Three-dimensional laser beam machining apparatus using YAG cutting tool

• US 5,698,121 A
• Filed: 09/03/1996
• Issued: 12/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fanuc Ltd (Fanuc Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fanuc Ltd (Fanuc Corporation)
• Inventors: Takano, Akiko, Kosaka, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mills, Gregory L.
• Application Number:
  US08/707,730
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 219/121.6, 219/121.67, 219/121.72, 219/121.78, 219/121.79, 219/121.8, 219/121.81, 219/121.82, 364/474.08, 395/82, 395/80, 318/568.21, 318/568.11, 901/41, 901/2, 901/14
• US Class Current: 219/121.67
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0884 in at least in three axial directions, e.g. manipulators, robots

Abstract

A three-dimensional laser beam machining apparatus using a YAG cutting tool. A robot controller functioning as a YAG cutting tool controller is connected to a laser beam supply through a optical fiber and to a robot having an arm end on which the YAG cutting tool is mounted. When a diagrammatic machining command for the YAG cutting tool is given, an first internal program for the diagrammatic machining command and a second internal program for compensating a robot position in a z-axis direction are created. These internal programs are executed in parallel by a multi-task function. The YAG cutting tool is two-dimensionally controlled so as to depict a diagram, such as a rectangle and a circle. When the YAG cutting tool moves across the axis of a cylindrical workpiece, the robot position in the z axis direction is compensated so that the gap between the laser head and an cylindrical surface of the workpiece is kept constant.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional laser beam machining apparatus comprising:

a robot having a plurality of robot axes;

a YAG cutting tool mounted on said robot and having a laser head movable on an operating plane; and

general control means for controlling the individual axes of said robot and said YAG cutting tool by software processing,

wherein said general control means chronologically controls a two-dimensional position of said laser head based on a diagrammatic machining command for defining a path of movement of said laser head on said operating plane, and also chronologically controls a position of said robot in a direction perpendicular to said operating plane of said laser head in accordance with said two-dimensional position of said laser head and a three-dimensional configuration of a surface of a workpiece to be machined.

2. A three-dimensional laser beam machining apparatus comprising:

a robot having a plurality of robot axes;

a YAG cutting tool mounted on said robot and having two axes, each being driven by a servo motor and functioning as an additional axis of said robot axes, and a laser head movable on an operating plane by said two axes; and

general control means for controlling the individual robot axes of said robot and said YAG cutting tool by software processing,

wherein said general control means chronologically controls a two-dimensional position of said laser head through said two axes of said YAG cutting tool based on a diagrammatic machining command for defining a path of movement of said laser head on said operating plane, and also chronologically controls a position of said robot in a direction perpendicular to said operating plane of said laser head in accordance with said two-dimensional position of said laser head and a three-dimensional configuration of a surface of a workpiece to be machined.

3. A three-dimensional laser beam machining apparatus comprising:

a robot having a plurality of robot axes;

a YAG cutting tool mounted on said robot and having two axes, each being driven by a servo motor and functioning as an additional axis of said robot axes, and a laser head movable on an operating plane by said two axes; and

general control means or controlling the individual robot axes of said robot and said YAG cutting tool by software processing,

wherein said general control means chronologically controls a two-dimensional position of said laser head through said two axes of said YAG cutting tool based on a diagrammatic machining command or defining a path of movement of said laser head on said operating plane, and also chronologically controls a position of said robot in a direction perpendicular to said operating plane of said laser head in accordance with said two-dimensional position of said laser head and a three-dimensional configuration of a surface of a workpiece to be machined,

said general control means creates a first internal program to carry out the diagrammatic machining by said laser head based on said diagrammatic machining command, and a second internal program in accordance with the movement of said laser head, which is determined by said first internal program, and with said three-dimensional configuration of the workpiece surface, to execute said first and second internal programs in parallel.