Method for producing a component, which has an internal thread, from a worpiece, and system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a component (12), which has an internal thread (18), from a workpiece (14), the method involving: producing a core hole (42) in the workpiece (14) by cutting out a material core (44) from the workpiece (14) using a laser beam (32); acting on the workpiece (14) and / or on the material core (44) for the purpose of removing the material core (44) from the core hole (42); generating measurement data from the workpiece (14); determining the position of the produced core hole (42) by analyzing the measurement data; determining whether the material core (44) has been successfully removed from the core hole (42) by analyzing the measurement data; and producing the internal thread (18) at the determined position of the core hole (42) if a successful removal of the material core (44) from the core hole (42) is determined.

Description

[0001] Method for manufacturing a component with an internal thread from a workpiece and system

[0002] The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a component with an internal thread from a workpiece and a system for manufacturing a component with an internal thread from a workpiece.

[0003] To produce the internal thread, a core hole can be created in the workpiece using a laser cutting machine by cutting out a core of material. The internal thread can then be cut into the core hole.

[0004] The invention aims to provide a method for manufacturing a component with an internal thread from a workpiece and a system for manufacturing a component with an internal thread from a workpiece, each having improved properties, in particular enabling the safe and reliable automatic manufacturing of the component.

[0005] The invention solves this problem by providing a method with the features of claim 1 and a system with the features of claim 6. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

[0006] A method according to the invention serves to produce a component with an internal thread from a workpiece. The method comprises: producing a core hole in the workpiece by cutting out a core of material from the workpiece using a laser beam; acting on the workpiece and / or on the core of material for the purpose of removing the core of material from the core hole; generating measurement data from the workpiece; determining the position of the produced core hole by analyzing the measurement data; determining whether the core of material has been removed from the core hole by analyzing the measurement data; and producing the internal thread at the determined position of the core hole if a core of material has been removed from the core hole.

[0007] Advantageously, by acting on the workpiece and / or the core material and by determining whether the core material has been removed from the core hole, it can be ensured that no internal thread is produced if the core material is still in the core hole. This prevents the core material from unintentionally hindering the production of the internal thread. Therefore, the internal thread can be produced safely and reliably. In particular, the method is suitable for the automatic, preferably fully automatic, production of the component.

[0008] Another aspect of the process may be that, by applying pressure, the material core can be loosened if it becomes jammed or stuck in the core hole after the core hole has been made, so that the material core leaves the core hole.

[0009] Another aspect of the process is that the workpiece can change position after the core hole has been created without this change adversely affecting the production of the internal thread. In particular, slippage of the workpiece due to a pallet change and / or during the removal of the core material will not affect the production of the internal thread. Similarly, thermal distortion or deformation of the workpiece that may occur during the core hole production process will not affect the production of the internal thread. The internal thread can still be produced safely and reliably even if the workpiece unintentionally changes position, especially if it slips, warps, or deforms, between the core hole being created and the generation of the measurement data.

[0010] The workpiece can be made of steel, in particular structural steel. The workpiece can also be referred to as a sheet of material. The workpiece can be in the form of a sheet or plate. In particular, the width and / or length of the workpiece can be more than five times, in particular ten times, its thickness. The workpiece can have a thickness of at least 4 mm (millimeters), in particular 5 mm. For such workpiece thicknesses, the method is particularly advantageous in order to prevent tilting of the material core. The thickness of the workpiece can be at most 100 cm (centimeters), 30 cm, or 10 cm. However, it is also conceivable that the workpiece has a greater thickness.

[0011] The component can be a sheet metal blank. The portion of the workpiece remaining after cutting the component can be referred to as a remnant or residual grid. The core hole can be round. The core material can be cylindrical, particularly disc-shaped. The core material can also be referred to as residual material, slug, or waste.

[0012] The laser beam can have a power output in the range of 5 kW (kilowatts) to 50 kW, preferably 8 kW to 20 kW.

[0013] The action taken on the workpiece and / or on the material core for the purpose of removing the material core from the core hole can be carried out by moving the workpiece and / or the material core back and forth.

[0014] Removing the material core from the core hole can also be referred to as separating the material core and the core hole.

[0015] The action on the workpiece and / or on the material core can take place in a workstation that is different from a workstation for producing the core hole.

[0016] Generating measurement data can also be referred to as creating the measurement data. The generation of measurement data can occur, particularly in terms of timing, after the action has been applied to the workpiece and / or the material core.

[0017] Determining the position of the produced core hole can be done with respect to a reference point. Determining the position of the produced core hole includes determining the coordinates of the core hole in a coordinate system.

[0018] Determining the position of the produced core hole and verifying whether the material core has been removed from the core hole can be done simultaneously or at the same time.

[0019] The internal thread can be produced by cutting the thread into the core hole, particularly into a wall of the core hole. If no removal of the core material from the core hole is observed, the internal thread cannot be produced.

[0020] In a further development of the process, measurement data is generated in a single, and in particular, uninterrupted, step. Advantageously, this allows the component to be manufactured particularly quickly. Specifically, it eliminates the need to generate measurement data for determining the position and for verifying that the material has been removed from the core hole. In other words, the measurement data can be generated only once in a single operation. This results in a short manufacturing time for the component.

[0021] Generating measurement data in a single step can be understood as creating the measurement data in a single process or pass. The measurement data can be generated using a single acquisition method, a single measurement principle, a single measurement procedure, and / or a single measurement system.

[0022] In particular, the same measurement data can be used for determining the position and for detection.

[0023] The measurement data can be generated using either a non-contact or a contact measurement method. This can be achieved by measuring capacitance using a capacitor, by measuring the position of a button, or by measuring a reflected wave using, for example, radar radiation.

[0024] In a further development of the process, the measurement data is generated by creating image data of the workpiece with the core hole. The position of the manufactured core hole is determined by analyzing the image data. Whether the core material has been removed from the core hole is also determined by analyzing the image data. Image data can be generated particularly quickly and cost-effectively, which further reduces the manufacturing time for the component.

[0025] Image data can be created using one or more cameras. Image data can be analyzed using image processing.

[0026] Analyzing the image data to determine the position of the manufactured core hole may involve calculating a distance from the core hole to a reference point.

[0027] Analyzing the image data to determine whether the material core has been removed from the core hole can be performed using an image recognition algorithm, an image comparison algorithm, and / or a machine learning model. The image recognition algorithm may include feature extraction and / or feature reduction. The machine learning model may include a neural network, particularly one that has been trained. In a further development of the method, acting on the workpiece and / or the material core for the purpose of removing the material core from the core hole involves introducing vibrations, particularly oscillations, into the workpiece and / or the material core. Vibrations can ensure a particularly safe and reliable removal of the material core from the core hole. In particular, if the material core has become jammed or wedged in the core hole, this can release the wedged or wedged position.

[0028] Introducing vibrations into the workpiece and / or the material core can cause the workpiece and / or the material core to shake or rattle.

[0029] In a further development of the process, the component is cut out from the workpiece by creating an outer contour of the component using a laser beam, particularly after the internal thread has been produced. This allows the internal thread to be produced independently of an outer contour of the component. In particular, this eliminates the need to adapt a machine or system to an outer contour for manufacturing the component. Another advantage is that multiple components, each with an internal thread, can be manufactured from a single workpiece particularly easily and quickly.

[0030] The outer contour can be an outer boundary of the component.

[0031] Before producing the outer contour, the position of the workpiece with the internal thread can be measured, and the outer contour can be produced depending on the measured position of the workpiece.

[0032] A system according to the invention is designed for producing a component with an internal thread from a workpiece. The system comprises a laser cutting machine, a detector unit, a threading unit, and a control unit. The laser cutting machine is designed for producing a core hole and cutting out the component from the workpiece using a laser beam. The detector unit is designed for generating measurement data from the workpiece. The threading unit is designed for producing the internal thread in the core hole. The control unit is designed to determine the position of the produced core hole by analyzing the measurement data. Additionally, the control unit is designed to determine, by analyzing the measurement data, whether a core of material has been removed from the core hole.

[0033] The system can be trained and specifically designed to execute a previously described procedure. The previously given description of the procedure can also apply to identical or functionally equivalent features of the system, and / or vice versa.

[0034] The system can be a laser processing machine. The laser cutting machine can have a working area for creating the core hole and cutting out the component from the workpiece. The detector unit can have a working area for generating measurement data from the workpiece. The working area of ​​the laser cutting machine and the working area of ​​the detector unit can be two separate or independently configured working areas. Creating the core hole and cutting out the component from the workpiece can be performed when the workpiece is in the working area of ​​the laser cutting machine. Generating the measurement data can be performed when the workpiece is in the working area of ​​the detector unit.

[0035] The laser cutting machine can have a laser beam source for generating the laser beam. The laser beam machine can be configured to guide the laser beam along a predetermined trajectory for the purpose of creating the core hole.

[0036] The threading device can include a tap for producing the internal thread in the pilot hole. The threading device can also include an industrial robot, specifically an industrial robot arm. The tap can be attached to the industrial robot. This allows a thread to be produced at any point within the working area of ​​the threading device.

[0037] The control unit can be configured to control the laser cutting machine, the detector unit, and the thread cutting unit for the purpose of manufacturing the component. The control unit can include an electronic processing unit, in particular a computer and / or a microcontroller.

[0038] In a further development of the system, a transport device is included for moving the workpiece between the laser cutting machine and the threading unit. This allows another workpiece to be processed using the laser cutting machine while the internal thread is being produced using the threading unit. This increases the system's productivity.

[0039] The transport system can, for example, include a conveyor belt or conveyor system. Additionally or alternatively, the transport system can include a gripper that removes the workpiece from the laser cutting machine and / or places it in the threading unit. Additionally or alternatively, the transport system can include a workpiece changer.

[0040] Preferably, the transport device can include a pallet changer. The workpiece can be arranged on a pallet. The transport device can be configured to insert or remove the pallet within a working area of ​​a workstation, in particular the laser cutting machine, of the system.

[0041] In a further development of the system, the detector unit and the thread-cutting unit are configured as a single, and in particular the only, workstation within the system. This allows for a compact system design. In particular, this reduces the system's footprint.

[0042] The workstation can also be referred to as a processing station. The laser cutting machine and the detector system can be configured as two separate workstations.

[0043] In a further development of the system, the system features a separation device for removing the material core from the core hole. This allows the material core to be removed safely and reliably from the core hole if it becomes stuck or jammed.

[0044] The separating device can be configured to generate vibrations and introduce these vibrations into the workpiece and / or the material core. The separating device can be designed as a self-contained, particularly independent, workstation. The separating device can have a working area that is separate from the working area of ​​the laser cutting machine and separate from the working area of ​​the detector device. The transport device can be configured to transport the workpiece between the laser cutting machine and the separating device, as well as between the separating device and the detector device. In a further development of the system, the detector device includes at least one camera for generating image data of the workpiece.The control unit is designed to determine the position of the produced core hole by analyzing image data and to determine, also by analyzing image data, whether the material core has been removed from the core hole. This allows the detector system to be particularly cost-effective. The image data can be the measurement data.

[0045] Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the invention can be seen from the figures, their description, and the claims. All features disclosed in the figures, the description, and the claims can be essential to the invention, both individually and in any combination. The figures show:

[0046] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a system for manufacturing components from a workpiece,

[0047] Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of the workpiece with the components to be manufactured.

[0048] Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a laser cutting machine of the system,

[0049] Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation of one of the components to be manufactured.

[0050] Fig. 5 shows a schematic representation of a separation device of the system, and

[0051] Fig. 6 shows a schematic representation of a detector device and a thread cutting device of the system.

[0052] Fig. 1 shows a system 10 for manufacturing at least one component 12 from a workpiece 14.

[0053] The workpiece 14 is a plate, in particular a metal plate. The width and length of the workpiece 14 are more than five times, in particular ten times, its thickness. In the illustrated embodiment, the workpiece 14 has a thickness ranging from 5 mm to 15 cm. In the illustrated embodiment, the workpiece 14 is a plate made of structural steel with a thickness of 6 mm.

[0054] System 10 has a loading and unloading station 16. Workpieces 14, from which components 12 are to be manufactured, are placed in the loading and unloading station 16, for example by a user of system 10. Figure 1 shows an example of a workpiece 14 placed in the loading and unloading station 16. The outline of a component 12, which is to be manufactured from the workpiece 14, is shown as a dotted line on the workpiece 14.

[0055] The manufactured components 12 can be placed by the system 10 in the loading and unloading station 16 for removal from the system 10. Preferably, the system 10 can stack the manufactured components 12 in the loading and unloading station 16 so that the manufactured components 12 can be removed from the loading and unloading station 16 as a stack of components. In Fig. 1, one of the components 12 is shown as representative of the manufactured components 12. Manufactured components 12 are removed from the loading and unloading station 16, for example, by a user of the system 10.

[0056] Fig. 2 shows one of the workpieces 14. Fig. 2 also shows that, by way of example, nine components 12 are to be produced from the workpiece 14. Each component 12 has an internal thread 18 and is to be cut out of the workpiece 14 by guiding a laser beam along an outer contour 20 of the component. A portion 22 of the workpiece 14 that remains after the components 12 have been cut out is often referred to as the remnant or residual grid.

[0057] System 10 is designed to fully automatically produce components 12 from workpieces 14 located in the loading and unloading station 16. In other words, system 10 is designed to automatically and reliably produce components 12 from workpieces 14 without user intervention. For this purpose, the system has a control unit 24. The control unit 24 is an electronic computing unit, specifically a computer. The control unit 24 controls all units, particularly workstations, of system 10 so that they perform the activities described below.

[0058] Fig. 1 shows that the system 10 has a transport device 26. The transport device 26 is used to transport the workpieces 14 between the workstations of the system 10.

[0059] One of the workstations of system 10 is a laser cutting machine 28. The laser cutting machine 28 is a flatbed laser machine. The laser cutting machine 28 is shown by way of example in Fig. 3. The laser cutting machine 28 has a laser beam source 30 for generating the laser beam 32. The laser beam 32 has a power output in the range of 8 kW to 20 kW.

[0060] The laser beam 32 is fed to a laser processing head 34 of the laser cutting machine 28. The laser processing head 34 focuses the laser beam 32 onto the workpiece 14. Simultaneously, a cutting gas 36 is supplied to the laser processing head 34. The cutting gas 36 can be an inert gas, for example, nitrogen. The cutting gas 36 exits the laser processing head 34 together with the laser beam 32 in such a way that the material of the workpiece 14 is locally melted by the laser beam 32 and the locally melted material of the workpiece 14 is expelled by the cutting gas 36.

[0061] The laser cutting machine 28 is designed to guide the laser beam 32 over the workpiece 14 in a feed direction 38 by moving the laser processing head 34. This creates a cutting gap in the workpiece 14, whereby the component 12 is cut out of the workpiece 14.

[0062] During the cutting of component 12, the workpiece 14 is located in a working area 40 of the laser cutting machine 28.

[0063] To cut out the components 12 shown in Fig. 2 from the workpiece 14, the transport device 26 transports one of the workpieces 14 from the loading and unloading station 16 to the laser cutting machine 28. The transport device 26 places the workpiece 14 in the working area 40 of the laser cutting machine 28. In particular, the control device 24 controls the transport device 26 such that the workpiece 14 is transported by the transport device 26 from the loading and unloading station 16 to the laser cutting machine 28 and placed in the working area 40 of the laser cutting machine 28.

[0064] The laser cutting machine 28 produces all core holes 42 for manufacturing the internal threads 18 by cutting out material cores 44 from the workpiece 14 using the laser beam 32, see, for example, Fig. 4. In particular, the control unit 24 controls the laser cutting machine 28 such that all core holes 42 are cut out of the workpiece 14 using the laser beam 32. For the sake of clarity, only one of the components 12 cut out of the workpiece 14 is shown in Fig. 4 after the core holes 42 have been produced. The core hole 42 is round. The material core 44 shown in Fig. 4 is located in the core hole 42. The material core 44 is a disc. The laser cutting machine 28 has not yet produced the outer contour 20 of the component 12, which is why it is shown with dashed lines in Fig. 4.

[0065] After all core holes 42 have been produced in the workpiece 14, the transport device 26 removes the workpiece 14 from the working area 40 of the laser cutting machine 28. In particular, the control device 24 controls the transport device 26 such that the transport device 26 removes the workpiece 14 from the working area 40 of the laser cutting machine 28.

[0066] One of the workstations of system 10 is a separating unit 46, see Fig. 1. The separating unit 46 is shown by way of example in Fig. 5. The separating unit 46 is a workstation of system 10 designed separately from the laser cutting machine 28.

[0067] The transport device 26 transports the workpiece 14 to the separation device 46 after the core holes 42 have been produced. The transport device 26 places the workpiece 14 in a working area 48 of the separation device 46. In particular, the control device 24 controls the transport device 26 such that the workpiece 14 is transported from the laser cutting machine 28 to the separation device 46 and placed in the working area 48 of the separation device 46.

[0068] Fig. 5 shows the workpiece 14 in a sectional view. The material cores 44, which result from the production of the core holes 42, are partially located in the core holes 42. The material cores 44 arranged in the core holes 42 are tilted.

[0069] The separating device 46 has an unbalanced motor 50 for generating vibrations. The unbalanced motor 50 can, for example, comprise a motor and a mass. The motor can set the mass in motion. The mass can, for example, have an imbalance. Vibrations can be generated by moving the mass.

[0070] The control unit 24 controls the separation device 46 such that the unbalance motor 50 is positioned relative to the workpiece 14 in such a way that vibrations can be introduced into the workpiece 14 and / or into the material core 44. In the illustrated embodiment, the unbalance motor 50 contacts the workpiece 14. The vibrations of the unbalance motor 50 are introduced into the workpiece 14 and / or into the material cores 44. By introducing the vibrations, any jamming or jamming of the material cores 44 in the core holes 42 is to be released, so that the material cores 44 leave the core holes 42. In other words, the material cores 44 are to be separated from the workpiece 14 by means of vibrations. This allows the separating device 46 to act on the workpiece 14 and / or on the material core 44 for the purpose of removing the material cores 44 from the core hole 42.

[0071] After acting on the workpiece 14 and / or on the material cores 44 for the purpose of removing the material cores 44, the transport device 26 removes the workpiece 14 from the working area 48 of the separating device 46. In particular, the control device 24 controls the transport device 26 such that the transport device 26 removes the workpiece 14 from the working area 48 of the separating device 46.

[0072] One of the workstations of system 10 is a cutting station 52. The cutting station 52 is shown by way of example in Fig. 6. The cutting station 52 has a detector unit 54 and a threading unit 56. Thus, the detector unit 54 and the threading unit 56 are configured as one, and in particular the only, workstation of system 10. The cutting station 52, in particular the detector unit 54 and / or the threading unit 56, is a workstation of system 10 that is configured separately from the laser cutting machine 28. In the illustrated embodiment, the cutting station 52 is a workstation configured separately from the separating unit 46. However, it is also conceivable that the detector unit 54 and / or the threading unit 56 together with the separating unit 46 are configured as one, and in particular the only, workstation of system 10.

[0073] The transport device 26 transports the workpiece 14 to the detector device 54. The transport device 26 places the workpiece 14 in a working area 58 of the detector device 54. In particular, the control device 24 controls the transport device 26 such that the workpiece 14 is transported from the separating device 46 to the detector device 54 and placed in the working area 58 of the detector device 54.

[0074] The detector device 54 generates measurement data, in particular image data, of the workpiece 14. The detector device 54 has at least one camera 62 for generating image data of the workpiece 14. In the illustrated embodiment, two cameras 62 are shown. However, it is also conceivable that the detector device 54 has a higher or lower number of cameras 62.

[0075] Each camera 62 has an image field 64. An overlap of the image fields 64 of the cameras 62 forms the working area 58 of the detector device 54. The working area 58 can be limited by a free pallet of a pallet changer of the transport device 26. The pallet changer can be configured to place the workpiece 14 in the working area 40 of the laser cutting machine 28. In other words, if the workpiece 14 is arranged in the working area 58 of the detector device 54, the workpiece 14 can rest on a free pallet designed for placing the workpiece 14 in the working area 40 of the laser cutting machine 28.

[0076] When the workpiece 14 is positioned in the working area 58 of the detector device 54, each camera 62 of the detector device 54 can take a photograph of the workpiece 14. All photographs from the cameras 62 together constitute the measurement data, in particular the image data, of the detector device 54.

[0077] The detector unit 54 generates the image data of the workpiece 14 with the core holes 42 in a single, uninterrupted step. In particular, the control unit 24 controls the cameras 62 in such a way that all cameras 62 of the detector unit 54 take a photograph of the workpiece 14 with the core holes 42 at the same time.

[0078] The control unit 24 analyzes the image data and, based on this analysis, determines the position of each core hole 42 within a coordinate system of the thread cutting device 56. Additionally, the control unit 24 uses the image data to determine whether each core hole 42 is free of the cut-out material core 44. For this purpose, the control unit 24 incorporates an image processing algorithm that analyzes the image data. This image processing algorithm is a machine learning model. The machine learning model is trained to determine the position of the core holes 42 and to ascertain whether each core hole 42 is free of the material core 44.

[0079] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, all material cores 44 have been removed from the core holes 42. Therefore, the control device 24 determines that each core hole 42 is free of the material core 44. If the removal of a material core 44 from the core hole 42, particularly by means of the separating device 46, is unsuccessful and the material core 44 is therefore located in the core hole 42, the control device 24 determines that the core hole 42 is not free. In this case, the control device 24 either aborts the production of the components 12 or initiates and / or controls a repeated placement of the workpiece 14 in the separating device 46 to act on the workpiece 14 and / or on the material core 44 for the purpose of removing the material core 44 from the core hole 42.

[0080] The thread cutting device 56 has a tap 66 for producing the internal threads 18 in the pilot holes 42. The tap 66 is attached to an industrial robot 68 of the thread cutting device 56.

[0081] The control unit 24 controls the thread-cutting device 56 such that the tap 66 produces the internal thread 18 in each pilot hole 42. Each internal thread 18 is produced by cutting the thread into a wall of the pilot hole 42. For this purpose, the control unit 24 controls the thread-cutting device 56 such that the tap 66 is positioned successively at each determined position of the pilot holes 42 for producing the internal threads 18. This ensures that the internal threads 18 are produced based on the determined positions of the pilot holes 42. As a result, the internal threads 18 are produced precisely, particularly at the exact position of the pilot holes 42.

[0082] The transport device 26 transports the workpiece 14 to the laser cutting machine 28 after the internal threads 18 have been produced. The transport device 26 places the workpiece 14 in the working area 40 of the laser cutting machine 28. In particular, the control unit 24 controls the transport device 26 such that the workpiece 14 is transported from the detector device to the laser cutting machine 28 and placed in the working area 40 of the laser cutting machine 28. For example, the transport of the workpiece 14 from the working area 58 of the detector device 54 to the working area 40 of the laser cutting machine 28 can be accomplished by changing the pallet.

[0083] The laser cutting machine 28 cuts the components 12 out of the workpiece 14 by creating the outer contour 20 of the components 12 using the laser beam 32. The position of the workpiece 14 in the laser cutting machine 28 can be measured. The cutting of the components 12 out of the workpiece 14 can be carried out based on the measured position of the workpiece 14. Thus, the creation of the outer contours 20 of the components 12 takes place after the creation of the internal threads 18. In particular, the control device 24 is designed to control the laser cutting machine 28 in such a way that the components 12 are cut out of the workpiece 14.

[0084] During the period between the production of the core holes 42 and the production of the outer contour 20 of the components, the laser cutting machine 28 can process another workpiece. In other words, while the workpiece 14 is within the working area 58 of the detector unit 54, particularly during the production of the internal threads 18, the laser cutting machine 28 can process the other workpiece. Processing the other workpiece can, for example, include producing core holes in the workpiece and / or cutting out components from the workpiece.

[0085] After the outer contours 20 of the components 12 have been produced, the manufactured components 12, together with the remaining part 22 of the workpiece 14, can be removed from the working area 40 of the laser cutting machine 28. In particular, the control unit 24 controls the transport device 26 such that the components 12 are removed from the working area 40 of the laser cutting machine 28 and transported to the loading and unloading station 16 by means of the transport device 26.

[0086] Alternatively, the components 12, together with the remaining part 22 of the workpiece 14, can be transported to the separating device 46 and placed in the working area 48 of the separating device 46. The separating device 46 can introduce vibrations into the remaining part 22 of the workpiece 14 and / or into at least one of the components 12 for the purpose of removing the components 12 from the remaining part 22 of the workpiece 14 and / or for the purpose of separating the components 12 from the remaining part 22 of the workpiece 14. Subsequently, the components 12 and the remaining part 22 of the workpiece 14 can be removed from the working area 48 of the separating device 46 and preferably transported to the loading and unloading station 16 by means of the transport device 26.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Method for manufacturing a component (12) having an internal thread (18) from a workpiece (14), the method comprising: Producing a core hole (42) in the workpiece (14) by cutting out a material core (44) from the workpiece (14) using a laser beam (32), acting on the workpiece (14) and / or on the material core (44) for the purpose of removing the material core (44) from the core hole (42), Generating measurement data from the workpiece (14), Determining the position of the manufactured core hole (42) by analyzing the measurement data, Determine whether the material core (44) has been removed from the core hole (42) by analyzing the measurement data, and Producing the internal thread (18) at the determined position of the core hole (42) when a removed material core (44) is detected from the core hole (42).

2. Method according to claim 1, where the generation of measurement data takes place in a single, in particular uninterrupted, step.

3. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the generation of the measurement data is carried out by creating image data of the workpiece (14), wherein the position of the produced core hole (42) is determined by analyzing the image data, where determining whether the material core (44) has been removed from the core hole (42) is done by analyzing the image data.

4. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein acting on the workpiece (14) and / or on the material core (44) includes introducing vibrations into the workpiece (14) and / or into the material core (44).

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein after producing the internal thread (18) the component (12) is cut out of the workpiece (14) by producing an outer contour (20) of the component (12) using the laser beam (32).

6. System (10) for manufacturing a component (12) with an internal thread (18) from a workpiece (14), comprising: a laser cutting machine (28) for producing a core hole (42) and cutting out the component (12) from the workpiece (14) using a laser beam (32), a detector device (54) for generating measurement data from the workpiece (14), a thread cutting device (56) for producing the internal thread (18) in the core hole (42), a control device (24) which is designed to determine the position of the manufactured core hole (42) by analyzing the measurement data and to determine whether a material core (44) has been removed from the core hole (42).

7. System (10) according to claim 6, wherein the system (10) comprises a transport device (26) for transporting the workpiece (14) between the laser cutting machine (28) and the thread cutting device (56).

8. System (10) according to any one of the preceding claims 6 to 7, wherein the detector device (54) and the thread cutting device (56) are designed as a workstation of the system (10).

9. System (10) according to any one of the preceding claims 6 to 8, wherein the system (10) has a separating device (46) for removing the material core (44) from the core hole (42).

10. System (10) according to any one of the preceding claims 6 to 9, wherein the detector device (54) has at least one camera (62) for creating image data of the workpiece (14), wherein the control device (24) is designed to determine the position of the produced core hole (42) by analyzing the image data and to determine, by analyzing the image data, whether the material core (44) has been removed from the core hole (42).

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