Laser Processing Machine Redundant Axes Deflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser processing machines face limitations in achieving high processing speeds due to significant accelerations required in areas with strong direction changes, necessitating speed reductions that hinder performance.
Innovation Solution
A redundant axis system with dynamic additional drives for the optical processing unit, allowing for pivotable mounting and highly dynamic deflection, reducing the need to move the displacement unit and minimizing critical mass, especially in flatbed machines, while maintaining constant optical path conditions through imaging optics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the laser processing head is moved at high speeds with strong direction changes, then processing speed is improved, but acceleration causes speed reduction in processing areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the movement function into two independent parts: the displacement unit (XY slide) handles positioning while the optical processing unit handles the actual processing with redundant axes. This allows the displacement unit to move at moderate speeds while the optical unit compensates for direction changes independently, eliminating the need to reduce speed during strong direction changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds redundant axes to the optical processing unit, creating a higher-dimensional movement capability. Instead of moving the entire displacement unit through complex trajectories, the optical unit can deflect independently along additional degrees of freedom, allowing high-speed processing without the acceleration penalties of moving the full assembly.
2Productivity
If the optical processing unit is deflected with small forces using pendulum-like motion, then dynamic values are improved, but the image on the workpiece surface changes due to focus shifting
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors the position and orientation of the optical processing unit during pendulum-like deflection and dynamically adjusts the focus position using imaging optics. This feedback mechanism compensates for focus shifts caused by deflection, maintaining constant optical path conditions and ensuring consistent image quality on the workpiece surface throughout high-speed processing.
3Weight of moving object
If the entire optical processing unit is deflected, then the critical moving mass in Z direction is reduced, but the complexity of the redundant axis system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the high-dynamics movement function from the heavy displacement unit and places it in the lighter optical processing unit with redundant axes. By taking out the dynamic compensation function and implementing it separately with smaller, more dynamic actuators, the system reduces the critical moving mass in the Z direction while maintaining the necessary control capability through the extracted redundant axis functionality.
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
Significantly increases machine performance by enabling higher acceleration, jerk, and speed values, allowing for faster processing without compromising image quality on the workpiece surface.
Implementation Method 1
the processing unit has imaging optics, in particular a telescope arrangement, which images the coupled laser beam onto the workpiece to be processed
Implementation Method 2
an optical processing unit provided on the moving unit, which moves along with the moving unit and focuses the laser beam onto the workpiece to be machined
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
In the case of a laser processing machine (1) for processing workpieces (2) by means of a laser beam (3), comprising a work support (4) for workpieces (2) to be processed, a traversing unit (5), which can be made to traverse along one or a least two main axes (X, Y) in relation to the work support (4), and an optical processing unit (6), which is provided on the traversing unit (5) and focuses the laser beam (3) on the workpiece (2) to be processed, it is provided that the processing unit (6) is mounted pivotably at its one end (6a) with respect to the work support (4) on the traversing unit (5) about one or at least two additional axes (A, B), that a drive (7) is respectively provided for each additional axis (A, B) on the traversing unit (5) or on the processing unit (6) for deflecting the other end (6b) of the processing unit (6) with respect to the work support (4) about the respective additional axis (A, B), and that a controller (8) is provided, which divides a desired path of the laser beam (4) on the workpiece (2) into a movement of the traversing unit (5) along the one or at least two main axes (X, Y) and a deflection of the processing unit (6) about the one or at least two additional axes (A, B) and activates the drives (7, 8) of the traversing unit (5) and of the processing unit (6) correspondingly.