Three-dimensional laser cutting system by a playback method

• US 4,469,930 A
• Filed: 07/09/1982
• Issued: 09/04/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fuji Tool & Die Company Limited 20 Matoba Shimizu-Cho Sunto-Gun Shizuoka-Ken Japan
• Original Assignee: Fuji Tool & Die Company Limited
• Inventors: Takahashi, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Albritton, C. L.
• Application Number:
  US06/396,693
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 219/121 LG, 219/121 LN, 219/121 LH, 219/121 LJ, 219/121 LY, 219/121 FS, 219/121 L, 219/121 LM, 228/7, 409/80, 364/475, 364/193, 364/191, 364/192, 318/578, 318/568
• US Class Current: 219/121.72
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0093 combined with mechanical machining or metal-working covered by other subclasses than B23K combined welding or cutting procedures or apparatus B23K28/02
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0884 in at least in three axial directions, e.g. manipulators, robots
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/10 using a fixed support , i.e. involving moving the laser beam
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4205 in which a drawing is traced or scanned and corresponding data recorded
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45165 Laser machining
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49239 Dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/300896 with sensing of numerical information and regulation without mechanical connection between sensing means and regulated means [i.e., numerical control]

Abstract

A three-dimensional laser cutting system by a playback method, adapted to cut work pieces by means of a laser beam. The system comprises a three-dimensional drive machine provided on its main head with a laser head, high speed spindle head and tracer head; a laser unit disposed beside said machine; laser beam delivery means for guiding a laser beam from said laser unit to a laser beam emission nozzle of said laser head; and a computer having a CNC function of driving said tracer head on the basis of a two-dimensional NC tape, and a CTC function of preparing a three-dimensional NC tape on the basis of said two-dimensional NC tape and data obtained by scanning and driving said laser head by a playback method on the basis of said three-dimensional NC tape. The system of the invention may be used for various purposes. When it is used for three-dimensional laser cutting a two-dimensional NC tape of a three-dimensional work piece is prepared, the work piece being scanned by means of said tracer head on the basis of said two-dimensional NC tape, a three-dimensional NC tape being prepared on the basis of said two-dimensional NC tape and data obtained by scanning, then the work piece being cut by means of said laser head on the basis of said three-dimensional NC tape.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional laser cutting system by a playback method, comprising:

a three-dimensional drive machine having a main head movable in the directions of the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis, said main head being provided with three sub-heads consisting of a laser head, a high speed spindle head and a tracer head,

a laser unit disposed beside said machine,

laser beam delivery means for guiding a laser beam from said laser unit to a laser beam emission nozzle of said laser head, and

a computer having a CNC function of driving said tracer head on the basis of a two-dimensional NC tape containing data relating to the directions of the x-axis and y-axis, and a CTC function of obtaining data relating to the direction of the z-axis by scanning a line on a three-dimensional work piece, preparing a three-dimensional NC tape on the basis of said two-dimensional NC tape and said data obtained by scanning, and driving said laser head by a playback method on the basis of said three-dimensional NC tape.

3. A three-dimensional laser cutting system by a playback method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said three-dimensional drive machine comprises a table disposed on a bed so as to reciprocate longitudinally (in the direction of the x-axis), a pair of vertical columns disposed on both sides of said table, a cross rail disposed between the upper portions of said columns, a cross screw horizontally disposed within said cross rail, said main head being attached to said cross rail so as to be moved transversely (in the direction of the y-axis) by said cross screw, said main head being provided on its front surface with said three sub-heads each of which can be moved vertically (in the direction of the z-axis).

4. A three-dimensional laser cutting system by a playback method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said three-dimensional drive machine is provided at one end of said bed with an x-axis DC servomotor for moving said table longitudinally, at one end of said cross rail with a y-axis DC servomotor for moving said main head transversely, and at the top of said main head with a z-axis DC servomotor.

5. A three-dimensional laser cutting system by a playback method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said three-dimensional drive machine further comprises brackets secured to the front portions of said columns, and a bridge mounted between the tops of said brackets, said bridge supporting said laser beam delivery means.

6. A three-dimensional laser cutting system by a playback method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said laser beam delivery means comprise a first telescopic protection tube disposed in the direction of the z-axis on one side of said three-dimensional drive machine, a second telescopic protection tube suspended from said bridge in the direction of the y-axis, a third telescopic protection tube extending in the direction of the z-axis from the end of said second telescopic protection tube to said laser beam emission nozzle, a first beam optical unit disposed at the intersection between a beam enhancer of said laser unit and said first telescopic protection tube, said first beam optical unit containing a reflector, a second beam optical unit disposed at the intersection between said first telescopic protection tube and said second telescopic protection tube, and a third beam optical unit disposed at the intersection between said second telescopic protection tube and said third telescopic protection tube.

7. A three-dimensional laser cutting system by a playback method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said three-dimensional drive machine is further provided on top of a cross beam with an electric motor for vertically moving said cross rail.

2. A three-dimensional laser cutting system by a playback method, comprising:

a three-dimensional drive double housing planomiller having a main head movable in the directions of the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis, said main head being provided with three such-heads consisting of a laser head, high speed spindle head and a tracer head,

a laser unit disposed beside said planomiller,

laser beam delivery means for guiding a laser beam from said laser unit to a laser beam emission nozzle of said laser head, and

a computer having a CNC function of controlling said tracer head so as to scan a line on a work piece on the basis of two-dimensional NC data, and a CTC function of preparing three-dimensional NC data on the basis of said two-dimensional NC data and said data obtained by scanning, and driving said laser head or high speed spindle head on the basis of said three-dimensional NC data.