Computer-implemented method for determining cutting gap width for laser cutting processes

Abstract

The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method (100) for determining a cutting gap width (B) for a laser cutting method (200) for cutting individual workpiece components (44) from a workpiece panel (40).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for determining cutting gap widths for a laser cutting method for cutting individual workpiece components from a workpiece panel.

[0002] New, fully automated laser cutting machines, such as the Trumpf TruLaser Center 7030, present previously unknown challenges. One of these challenges is the autonomous or automated removal of cut workpiece components from a workpiece panel using passive suction cups and a pin shuttle. In this case, after successfully cutting the remaining aggregate from the workpiece panel, the workpiece component is pushed up from the aggregate using a pin shuttle, while the passive suction cup lifts the workpiece component from above. Incorrect removal can result in the entire processing center shutting down, so robustness is essential for the workpiece component removal process.

[0003] However, automated removal of workpiece parts from laser flatbed machines is currently not as robust as desired because interactions with the residual skeleton of the workpiece part, specifically wedging, can impair the removal process.

[0004] The object underlying the present invention is therefore to improve the robustness of the above-mentioned removal process after the laser cutting method carried out by the corresponding processing center.

[0005] This object is achieved using a computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1. Accordingly, a computer-implemented method for determining a cutting gap width for a laser cutting method is proposed, wherein individual workpiece parts are cut from a workpiece panel, the method comprising: (a) inputting workpiece part data for cutting a workpiece part; (b) based on the input workpiece part data, establishing individual risk parameters for the workpiece part to be cut with respect to the risk of the workpiece part at least partially interacting with residual aggregate remaining from the workpiece panel, in particular wedging; (c) determining an individual cutting gap width for the workpiece component based on the established individual risk parameters.

[0006] The inventors have recognized that the interaction between the residual aggregate remaining from the workpiece panel after the laser cutting process and the cut workpiece component depends on the gap, essentially the cutting gap width, being a particularly important factor. Essentially, the narrower the cutting gap for the workpiece component being cut from the workpiece panel, the greater the probability that the workpiece component and the remaining residual aggregate will interact with each other during removal, specifically, the greater the likelihood that they will become wedged together. This is particularly true when the workpiece component has complex edge geometries.

[0007] Here, the method according to the present invention specifically analyzes workpiece components based on their data, enabling critical segments of the workpiece component's geometry within the workpiece panel to be proactively identified, where a wider cutting gap can significantly increase the robustness of the continuous process of removing the workpiece components. Since the width of the cutting gap is determined individually for each workpiece component, specifically for individual workpiece components, groups of workpiece components, or regions of workpiece components, this can also be described as a dynamic change in the cutting gap, representing a preventive measure to avoid critical situations during the removal of the workpiece components. The proposed dynamic modification of the cutting gap width at critical points identified based on the workpiece component data can achieve a significant increase in the robustness of the entire automated processing center performing the laser cutting method and removal. It should be noted that an increase in the cutting gap width is accompanied by a decrease in productivity. While the process parameters of the processing center's machining are optimized for productivity, robustness considerations represent a second optimization component that should not be neglected, especially in the case of automated processing centers, in order to avoid downtimes that can significantly affect productivity. According to the present invention, by individually determining the cutting gap width, wider cutting gaps are created for non-critical or less critical workpiece part geometries, thereby providing narrow cutting gaps so that the laser cutting method can be performed as quickly and efficiently as possible, since creating wider cutting gaps would typically require lower laser cutting speeds, resulting in a slower laser cutting method.

[0008] In the method according to the invention, based on data of the workpiece part, the workpiece part to be cut is analysed to establish the risk of interaction between the workpiece part and the residual aggregate, whereby this risk is reduced by determining the individual cutting gap width in order to increase the robustness of the removal process, particularly in automated processing centres.

[0009] In particular, workpiece part data may be provided that includes geometry data and / or material data associated with individual workpiece parts, which may specify the material of the workpiece panel or individual workpiece part in more detail (e.g., type of material, particularly the type of material metal or alloy used, and / or weight, hardness, etc.).

[0010] Specifically, geometric data may be provided that includes or describes the outer contour of the workpiece component, which is analyzed in method step (b) to establish the respective risk parameters. In other words, the geometric data may be at least contour data relating to the outer contour or two-dimensional shape of the workpiece component. In this regard, the term "geometry of the workpiece component" may also be used specifically. For this purpose, for example, the geometric data may be input as CAD data. It has been shown that the outer contour or outer contour of the workpiece component can be evaluated in terms of its complexity. For establishing the respective risk parameters, the geometric complexity may be crucial. If the workpiece component or a region thereof is geometrically complex, a higher risk parameter may be established than if the outer contour is geometrically simple.

[0011] Specifically, individual risk parameters can be established as "probabilities of successful removal" for the automated removal of workpiece parts. The risk parameters can essentially be values ​​established individually for workpiece parts on a workpiece panel, essentially individual workpiece parts, groups of workpiece parts, and / or regions of workpiece parts, specifically for each cutting edge. In other words, individual risk parameters can be established for different segments on a workpiece panel, which segments may in each case include groups of workpiece parts, individual workpiece parts, or regions of workpiece parts. The finer the subdivision, the longer the computer processing time, and as a result, more detailed individual cutting gap widths can be determined and applied. Thus, risk parameters are specifically used in this method to distinguish what individual relative or absolute risks arise from a given workpiece part geometry of one or more workpiece parts with respect to the automated removal of the workpiece parts. Individually specifically means that for each workpiece part geometry or each segment on a workpiece panel (which, as explained, may include individual workpiece parts, groups of workpiece parts, and / or areas of workpiece parts, specifically cutting edges), a risk of interaction with residual aggregate is established, which may create difficulties specifically with regard to automated removal from a processing center.

[0012] Determining individual cutting gap widths then specifically means that for each workpiece component geometry or each segment on a workpiece panel (which, as explained, can include individual workpiece components, groups of workpiece components, and / or regions of workpiece components, specifically cutting edges), a cutting gap width is specifically selected individually from a range of values ​​or individual provided values ​​for cutting gap width. This does not mean that the cutting gap widths of one or more workpiece components necessarily need to be different, but typically results in only critical workpiece component geometries with larger cutting gap widths being machined, increasing robustness in this regard, while non-critical or less critical workpiece component geometries with smaller cutting gap widths can be machined faster to maintain productivity of the overall laser cutting process.

[0013] Additionally, it may be provided that individual risk parameters are established and / or individual cutting gap widths are determined using an AI agent. The advantage of using a suitable AI (artificial intelligence) agent is that the AI ​​agent, after appropriate training, in particular in a virtual or real processing center, is able to determine optimal values ​​for productivity (small cutting gap width) and robustness (large cutting gap width). The associated AI model and / or AI agent, as will be explained in more detail below, may be implemented in a corresponding computer program product and used on a computer, for example in the processing center, or remotely in a cloud-based manner.

[0014] Furthermore, for individual workpiece parts and / or groups of workpiece parts, individual risk parameters and / or individual cutting gap widths can be provided, which are established and / or determined in each case. This allows different cutting gap widths to be provided for individual workpiece parts or groups of workpiece parts. Groups of workpiece parts can be assembled according to predetermined criteria, in particular, specific criteria such as size, length of cutting edge, geometric complexity of the outer contour, number of cutting edges, number of contour corners, etc. In this way, rather than individually evaluating each workpiece part with respect to the risk parameters and then evaluating the cutting gap width, geometrically largely uniform or similar workpiece parts can be grouped together on which the method is performed in order to save calculation time and obtain quick results regarding the width of the individual cutting gap.

[0015] Additionally or alternatively, however, individual risk parameters and / or individual cutting gap widths may also be provided that are established and / or determined in each case for individual regions of the workpiece part, in particular for individual cutting edges of the workpiece part. In particular, regions of the workpiece part may in particular include contour lines along multiple cutting edges. This allows for optimizing robustness and efficiency down to the level of regions or individual cutting edges of the workpiece part and thus allows for particularly detailed optimization to be performed and for advantageously utilizing fast changeover times for the laser cutting parameters of the laser cutting device.

[0016] A smaller gap width may be determined for areas of workpiece parts with simple edge geometries (relative to their cutting edges) than for areas of workpiece parts with complex edge geometries. In this way, simple geometry cutting edges of a workpiece part may be machined with a small cutting gap width to maintain the efficiency of the laser cutting method, and complex geometry cutting edges on the same workpiece part may be machined with a larger cutting gap width, particularly to increase the robustness of automated workpiece part removal.

[0017] Furthermore, different cutting gap widths may be provided that are determined for individual workpiece parts or regions of a workpiece part, in particular for individual cutting edges of a workpiece part, which not only allows for an individual determination of the cutting gap width but also allows for different cutting gap widths to be selected depending in particular on risk parameters at the workpiece part or workpiece part level.

[0018] Furthermore, a method may be provided that further comprises a method step of selecting and / or adapting laser cutting parameters, in particular the laser cutting speed, laser focus position and / or laser power configuration, for the laser cutting method for each individual cutting gap width, which may be directly transferred to a laser cutting device in order to perform the laser cutting method at the desired cutting gap width.

[0019] A method may be provided that further includes a method step of nesting workpiece parts having predetermined individual cutting gap widths on a workpiece panel, the individual cutting gap widths being a characteristic quantity taken into account in the nesting method step. This allows the cutting gap widths to be taken into account when nesting the workpiece parts on the workpiece panel, thereby minimizing material waste and ensuring efficient nesting. Nesting methods are generally known, and various known methods can be used, for example, using exact or heuristic processes. Nesting refers to the (virtual) allocation or placement of workpiece parts to be cut on a workpiece panel for the subsequent laser cutting method. In other words, workpiece parts to be cut with the workpiece part's geometry are assigned positions on the workpiece panel or specific to the geometry of the workpiece panel. This allocation or placement is referred to herein as the nesting of the workpiece parts on the workpiece panel and is stored in a nesting plan. The nesting plan may be obtained during the laser cutting method. According to the nesting plan, the workpiece panel can be cut to obtain individual workpiece parts by traversing the cutting edge with the laser to match the contours of the workpiece parts on the workpiece panel. The goal of nesting is to create a nesting plan that allows the workpiece panels to be used as efficiently as possible, minimizing waste as much as possible.

[0020] The above object is further achieved by a computer program product as claimed in claim 12. The computer program product comprises instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method according to the invention.

[0021] The computer program product may for example be the computer program code itself or a product comprising a computer program, for example a data carrier or data storage device.

[0022] The above object is also achieved by a processing method as set forth in claim 13. A processing method for processing a workpiece panel is designed, the processing method comprising: - a method according to the invention for determining the cutting gap width; a laser cutting method for cutting workpiece parts from a workpiece panel using a laser cutting beam emitted from a cutting head, wherein the laser cutting beam traverses a cutting contour of the workpiece part at individual cutting gap widths determined in accordance with the method and specified for the laser cutting method to cut the workpiece part.

[0023] In this case, a processing method may be provided that further includes automatic removal of the cut workpiece parts from residual aggregate remaining from the workpiece panel (or from the workpiece support on which the workpiece panel rests) after the laser cutting method.

[0024] Finally, the above mentioned object is also achieved by a system according to claim 15. The system is configured to process a workpiece panel and comprises: - a computer for carrying out the method according to the invention and the method of the processing method according to the invention, and - A laser cutting device for carrying out the laser cutting method of processing.

[0025] A computer, which may in particular be embodied as or as part of a control unit, may also be used to control the laser cutting device. The computer may include a computer program product according to the invention.

[0026] The computer and the laser cutting device may be located remotely from each other or in close proximity to each other. For example, they may be connected to each other via wireless communication (also in the form of a cloud solution) or wired communication, or at least configured for such a communication link. For example, the computer may be located on a remote cloud and wirelessly transmit the generated nesting plan to the laser cutting device, specifically to a processing center equipped with the laser cutting device. Alternatively, the processing center may use the computer to locally generate the nesting plan described above.

[0027] The system may specifically include a processing center, and the laser cutting device may be part of the processing center. It goes without saying that such a processing center may also have further components necessary or useful for the processing method, such as a workpiece support, a workpiece part collection device, a (linear) robot for moving the cutting head, etc. If the computer is located in the processing center, the system may specifically be formed by the processing center. Furthermore, the processing center may be an at least partially automated processing center or a fully automated processing center. Processing may therefore be at least partially automated or fully automated. Advantageously, at least removing the workpiece parts from the corresponding work supports and removing them from the workpiece panel from the residual aggregate remaining therefrom is performed in an automated manner. Various removal means, such as passive suction cups and / or pin shuttles, may be used. In such automated processing centers, specifically fully automated laser cutting machines, the method according to the present invention or the processing method according to the present invention is particularly advantageous, since it can effectively prevent or at least significantly limit downtime and human intervention caused by workpiece parts getting wedged in the residual aggregate.

[0028] Features described herein with respect to a method apply equally to the computer program product, processing method and system, and vice versa.

[0029] Further details and advantageous configurations of the invention become apparent from the following description, on the basis of which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described and explained in more detail. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] 1 shows a perspective view of a system in the form of a processing center according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 shows a schematic diagram of a laser cutting device as part of the processing center of FIG. 1; [Figure 3] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a cutting workpiece panel. [Figure 4] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a method according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] 5 shows a schematic diagram of a portion of a nesting plan generated by a first exemplary embodiment of the method of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 5 shows a schematic diagram of a portion of a nesting plan generated by a second exemplary embodiment of the method of FIG. 4. [Figure 7] 5 shows a schematic diagram of a workpiece part for a cutting gap width determined by a third exemplary embodiment of the method of FIG. 4;

[0031] In the following description and figures, the same reference signs are used in each case for identical or mutually corresponding features.

[0032] 1 shows a system 10 in the form of a processing center, more particularly in the form of a laser cutting machine, more particularly in the form of a laser-cutting flatbed machine tool, equipped with a laser cutting device 20, in which a laser cutting method is performed using a laser cutting beam 1 (see FIG. 2). In particular, the focal point of the laser cutting beam 1 is guided by a computer 50 (see FIG. 2), in the form of a control device for the processing center, in particular along a predetermined cutting contour 42 arranged in a cutting area on a plate-shaped workpiece panel 40 (in particular a metal plate extending substantially two-dimensionally), in order to cut workpiece parts 44 having a predetermined specific shape or geometry (see the predetermined shape of the workpiece parts 44 in the workpiece panel 40 in accordance with the nesting plan 45) in accordance with a nesting plan 45 (see FIGS. 4, 5, 6). The nesting plan 45 is determined by the control plan of the computer 50 and is generated in the context of a method 100, illustrated schematically in FIG. 4, in particular in method step 108.

[0033] The processing center here further comprises, by way of example, a removal device 30. The removal device 30 is shown open for better illustration, but may alternatively be partially or completely enclosed like the laser cutting device 20 of Fig. 1. The removal device 30 may advantageously consist of an automatic arrangement, in particular having removal means (not shown). Advantageously, the entire processing center is fully automated.

[0034] By way of example, the removal device 30 shown includes a pallet changer 32, as is typically used for manual removal devices 30. The pallet changer 32 is configured to position one or more pallets 38 during production. Workpiece panels 40 to be cut can be placed and stored on the pallets 38 (as raw or starting material) and introduced into the housing of the laser cutting device 20 for the laser cutting method. Once the cutting process is complete, the pallets 38 with the processed workpiece panels 40 are removed from the laser cutting device 20 as shown in FIG. 1, so that the workpiece parts 44 cut according to the nesting plan 45 can be manually or automatically separated from the remaining workpieces or aggregate 46 remaining from the workpiece panels 40 (see FIG. 3) and removed from the processing center.

[0035] 2 shows a laser cutting method 200 in the laser cutting device 20. The cutting head 24, which is controlled by a computer 50 and emits a laser cutting beam 1 onto the workpiece panel 40 to cut a workpiece part 44 from the workpiece panel 40, can be freely positioned within the cutting area so that the laser cutting beam 1 can be guided substantially along any desired two-dimensional cutting contour 42 on the workpiece panel 40 to be cut. In this case, the cutting contour 42 for the laser cutting beam 1 is predetermined in each case in the computer 50 based on a nesting plan 45 to cut the workpiece part 44 from the workpiece panel 40. The cutting contour 42 typically includes a cutting edge 43 (see FIG. 7 ) that is traversed by the laser cutting beam 1.

[0036] The computer 50 is shown here by way of example as a fixed component of the processing center, but alternatively may be wirelessly connected to the processing center, thus forming the system 10. Computers 50 extending beyond the illustrated computer 50 may also be used in a method 100, described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 4, where the method 100 includes nesting workpiece parts 44 on a workpiece panel 40. The generated nesting plan 45 indicates the arrangement of the individual workpiece parts 44 on the workpiece panel 40, as shown in FIG. 1. Additionally, the nesting plan 45 may include defining perforation points and a predetermined first cut for inserting the laser cutting beam 1 and guiding the laser cutting beam 1 along the first cut to a cutting contour 42 (not shown).

[0037] During laser cutting, the laser cutting beam 1 heats the metal of the workpiece panel 40 until it melts along the predetermined cut contour 42. A cutting gas jet, specifically nitrogen or oxygen, may issue from the cutting head 24 in the area of ​​the laser cutting beam 1, forcing the molten material of the workpiece panel 40 downward and out of the gap created. In this way, the workpiece panel 40 is completely cut by the laser cutting beam 1 during cutting.

[0038] To cut the workpiece parts 44, the laser cutting beam 1 moves along the predetermined cutting contour 42 of each workpiece panel 40. It starts from one of the aforementioned perforation points on the outside of the workpiece part 44, and the contour of each workpiece part 44 is specifically a circular arc-shaped first cut.

[0039] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the pallet 38 has a workpiece support 36. The workpiece support 36 has a plurality of support bars 34 aligned parallel to one another and running transversely, specifically perpendicularly, to the insertion direction of the workpiece 40 into the laser cutting device 20. The support bars 34 form a support area on which the workpiece panel 40 is laid or placed.

[0040] 1 further shows, by way of example, a processing center camera 22 disposed on the laser cutting device 20 or its housing. The camera 22 can be part of or connected to the processing center computer 50. Here, the camera 22 is directed towards the removal device 30, merely by way of example and for better illustration, and alternatively or additionally also directed towards the laser cutting device 20, specifically disposed within the housing of the laser cutting device 20. Additionally, sensors can also be used alternatively or in addition to the camera 22.

[0041] 4 shows a computer-implemented method 100 for generating a nesting plan 45. A corresponding computer system (not shown) may be partially or completely contained in a computer program product (not shown). The computer system and method 100 may be executed, for example, by computer 50 or another control device or computer at a processing center.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 4, the method 100 has various method steps 102, 104, 106, 108 and includes a higher level processing method 300, which also includes a laser cutting method 200 and a removal process 202 that removes the cut workpiece component 44 from the workpiece support 36.

[0043] In a first method step 102 of the method 100, workpiece part data D of the workpiece parts 44 to be nested on the workpiece panel 40 are input. These workpiece part data D may, for example, take the form of CAD data and include geometric data and / or material data relating to the individual workpiece parts 44. Advantageously, the geometric data includes the outer contour of the workpiece part 44 that the laser cutting beam 1 will traverse as the cutting contour 42 during the subsequent laser cutting method 200.

[0044] In a second method step 104, based on the input workpiece part data D, an individual risk parameter R is established for the workpiece part 44 to be cut with respect to the workpiece part at least partially interacting with, and specifically wedging into, the residual aggregate 46 remaining from the workpiece panel 40.

[0045] In a third method step 106, individual gap widths B for the workpiece parts 44 are determined based on the established individual risk parameters R. These individual cutting gap widths B are taken into account for nesting of the workpiece parts 44 on the workpiece panel 40 in method step 108. The nesting plan 45 thus generated is used to process the workpiece panel 40 in a laser cutting method 200 and then remove the workpiece parts 44 in method step 202.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 5 with reference to a portion of a nesting plan 45 according to a first embodiment of method 100, an individual risk parameter R and / or an individual cut gap width B can be established and determined for each individual workpiece part 44. In other words, segments on the workpiece panel 40 associated with each individual workpiece part 44 are selected here to establish an individual risk parameter R and determine an individual cut gap width B. Accordingly, FIG. 5 illustrates workpiece parts 44 having different geometric shapes, particularly in their outer contours. These were obtained in method step 102 by inputting workpiece part data D. Next, in method step 104, individual risk parameters R were established for the various workpiece parts 44. Each workpiece part 44 was assigned a different risk parameter R. The more complex the outer contour of the workpiece part 44, the higher the established risk parameter R (not explicitly shown, but evident from the cut gap width B, as explained in more detail below). In method step 106, a different cut gap width B was individually established for each of the workpiece parts 44 based on the different risk parameters.

[0047] 5 and 6, different cutting gap widths B are each represented by different thicknesses of the contour lines of the workpiece parts 44. Thus, in FIG. 5, it can be seen that the workpiece parts 44 within the illustrated part of the workpiece panel 40 or within the nesting plan 45 have larger cutting gap widths B as the complexity of their outer contours increases. The workpiece part 44 on the top left has a small cutting gap width B because its outer contour is very simple, while the cutting gap width B of the workpiece part 44 on the bottom right is significantly larger because its outer contour is very complex. It should be understood that these examples, and the other examples in this description of the figures, are merely illustrative and not limiting.

[0048] 6 illustrates an alternative determination of the individual risk parameters R and individual cutting gap widths B, where different workpiece parts 44 are grouped based on their workpiece part data D or based on their risk parameters R, and the same cutting gap width B is determined for each group of workpiece parts 44. Thus, the computation time required for the computer 50 to perform the method 100 can be reduced, since the segments are groups of workpiece parts 44.

[0049] 7 shows a further variant for determining the individual risk parameter R and the individual cutting gap width B, which is performed at the workpiece part level, i.e., an individual risk parameter R is established and individual cutting gap widths B are determined for different regions of the workpiece part 44, in particular for multiple or individual cutting edges 43. In other words, the above-mentioned segments relate to the workpiece part 44 regions themselves.

[0050] In this case, the workpiece part 44 shown in FIG. 7 has, by way of example, two distinct regions, namely, a region with a simple edge geometry 47 and a region with a complex edge geometry 48. It goes without saying that this example is merely illustrative and can be further subdivided into more regions based on the complexity of the respective edge geometries. A lower risk parameter R is established for the simple edge geometry 47 than for the complex edge geometry 48. Therefore, the simple edge geometry 47 of the workpiece part 44 primarily has a linear profile and 90° corners of the workpiece part 44. A smaller cutting gap width B is selected compared to the complex edge geometry 48. The complex edge geometry 48 is characterized by a large number of small, closely spaced cutting edges 43, resulting in a wedge-shaped complex edge geometry 48 and residual aggregate 46. It goes without saying that the individual variations according to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 can also be used in any desired combination with each other in the method 100.

Claims

1. 1. A computer-implemented method (100) for determining a cutting gap width (B) for a laser cutting method (200), wherein individual workpiece components (44) are cut from a workpiece panel (40), said method (100) comprising: (a) inputting workpiece part data (D) for cutting said workpiece part (44); (b) based on the input workpiece part data (D), establishing an individual risk parameter (R) for the workpiece part (44) to be cut with respect to the risk of the workpiece part at least partially interacting with, and in particular wedging into, residual aggregate (46) remaining from the workpiece panel (40); (c) determining an individual cutting gap width (B) for said workpiece component (44) based on said established individual risk parameter (R).

2. The method (100) of claim 1, wherein the workpiece part data (D) comprises geometric data and / or material data associated with the individual workpiece parts (44).

3. 3. The method (100) of claim 2, wherein the geometric data includes an outer contour of the workpiece component (44) that is analyzed in method step (b) to establish the individual risk parameter (R).

4. The method (100) of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the individual risk parameter (R) is established as a probability of successful removal for automated removal of the workpiece component (44).

5. 5. The method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said individual risk parameter (R) is established and / or said individual cutting gap width (B) is determined using an AI agent.

6. The method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the individual risk parameter (R) and / or the individual cutting gap width (B) are established and / or determined in each case for individual workpiece parts (44) and / or groups of workpiece parts (44).

7. The method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the individual risk parameter (R) and / or the individual cutting gap width (B) are established and / or determined in each case for an individual region of a workpiece part (44), in particular for an individual cutting edge (43) of the workpiece part (44).

8. 8. The method (100) of claim 7, wherein a smaller cutting gap width (B) is determined for areas of the workpiece part (44) with simple edge geometries (47) than for areas of the workpiece part (44) with complex edge geometries (48).

9. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein different cutting gap widths (B) are determined for individual workpiece parts (44) or regions of a workpiece part (44), in particular for individual cutting edges (43) of the workpiece part.

10. 10. The method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a method step of selecting and / or adapting laser cutting parameters, in particular a laser cutting speed, a laser focus position and / or a laser power configuration, for a laser cutting method (200) for each of the individual cutting gap widths (B).

11. 11. The method (100) of claim 1, further comprising a method step of nesting the workpiece parts (44) having a predetermined individual cutting gap width (B) on the workpiece panel (40), the individual cutting gap width (B) being a characteristic quantity taken into account in the nesting method step.

12. A computer program product comprising instructions that, when the program is executed by a computer (50), cause the computer to carry out the method (100) of any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. A processing method (300) for processing a workpiece panel (40), said processing method comprising: - a method (100) according to any of claims 1 to 11 for determining the cutting gap width (B), a laser cutting method (200) for cutting the workpiece parts (44) from the workpiece panel (40) using a laser cutting beam (1) emitted from a cutting head (24), wherein, to cut the workpiece parts (44), the laser cutting beam (1) traverses a cutting contour (42) of the workpiece part (44) with the individual cutting gap width (B) determined according to the method (100) and specified for the laser cutting method (200).

14. 14. The method (300) of claim 13, further comprising automatic removal of the cut workpiece components (44) from the residual aggregate (46) remaining from the workpiece panel (40) after the laser cutting method (200).

15. A system (10) for processing a workpiece panel (40), said system (10) comprising: a computer (50) for carrying out the method (100) of the processing method (300) according to claim 13 or 14, a laser cutting device (20) for carrying out the laser cutting method (200) of the processing method (300).

Images