Laser Nozzle Orientation Control Under Tool Radius Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing controllers for laser machines fail to maintain the inclination direction of the nozzle with respect to the machining program path when tool radius compensation is applied, leading to reduced machine accuracy due to changes in the advancing direction of the tool center path.
Innovation Solution
A controller for a laser machine that includes a tool center path calculation unit, an inclination direction calculation unit, a tool posture calculation unit, a drive axis stroke calculation unit, and a drive axis control unit, which work together to maintain the nozzle's inclination direction with respect to the machining program path even when tool radius compensation is changed, ensuring improved machine accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the inclination angle of the nozzle is changed depending on machining shape, then the machining flexibility is improved, but the advancing direction of the tool center path changes and causes loss of control precision
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the inclination angle of the nozzle based on the machining shape while maintaining precise control through real-time calculation. The inclination direction calculation unit continuously computes the correct orientation based on the current machining program path, allowing the nozzle to adapt to different machining shapes (improving flexibility) while the control system maintains precision by recalculating the tool center path and drive axis strokes accordingly.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system uses feedback from the machining program analysis to continuously adjust and maintain the correct nozzle orientation. The inclination direction calculation unit receives information about the machining shape and program path, calculates the appropriate inclination direction, and feeds this back to the tool posture calculation unit, which then adjusts the drive axis control to maintain both machining flexibility and control precision.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a control device for a laser machining apparatus which can maintain the inclination direction of a nozzle with respect to a machining program route even during modification of the tool diameter correction amount, and which can improve machining accuracy. This control device 1 for a laser machining apparatus comprises: a tool center route calculation unit 12which calculates a tool center route on the basis of an offset vector with respect to a machining program route; a first inclination direction calculation unit 131 which calculates an inclination direction of a nozzle 2 with respect to the machining program route; a tool orientation calculation unit 14 which calculates an orientation of the nozzle 2 on the basis of the inclination direction of the nozzle 2 calculated by the first inclination direction calculation unit 131 and an inclination angle of the nozzle 2 in the inclination direction from a direction that is perpendicular to a plane of a workpiece W in a plane orthogonal to the machining program route; a drive shaft movement amount calculation unit 15 which calculates a movement amount of a drive shaft on the basis of the tool center route and the orientation of the nozzle 2; and a drive shaft control unit 16 which controls the drive shaft on the basis of the movement amount of the drive shaft.