Laser Machining Apparatus Guide Pattern for Workpiece Re-alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional laser machining apparatuses struggle to align the workpiece accurately after an interruption in machining, leading to potential misalignment and failure to resume machining according to the desired pattern.

Innovation Solution

A laser machining apparatus equipped with a laser beam emission device, a visible laser beam emission device, and a controller that generates a guide pattern based on the stopping position and machining data, projecting this pattern onto the workpiece to facilitate accurate re-alignment and resume machining.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If laser beam machining is interrupted and then resumed, then productivity is maintained by continuing the operation, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to workpiece position shift and misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemachining continuityVSAvoidmachining alignment accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by calculating and displaying guide patterns before resuming machining. The guide pattern shows the intended machining path and stopping position, allowing the operator to pre-align the workpiece correctly before continuing the operation, thus preventing misalignment issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides visual feedback by displaying the guide pattern on the workpiece surface, which shows the relationship between the current stopping position and the intended machining path. This feedback enables the operator to verify alignment accuracy and make necessary adjustments before resuming machining.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If the workpiece position is adjusted after interruption, then manufacturing precision can be restored, but loss of time occurs due to re-alignment operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemachining alignment accuracyVSAvoidre-alignment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The guide pattern automatically displays the correct stopping position and machining path based on the stored machining data. The system serves itself by providing all necessary alignment information without requiring complex measurement tools or extensive operator intervention, thus reducing re-alignment time while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If a guide pattern is projected using visible laser beam, then ease of operation is improved by enabling visual alignment, but use of energy increases due to additional laser emission

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkpiece alignment easeVSAvoidvisible laser beam energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The visible laser beam is used only partially - specifically for projecting the guide pattern during alignment phase before machining resumes. The visible laser is not used continuously throughout the entire machining process, but only when needed for alignment, thus minimizing energy consumption while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 precise re-alignment of the workpiece, ensuring that machining can be resumed according to the original pattern, even after interruptions, by using a guide pattern generated from the stopping position and machining data.

Implementation Method 1

a laser beam emission device configured to emit a laser beam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser ablation: Laser Ablation

Implementation Method 2

a visible laser beam emission device configured to emit a visible laser beam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight: Light

Data Source

PatentUS10661385B2Laser machining apparatus projecting guide pattern onto workpiece by irradiating visible laser beam thereon

Publication Date: 2020.05.26 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A laser machining apparatus includes: a laser beam emission device; a visible laser beam emission device; a scanner; and a controller. The controller is configured to perform: generating machining data including coordinate data representing a machining pattern to be machined on a workpiece; machining the workpiece with a laser beam according to the machining data by controlling the laser beam emission device and the scanner; generating, in response to receiving a resuming command after the machining has been halted at a stopping position, a guide pattern based on a stopping point coordinate and the machining data, the guide pattern being used for resuming the machining from the stopping position, the stopping point coordinate indicating the stopping position and being determined by the coordinate data; and projecting the guide pattern onto the workpiece with a visible laser beam by controlling the visible laser beam emission device and the scanner.