Laser Beam Amplitude Control for Precise Sheet Metal Corner Cutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laser machining apparatuses struggle to cut sheet metal corners with high precision when vibrating the laser beam in a predetermined pattern, leading to potential machining defects.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a galvano scanner unit to vibrate the laser beam in specific patterns, such as parallel, orthogonal, circular, C-shaped, and 8-shaped patterns, controlled by an NC device to adjust the beam's position and frequency, allowing precise cutting of sheet metal corners by displacing the laser beam's irradiation position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the laser beam is vibrated in a predetermined vibration pattern to improve cutting efficiency, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates at corner portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the vibration pattern changeable during the cutting process. The control device dynamically switches between different vibration patterns (first pattern for general cutting, second pattern for corner portions) based on the cutting position, allowing the system to adapt its behavior to different machining requirements and resolve the contradiction between productivity and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by using different vibration patterns for different regions of the workpiece. The first vibration pattern is used for non-corner portions where high-speed cutting is needed, while the second vibration pattern is specifically applied to corner portions where high precision is required, thus optimizing both productivity and corner cutting precision locally.
2Speed
If the laser beam is vibrated in a predetermined vibration pattern to improve cutting speed, then speed is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control device dynamically adjusts the vibration pattern based on cutting position. For corner portions, it switches to a second vibration pattern that prioritizes precision over speed, while for non-corner portions, it uses a first vibration pattern that prioritizes cutting speed, thus resolving the speed-precision contradiction through dynamic adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different vibration patterns are applied to different locations: the first vibration pattern (optimized for speed) is used for non-corner portions, while the second vibration pattern (optimized for precision) is used for corner portions, allowing the system to achieve high speed where precision is less critical and high precision where it matters most.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables high-precision cutting of sheet metal corners by accurately controlling the laser beam's vibration patterns, reducing machining defects and ensuring precise production of cornered products.
Implementation Method 1
a beam vibrating mechanism that vibrates the laser beam in a predetermined vibration pattern
Implementation Method 2
Laser machining apparatuses that cut sheet metals by laser beams emitted from laser oscillators
Data Source
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AI summary
A moving mechanism relatively moves a machining head emitting a laser beam, with respect to a sheet metal along a surface of the sheet metal (W). A beam vibrating mechanism vibrates the laser beam for irradiation on the sheet metal (W) in a predetermined vibration pattern, while the machining head is relatively moved by the moving mechanism. A vibration control section controls the beam vibrating mechanism to progressively reduce an amplitude of the vibration pattern from a first position (P1) to a corner portion when the machining head moves toward the corner portion and reaches the first position (P1) before the corner portion by a predetermined distance (L1), and progressively increase the amplitude of the vibration pattern until the machining head reaches a second position (P2) ahead of the corner portion by the predetermined distance from the corner portion, at a time of producing a product having the corner portion.