Laser Processing Head Shaft Adjustment Using Sensor Baselines

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional laser processing machines require lengthy recovery times and produce defective products due to vibration issues in the drive shaft, necessitating repeated adjustments and stopping of the mechanical apparatus.

Innovation Solution

A laser processing machine equipped with a sensor and control apparatus that determines if the drive shaft needs adjustment by comparing sensor data with prestored data, allowing for automatic adjustment during a separate process than the laser processing operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the mechanical apparatus is stopped for repeated adjustments of the shaft and actual processing, then the shaft can be adjusted to恢复正常状态, but the recovery time becomes long and defective products are produced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshaft operation normalityVSAvoidrecovery time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs shaft adjustment in a different process (maintenance mode) separate from the laser processing process (production mode). This preliminary separation allows adjustment to be done before defective products are produced, preventing the need to stop during actual processing and thereby reducing recovery time while maintaining shaft reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control apparatus acts as an intermediary that manages two distinct processes: laser processing and shaft adjustment. By mediating between these processes and allowing shaft adjustment to occur in a separate maintenance process, the system avoids stopping during production, thus reducing recovery time while ensuring shaft reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the mechanical apparatus is stopped for repeated adjustments, then the shaft can be adjusted, but defective products are produced during the stopping period

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshaft operation normalityVSAvoiddefective products

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs shaft adjustment in a different process (maintenance mode) separate from the laser processing process (production mode). This preliminary separation allows adjustment to be done before defective products are produced, preventing the need to stop during actual processing and thereby reducing recovery time while maintaining shaft reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control apparatus acts as an intermediary that manages two distinct processes: laser processing and shaft adjustment. By mediating between these processes and allowing shaft adjustment to occur in a separate maintenance process, the system avoids stopping during production, thus reducing recovery time while ensuring shaft reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10940559B2Laser processing machine and system for shaft adjustment

Publication Date: 2021.03.09 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP

AI summary

A laser processing machine includes a processing head having a sensor, and a control unit to which a signal from the sensor is inputted. The control unit determines, by the signal, whether a drive shaft for the processing head needs to be adjusted. When the drive shaft is a state of needing adjustment, the control unit informs a display unit that the drive shaft is in a state of needing adjustment, and adjusts the drive shaft for the processing head by comparing data of a signal from the sensor with prestored data obtained during normal operation, in a different process than a laser processing process.