Support Carriage Height Control for Plate Splitting Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machines for processing plate-shaped workpieces using a machining beam face challenges in maintaining parallelism of support carriages, leading to varying bearing surface positions, which can cause scratching and inadequate support during laser processing.
Innovation Solution
A control device is implemented to superimpose a controlled displacement movement in the Z-direction on the movement of the support carriages in the Y-direction, using a predetermined relationship to maintain a constant position of the support surface aligned with the workpiece support surfaces, ensuring the bearing surfaces remain parallel and aligned with the workpiece throughout the processing area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the support carriage is moved in the Y-direction along the gap between fixed workpiece support surfaces, then the workpiece can be supported during processing, but parallelism errors cause the bearing surface position to vary in the Z-direction, leading to scratching or inadequate support
Solution Approach 1:
The support carriage is made dynamically adjustable in the Z-direction through a control device that superimposes controlled displacement movement on the Y-direction motion. This allows the bearing surface height to be actively compensated and maintained at a constant position despite mechanical parallelism errors during movement along the gap.
Solution Approach 2:
A control device monitors the position of the support carriage and automatically adjusts the Z-direction displacement to maintain constant bearing surface height. This closed-loop control compensates for parallelism errors by providing real-time feedback and correction during the Y-direction movement.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the bearing surface is positioned below the workpiece support surfaces to prevent scratching, then the workpiece underside is protected, but the workpiece receives insufficient support
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing surface height is made dynamically controllable through Z-direction displacement. The control device adjusts the height in real-time based on the carriage position, allowing the surface to be positioned optimally - preventing scratching when approaching and providing adequate support when positioned - thereby resolving the contradiction between protection and support.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a machine (1) for separating a plate-shaped workpiece (2) by means of a processing beam (3), comprising a first movement device (7) for moving the workpiece (2) in a first direction (X), a second movement device (11) for moving a processing head (9) aligning the processing beam (3) onto the workpiece (2) in a second direction (Y) perpendicular to the first, two workpiece support surfaces (4, 5) for supporting the workpiece (2), between which a gap (6) extending along the second direction (Y) is formed, wherein at least one, preferably at least two, support slides (14a, 14b) movable in the second direction (Y) with a support surface (15a, 15b) for supporting workpieces (2) cut during the separating process are arranged within the gap (6), and wherein the at least one support slide (14a, 14b) is movable in the direction of gravity (Z).The machine (1) additionally comprises a control device (18) which is designed to move the support surface (15a, 15b) of the support slide (14a, 14b) in the second direction (Y) to a position (ZUA = 0, ZUB = 0) in the direction of gravity (Z), which is in particular location-independent and constant, where the support surface (15a, 15b) is preferably aligned with the two workpiece support surfaces (4, 5). The control device (18) is configured to carry out the controlled movement of the support surface (15a, 15b) based on a pre-determined relationship between a position (ZUA, ZUB) of the support surface (15a, 15b) in the direction of gravity (Z) and the position (YUA, YUB) of the support carriage (14a, 14b) in the second direction (Y). The invention also relates to a method for moving at least one support carriage (14a, 14b) on such a machine (1).