Laser Machine Controller for Automated Nesting of Additional Parts
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser beam machining systems lack the capability to smoothly execute procedures for additional part production, particularly in efficiently determining part arrangements and generating machining programs based on changing order quantities.
Innovation Solution
A controller for a laser beam machine equipped with a display, inputter, computing apparatus, and communication circuit, allowing for the input of additional order quantities and nesting process instructions, which generates and transmits control commands to produce parts based on machining programs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a nesting process is performed to determine arrangement of parts in workpieces for additional production, then part arrangement optimization is achieved, but the procedure becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the nesting process automatically in advance to determine the optimal arrangement of parts in workpieces before machining begins. The controller stores nesting results and automatically retrieves them when additional production is needed, eliminating the need for operators to manually perform complex arrangement calculations each time additional parts are required.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller automatically generates machining programs based on stored nesting results when additional production quantities are input. The system serves itself by automatically retrieving nesting data, calculating required workpieces, and generating control programs without requiring external manual intervention for these complex computational tasks.
2Ease of operation
If machining programs are automatically generated based on nesting results, then user workload is reduced, but the system requires sophisticated automation capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The controller stores nesting results in advance, including part arrangements and workpiece configurations. When additional production is needed, the system automatically retrieves these pre-stored results and uses them to generate machining programs, eliminating the need for users to manually create programs each time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects when additional production quantity is input, retrieves the corresponding nesting results, calculates the number of workpieces needed, and generates machining programs in a closed-loop automated fashion. This feedback mechanism ensures the system responds automatically to production requirements.
3Loss of time
If the system stores and retrieves nesting results automatically, then production response time is improved, but memory and data management requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The controller extracts and stores only the essential nesting results data needed for additional production, such as part arrangements, workpiece configurations, and quantity relationships. By extracting only the necessary data elements rather than storing complete machining programs, the system reduces storage requirements while maintaining fast retrieval capability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A controller for a laser beam machine includes a display, an inputter, a computing apparatus, and a communication circuit. The display is configured to display a first machining result indicating a machining result of a first part produced by the laser beam machine. The laser beam machine operates based on a first control command generated by execution of at least one machining program. The inputter is configured to, when an additional order quantity of the first part is defined as a first quantity and a process including making a determination of arrangement of the first quantity of the first part in at least one workpiece is defined as a nesting process, receive input of the first quantity or input of a first instruction to change the first quantity and a start instruction for the nesting process. The computing apparatus is configured to generate a second control command that causes the laser beam machine to produce the first quantity of the first part from the at least one workpiece by executing at least one additional machining program generated based on a result of the nesting process. The communication circuit is configured to transmit the second control command to the laser beam machine.