ROM 12 or loaded from storage unit 18 into the RAM 13. The RAM 13 can also store various programs and data required for the operation of the welding equipment 10. The processor 11, ROM 12, and RAM 13 are interconnected via a bus 14. An input / output (I / O) interface 15 is also connected to the bus 14.

[0072] Multiple components in the welding equipment 10 are connected to the I / O interface 15, including: an input unit 16, such as a keyboard, mouse, etc.; an output unit 17, such as various types of displays, speakers, etc.; a storage unit 18, such as a disk, optical disk, etc.; and a communication unit 19, such as a network card, modem, wireless transceiver, etc. The communication unit 19 allows the welding equipment 10 to exchange information / data with other devices through computer networks such as the Internet and / or various telecommunications networks.

[0073] Processor 11 can be a variety of general-purpose and / or special-purpose processing components with processing and computing capabilities. Some examples of processor 11 include, but are not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), various special-purpose artificial intelligence (AI) computing chips, various processors running machine learning model algorithms, digital signal processors (DSPs), and any suitable processor, controller, microcontroller, etc. Processor 11 performs the various methods and processes described above, such as laser welding control methods.

[0074] In some embodiments, the laser welding control method may be implemented as a computer program tangibly contained in a computer-readable storage medium, such as storage unit 18. In some embodiments, part or all of the computer program may be loaded and / or installed on the welding apparatus 10 via ROM 12 and / or communication unit 19. When the computer program is loaded into RAM 13 and executed by processor 11, one or more steps of the laser welding control method described above may be performed. Alternatively, in other embodiments, processor 11 may be configured to perform the laser welding control method by any other suitable means (e.g., by means of firmware).

[0075] Various embodiments of the systems and techniques described above herein can be implemented in digital electronic circuit systems, integrated circuit systems, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), application-specific standard parts (ASSPs), systems-on-chip (SOCs), complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), computer hardware, firmware, software, and / or combinations thereof. These various embodiments may include implementations in one or more computer programs that can be executed and / or interpreted on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor, which may be a dedicated or general-purpose programmable processor, capable of receiving data and instructions from a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device, and transmitting data and instructions to the storage system, the at least one input device, and the at least one output device.

[0076] Computer programs used to implement the methods of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. These computer programs may be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing device, such that when executed by the processor, the computer programs cause the functions / operations specified in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams to be performed. The computer programs may be executed entirely on a machine, partially on a machine, or as a standalone software package, partially on a machine and partially on a remote machine, or entirely on a remote machine or server.

[0077] In the context of this invention, a computer-readable storage medium can be a tangible medium that may contain or store a computer program for use by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. A computer-readable storage medium may include, but is not limited to, electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor systems, apparatus, or devices, or any suitable combination thereof. Alternatively, a computer-readable storage medium may be a machine-readable signal medium. More specific examples of machine-readable storage media include electrical connections based on one or more wires, portable computer disks, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), optical fibers, portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, or any suitable combination thereof.

[0078] To provide user interaction, the systems and techniques described herein can be implemented on welding equipment having: a display device (e.g., a cathode ray tube display or a liquid crystal display) for displaying information to the user; and a keyboard and pointing device (e.g., a mouse or trackball) through which the user provides input to the welding equipment. Other types of devices can also be used to provide user interaction; for example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback (e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback); and input from the user can be received in any form (including sound input, voice input, or tactile input).

[0079] The systems and technologies described herein can be implemented in computing systems that include backend components (e.g., as data servers), or computing systems that include middleware components (e.g., application servers), or computing systems that include frontend components (e.g., user computers with graphical user interfaces or web browsers through which users can interact with implementations of the systems and technologies described herein), or any combination of such backend, middleware, or frontend components. The components of the system can be interconnected via digital data communication (e.g., communication networks) of any form or medium. Examples of communication networks include local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), blockchain networks, and the Internet.

[0080] A computing system can include clients and servers. Clients and servers are generally located far apart and typically interact through communication networks. The client-server relationship is created by computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship with each other. The server can be a cloud server, also known as a cloud computing server or cloud host, which is a hosting product within the cloud computing service system to address the shortcomings of traditional physical hosts and VPS services, such as high management difficulty and weak business scalability.

[0081] Example 4

[0082] Embodiment 4 of the present invention also provides a computer storage medium for storing a computer program, which, when executed by a computer processor, is used to perform the laser welding control method described in any of the above embodiments of the present invention.

[0083] The computer storage medium of this invention can be any combination of one or more computer-readable media. A computer-readable medium can be a computer-readable signal medium or a computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readable storage medium can be, for example, but not limited to, an electrical, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any combination thereof. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of computer-readable storage media include: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer disk, a hard disk, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM, or flash memory), optical fiber, portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), optical storage device, magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination thereof. In this document, a computer-readable storage medium can be any tangible medium that contains or stores a program that can be used by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

[0084] Computer-readable signal media may include data signals propagated in baseband or as part of a carrier wave, carrying computer-readable program code. Such propagated data signals may take various forms, including but not limited to electromagnetic signals, optical signals, or any suitable combination thereof. Computer-readable signal media may also be any computer-readable medium other than computer-readable storage media, capable of sending, propagating, or transmitting programs for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

[0085] Program code contained on a computer-readable medium may be transmitted using any suitable medium, including but not limited to wireless, wire, optical fiber, radio frequency (RF), or any suitable combination thereof.

[0086] Computer program code for performing the operations of this invention can be written in one or more programming languages ​​or a combination thereof, including object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Java, Smalltalk, and C++, as well as conventional procedural programming languages ​​such as "C" or similar languages. The program code can be executed entirely on the user's computer, partially on the user's computer, as a standalone software package, partially on the user's computer and partially on a remote computer, or entirely on a remote computer or server. In cases involving remote computers, the remote computer can be connected to the user's computer via any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or it can be connected to an external computer (e.g., via the Internet using an Internet service provider).

[0087] It should be understood that the various forms of processes shown above can be used, with steps reordered, added, or deleted. For example, the steps described in this invention can be executed in parallel, sequentially, or in different orders, as long as the desired result of the technical solution of this invention can be achieved, and this is not limited herein.

[0088] The specific embodiments described above do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations, and substitutions can be made according to design requirements and other factors. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this invention should be included within the scope of protection of this invention.

Claims

1. A laser welding control method, characterized in that, include: Check if the welding torch switch is on; If so, control the laser's output power to continuously decrease for a first preset time, so that the output power reaches a preset off power and then stops outputting light; The wire feeder is controlled to begin retraction at the second preset time after the welding torch switch is turned on; After the wire feeder retracts to the third preset time, it stops retraction and begins wire replenishment. The wire feeder is controlled to feed wire until the fourth preset time is reached, after which the wire feeding stops.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second preset time is less than the first preset time.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The laser stops emitting light before the control of the wire feeder begins to replenish the wire.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first preset time is between 200ms and 250ms.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the output power is less than a preset value, the off power is 0; When the output power is greater than a preset value, the off power is not equal to 0.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fourth preset time is less than the third preset time.

7. A laser welding control device, comprising: The welding torch switch status detection module is used to detect whether the welding torch switch is on. The laser control module is used to control the continuous decay of the laser's output power for a first preset time, so that the output power stops emitting light after reaching a preset off power. The wire feeder control module is used to control the wire feeder to start retracting after a second preset time after the welding torch switch is turned on. The wire feeder control module is also used to control the wire feeder to stop retracting after a third preset time and start wire feeding. The wire feeder control module is also used to control the wire feeder to stop feeding after a fourth preset time.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that, Further includes: The time setting module is used to set the values ​​of the first preset time, the second preset time, the third preset time, and the fourth preset time.

9. A welding device, characterized in that, The welding equipment includes: At least one processor; and A memory communicatively connected to the at least one processor; wherein, The memory stores a computer program that can be executed by the at least one processor, the computer program being executed by the at least one processor to enable the at least one processor to perform the laser welding control method according to any one of claims 1-6.

10. A computer storage medium, characterized in that, The computer storage medium stores computer instructions, which are used to cause the processor to execute the laser welding control method according to any one of claims 1-6.

Images