Laser processing machine

• US 7,745,756 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2006
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamazaki Mazak Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamazaki Mazak Corporation
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Tsunehiko, Miyakawa, Naoomi
• Primary Examiner(s): Heinrich; Samuel M
• Application Number:
  US11/420,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20070000888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• Field of Search: 21912163-12172, 219/121.82, 219/121.84, 219/121.86, 295/60, 29/50, 821/38, 409/235, 483/16, 483/17
• US Class Current: 219/121.6
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0876 in at least two axial directions
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/1482 Detachable nozzles, e.g. exchangeable or provided with breakaway lines
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 23/04 for both machining and other metal-working operations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/50 Convertible metal working machine
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5168 Multiple-tool holder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/17 including machine tool or component

Abstract

A laser processing machine is provided in which a machining tool is automatically exchanged with a laser processing tool to be mounted to a processing head thereof to perform machining operations such as tapping to works. A machining tool 70 which is exchangeably clamped to a mounting section 510 of a processing head 50 of a laser processing machine has a body 720 and a piston member 730 in the body 720, and the piston member 730 supports an air motor 740, a reducer 750, a tool chuck 760, and a tap 762. Air is sent to the air motor 740 from an air source 551b by switching a valve, and an assist gas for a normal or reverse rotation is sent from an assist gas source 554b to the upper portion of the piston member 730, so that a tap is lowered to perform tapping to a work.

Claims

1. A laser processing machine, comprising:

a bed;

a pallet disposed on the bed to support a work;

a column which is controlled to move along the X axis, the X axis being the longitudinal axis of the bed;

a saddle which is supported by the column and is controlled to move along the Y axis, the Y axis being perpendicular to the X axis;

a processing head which is supported by the saddle and is controlled to move along the Z axis, the Z axis being perpendicular to a plane defined by the X axis and the Y axis;

a laser processing tool and a machining tool which are exchangeably mounted to the processing head; and

a tool change magazine for the laser processing tool and the machining tool disposed at an automatic tool change position outside of a processing area,

wherein the processing head comprises;

a clamping device for exchangeably mounting the laser processing tool and the machining tool; and

a circuit to send air and assist gas to the laser processing tool and the machining tool.

2. The laser processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the laser processing tool comprises:

a body;

a rod member which is slidably mounted in the body and has a condenser lens; and

a clamping device to fix the rod member to the body.

3. The laser processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the machining tool comprises:

a body;

a piston member which is slidably mounted in the body;

an air motor supported by the piston member; and

a tool chuck driven by the air motor.

4. The laser processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the machining tool comprises:

a body;

a piston member which is slidably mounted in the body;

an air motor supported by the piston member; and

a tool chuck driven by the air motor; and

a tool which is equipped with the tool chuck for drilling, reamering, tapping, hairlining, or grinding.

5. The laser processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the machining tool comprises:

a body;

a piston member which is slidably mounted in the body;

an air motor supported by the piston member;

a tool chuck driven by the air motor; and

a processing tool which is equipped with the tool chuck for the wall of an opening formed by a laser processing.

6. The laser processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the machining tool comprises:

a body;

a piston member which is slidably mounted in the body;

an air motor supported by the piston member;

a tool chuck driven by the air motor; and

a tool which is equipped with the tool chuck for roughing a work surface.

7. The laser processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the clamping device comprises:

a piston; and

a pawl which is operated by the piston for exchangeably clamping and unclamping the laser processing tool and machining tool.

8. The laser processing machine according to claim 7, wherein the piston of the clamping device is in communication with an air flow path;

and the pawl of the clamping device exchangeably clamps the laser processing tool and the machining tool by supplying air through the air flow path to the piston so that the pawl of the clamping device engages a pawl of the laser processing tool or a pawl of the machining tool.

9. The laser processing machine according to claim 8, wherein the piston of the clamping device is in communication with a second air flow path;

and the pawl of the clamping device exchangeably unclamps the laser processing tool and the machining tool by supplying air through the second air flow path to the piston so that the pawl of the clamping device disengages the pawl of the laser processing tool or the pawl of the machining tool.