Laser Processing Weight Compensation via Common Axle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laser processing machines with height-adjustable components face challenges in precise focal distance maintenance and require significant drive forces for vertical displacement, which can be unsafe and energy-intensive, especially when handling large masses without effective weight compensation.
Innovation Solution
A weight compensation system using roller units with counterweights and traction members, where the laser and machine components are integrated into a single system, allowing for force distribution through rollers with different radii, reducing the need for additional actuators and enabling smaller drive chains and safer operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate weight compensation systems are provided for the laser component and machine component, then each component can be compensated independently, but the device complexity increases and additional actuators are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate weight compensation systems into a single integrated system. The laser component and machine component are both suspended from a common axle that rotates on a shared axis. A single counterweight attached to this common axle provides simultaneous weight compensation for both components, eliminating the need for separate counterweights and actuators while maintaining compensation reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The common axle and counterweight system serves multiple functions: it compensates weight for both the laser component and machine component, provides a shared support structure, and enables coordinated movement. This multi-functional design reduces the number of required actuators and simplifies the overall system architecture.
2Speed
If larger drive forces are used for vertical displacement of heavy components, then displacement speed can be increased, but safety risks and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a counterweight attached to the common axle that generates an opposing force to balance the gravitational force on the laser component and machine component. This counterbalancing mechanism significantly reduces the net force required for vertical displacement, lowering energy consumption and enabling safer operation with smaller drive systems while maintaining adequate displacement speeds.
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
This solution allows for precise vertical movement of the laser component with smaller drive forces, safer operation, reduced energy consumption, and increased displacement speeds, making it suitable for frequent height adjustments in laser processing machines.
Implementation Method 1
A counterweight exerts a counterforce on the common axles, which counterforce compensates, at least partially, the forces exerted by the laser component and the machine component on the common axles in the sliding direction
Implementation Method 2
The two rollers are rotatably fixed with respect to one another. The common axle of each roller unit is positioned in a machine frame guide of a laser processing machine and is configured to rotate freely and slide in the machine frame guide
Data Source
AI summary
Described is a laser processing machine with a height-adjustable laser component, a height-adjustable machine component, and a weight compensation system. The weight compensation system has at least one roller unit that includes at least two rollers fastened on a common axle and rotatably fixed with respect to one another. The axle is configured to rotate freely and slide in a machine frame guide of the laser processing machine. The laser component is held suspended by a first traction member wound onto the first roller. The machine component is held suspended by a second traction member wound onto the second roller. The first traction member and the second traction member are wound in reverse (opposite) directions onto the rollers. A counterweight device acts on the axle by exerting a counterforce, which compensates, at least partially, for the forces exerted by the laser component and the machine component.