System comprising a laser cutting machine and a mobile recording device

Abstract

The invention relates to a system comprising a laser cutting machine (12) which is designed to produce a laser-cut edge (10) in a workpiece by means of a laser beam, and a mobile recording device (14) which is designed to generate image data of a laser-cut edge (10) produced by the laser cutting machine (12) and to transmit the image data to a computing unit (15) of the system, characterised in that the computing unit (15) is designed to detect the complete absence of the representation of a laser-cut edge (10) or a section insufficiently small for an evaluation of the image data or an insufficiently sharp representation of a laser-cut edge (10) in the image data.

Description

[0001] 2024P00036WC) - 1 - 07 / 28 / 2025

[0002] System comprising a laser cutting machine and a mobile recording device

[0003] Background of the invention

[0004] The invention relates to a system comprising a laser cutting machine configured to generate a laser cutting edge in a workpiece by means of a laser beam, and a mobile recording device configured to generate image data of a laser cutting edge generated by the laser cutting machine and to transmit the image data to a computing unit of the system.

[0005] High-quality components manufactured from sheet-shaped workpieces using laser cutting require high-quality cutting edges produced by the laser. The properties of these cutting edges are influenced by laser parameters such as wavelength, feed rate, average power, pulse duration, and pulse energy. Therefore, these laser parameters must be adjusted to the specific workpiece, particularly its material and thickness, before cutting. To achieve this, a reference component is cut using the standard laser parameters for the workpiece in question. A photograph of the cutting edge of this reference component is then manually taken, and the image data is transmitted to the laser cutting machine's processing unit.Based on the image data of the reference component's cutting edge, the processing unit optimizes the parameters of the working laser before serial production of the components begins. Since the image of the reference component's cutting edge is captured manually, errors can occur. In particular, a cutting edge might be completely missing from the image, or it might be partially obscured, for example, by fingers, making it impossible to analyze the image for laser parameter optimization. Furthermore, because the image data can also be transmitted to central servers, images showing, for example, the laser cutting machine's setup area and / or people must be rejected for data protection reasons.

[0006] Object of the invention

[0007] The invention is based on the objective of providing a system consisting of a laser cutting machine and a recording device with which unusable recordings of cutting edges of a component can be sorted out for the purpose of optimizing laser parameters.

[0008] Description of the invention

[0009] This problem is solved according to the invention by a system comprising a laser cutting machine which is configured to generate a laser cutting edge in a workpiece by means of a laser beam, and a mobile recording device which is configured to generate image data of a laser cutting edge generated by the laser cutting machine and to transmit the image data to a computing unit of the system, which is characterized in that the computing unit is configured to detect the complete absence of the representation of a laser cutting edge or of an insufficiently small section for evaluation of the image data or an insufficiently sharp representation of a laser cutting edge in the image data.

[0010] The dependent claims relate to preferred embodiments. (2024P00036WC) - 3 - 28.07.2025

[0011] Detecting a missing or poorly rendered cutting edge in the image data from the recording device allows the processing unit to exclude this image data from use in a laser parameter optimization program and / or to suppress its transmission to a server, network, or other machines. Preferably, the processing unit can completely delete erroneous image data. The processing unit can be part of the laser cutting machine or a separate computer.

[0012] For reliable evaluation of the image data from the recording device, the processing unit can be connected to a storage device containing image data from a large number of laser cutting edges. By comparing the image data from the recording device with the stored image data of the cutting edges, the processing unit is able to detect a cutting edge in the image data with a high degree of probability.

[0013] The processing unit can preferably contain at least one program of a trained artificial intelligence for evaluating the image data. This trained artificial intelligence can be trained to detect the complete absence of a laser cutting edge, an insufficiently small section of the image for evaluation, or an insufficiently sharp representation of a laser cutting edge in the image data. Alternatively, this trained artificial intelligence can be used to quickly compare the image data from the recording device with stored image data of cutting edges, with increasing accuracy in detecting a cutting edge, its absence, or its incorrect representation in the recorded image data.

[0014] Further advantages arise when the processing unit is connected to a display device. This display device allows, in particular, the output of an error message if the processing unit detects the absence of a laser cutting edge or an incorrect representation of a laser cutting edge in the image data. An alarm signal can also be displayed. 2024P00036WQ - 4 - 28.07.2025

[0015] Furthermore, instructions can be issued to the operator of the recording device via the display unit. In particular, the operator can be instructed to take another image of the cutting edge, thus avoiding the errors made when taking the unusable image. It can also be advantageous if the processing unit is connected to an input device. Using the input device, the laser cutting machine operator can, for example, provide the system with information about the material and thickness of the reference component, thereby narrowing down the evaluation of the image data from the recording device.

[0016] Furthermore, the computing unit can be connected to the laser cutting machine's control unit. Alternatively, the computing unit can also be integrated into the control unit. This allows the laser parameters optimized by the computing unit to be directly adjusted on the laser cutting machine.

[0017] The recording device can preferably be a handheld scanner, a webcam, or a mobile phone. These devices are easy to use and capable of producing high-contrast images of a cutting edge of a reference component, which can then be evaluated by the processing unit. If a mobile phone is used as the recording device, it can simultaneously serve as a display for the operator. The processing unit can send error messages and instructions to the mobile phone and display them on its screen.

[0018] The recording device can be connected wirelessly or via a cable to the processing unit in order to transfer the image data of the recordings to the processing unit.

[0019] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description, the claims, and the drawings. According to the invention, the features mentioned above and those further elaborated can each be used individually or in any suitable combination. The embodiments shown and described are not to be understood as an exhaustive list, but rather serve as examples for illustrating the invention.

[0020] Detailed description of the invention and drawing

[0021] Fig. 1a shows a representation of a laser cutting edge;

[0022] Fig. lb shows a representation of a hidden laser cutting edge;

[0023] Fig. 2a, b shows a laser cutting machine and a recording device of a system according to the invention.

[0024] Fig. 1a shows a photograph of a laser cutting edge 10 of a reference component.

[0025] Figure 11 (Fig. 2b) shows this image in high quality and can therefore be used to optimize the parameters of a working laser in a laser cutting machine.

[0026] 12 (Fig. 2a). In contrast, the laser cutting edge 10 in Fig. 1b is obscured by finger 13. This image is therefore unusable for further evaluation and optimization of laser parameters. Images such as the one shown in Fig. 1b with insufficient or completely missing representations of a laser cutting edge 10 must therefore be detected by a system according to the invention as shown in Fig. 2 and excluded from further use.

[0027] The system shown in Fig. 2 comprises a laser cutting machine 12, shown in Fig. 2a, and a scanning device 14 for laser cutting edges 10 of a reference component 11, shown in Fig. 2b, wherein the scanning device 14 is designed here as a handheld scanner. The laser cutting machine 12 in Fig. 2a has a processing unit 15, which is connected to a display device 16, here a screen, and to an input device 17 in the form of a keyboard. The scanning device 14 from Fig. 2b is connected to the processing unit 15 via a cable 18. Image data of a scan of a laser cutting edge 10 of the reference component 11, taken by the scanning device 14, can be transmitted to the processing unit 15 via this cable.The processing unit 15 is configured to recognize from the transmitted image data whether the image shows a laser cutting edge 10 at all, and also whether, if a laser cutting edge 10 is present, it is depicted in such a way that the image data is suitable for optimizing parameters of the laser cutting machine 12, such as power, pulse duration, and feed rate of the laser. For this purpose, the processing unit 15 may have or be connected to a storage unit (not shown) in which the image data of a large number of images of laser cutting edges 10 are stored. By comparing the image data of the recording device 14 with this stored image data, the processing unit 15 can evaluate the transmitted image data.If artificial intelligence algorithms can be executed in the processing unit 15, comparisons of the transmitted image data with a large amount of image data stored in the storage unit can be carried out quickly. Additional information, such as the material and thickness of the reference component 11, can also be transmitted to the processing unit 15 via the input device 17, allowing it to restrict the image data comparisons to be performed accordingly.

[0028] If the processing unit 15 detects a missing or insufficient representation of a laser cutting edge 10 in a recording, an error message can be displayed to an operator of the machine 12 via the display unit 16. In addition to an error message, instructions such as a request to repeat the recording can also be displayed on the display unit 16.

[0029] The recording device 14 can alternatively be a handheld scanner, a mobile phone, or a webcam. Furthermore, it is possible to wirelessly transmit the image data from the recording device 14 to the processing unit 15.

Claims

2024P00036WC) - 7 - 07 / 28 / 2025 Protection claims 1. System comprising a laser cutting machine (12) configured to generate a laser cutting edge (10) in a workpiece by means of a laser beam, and a mobile recording device (14) configured to generate image data of a laser cutting edge (10) generated by the laser cutting machine (12) and to transmit the image data to a computing unit (15) of the system, characterized in that the computing unit (15) is configured to detect the complete absence of a representation of a laser cutting edge (10) or of an insufficiently small section for evaluation of the image data or an insufficiently sharp representation of a laser cutting edge (10) in the image data.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the computing unit (15) is connected to a storage device in which image data of a large number of laser cutting edges (10) are stored.

3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one program of a trained artificial intelligence is stored in the computing unit (15).

4. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the computing unit (15) is equipped with a display device (16) is connected.

5. System according to claim 4, characterized in that an error message can be output via the display device (16) if the computing unit (15) detects the absence of a laser cutting edge (10) or an incorrect representation of a cutting edge (10) in the image data. 2024P00036WC) - 8 - 07 / 28 / 2025 6. System according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that instructions can be output to an operator of the recording device (14) via the display device (16).

7. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the computing unit (15) is connected to an input device (17).

8. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the computing unit (15) is connected to a control device of the laser cutting machine (12).

9. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recording device (14) is a handheld scanner, a webcam or a mobile phone.

10. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recording device (14) is connected wirelessly or via a cable (18) to the computing unit (15).

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