Laser Head Reflector for Remote Welding Position Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
In remote laser welding, it is challenging to accurately determine if the laser beam is directed to the desired position on the workpiece due to the distance between the laser emitting apparatus and the workpiece, making it difficult to verify the correct operation of the robot and mirror during test operations.
Innovation Solution
A laser working apparatus that includes a laser head with a reflector, a laser oscillator capable of outputting both a welding laser beam and a visible beam, a mover to move the laser head, and a controller that allows for a test mode where the visible beam is used to indicate a reference position or working pattern on the workpiece, facilitating the verification of the laser beam's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a laser emitting apparatus is distanced from the workpiece for remote welding, then the robot arm can access complex geometries and avoid interference, but it becomes difficult to verify whether the laser beam is directed to the desired position on the workpiece during test operations
Solution Approach 1:
A visible beam (such as a green laser beam) is introduced as an intermediary to indicate the position and direction of the infrared welding laser beam. The visible beam is emitted along with or in place of the welding laser beam to provide visual feedback on the laser beam's target position on the workpiece, making it easy to verify correct operation during test runs.
Solution Approach 2:
The laser emitting apparatus emits a visible beam (typically green) that can be seen by operators, in contrast to the invisible infrared welding laser beam. This color change from invisible to visible allows operators to easily detect and verify the laser beam's position and direction on the workpiece during testing, while the same apparatus can switch to emitting the invisible welding laser beam for actual welding operations.
2Productivity
If off-line teaching is used to program the robot movement route, then programming efficiency is improved, but the teaching data cannot be immediately verified on actual equipment without physical testing
Solution Approach 1:
The laser emitting apparatus itself provides the verification function by emitting a visible beam that automatically indicates the laser beam target position on the workpiece during test operations. The system self-verifies the correctness of the teaching data by visually showing whether the laser beam is directed to the desired position, eliminating the need for additional external verification equipment or manual checking procedures.
3Ease of operation
If a welding gun is used for conventional welding, then it is easy to visually confirm the welding position, but the robot arm cannot access complex geometries and is limited by proximity requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical welding gun is replaced with a laser emitting apparatus that uses optical fields instead of mechanical contact. The laser beam can travel through air to reach distant or hard-to-access areas on the workpiece, providing the adaptability needed for complex geometries while maintaining visual confirmation capability through the visible beam indicator.
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
Enables easier verification of the laser beam's target position and the correct alignment of the working pattern, reducing the complexity of checking instruction operations and improving the accuracy of remote welding processes.
Implementation Method 1
a laser oscillator configured to output a laser beam for welding and a visible beam
Implementation Method 2
a laser head provided with a reflector; the reflector being configured to change a direction of an input beam
Data Source
AI summary
A laser working apparatus includes: a laser head provided with a reflector which changes the direction of any one of a laser beam and a visible light; a robot which moves the laser head; and a robot control apparatus. When laser working is performed, the robot control apparatus controls the laser head so that the laser beam can draw a predetermined working pattern on the basis of a predetermined working position on a work piece. When an operation checking work is performed, the robot control apparatus controls the laser head so that the visible light beam can be emitted only to a reference position of the working pattern.