Power control method for fiber laser processing machine, and fiber laser processing machine

• US 9,815,140 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2014
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Industries Corporation (Komatsu Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Industries Corporation (Komatsu Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hayashi, Seiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Heinrich, Samuel M
• Application Number:
  US14/767,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20150375337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,357 Days
• Field of Search: 21912161, 21912167-12172, 21912162, 21912177
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/04 Steel or steel alloys
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0608 in the same heat affected zone [HAZ] B23K26/0613, B23K26/0619 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0665 by beam condensation on the workpiece, e.g. for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/38 by boring or cutting
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/40 taking account of the properties of the material involved

Abstract

There is provided a power control method for a fiber laser processing machine including: a fiber laser oscillator having a plurality of fiber laser modules each of which generates a laser beam; a laser processing head for emitting the laser beam generated from the fiber laser oscillator; and a condenser lens with a prescribed focal length provided between a workpiece and the laser processing head, for irradiating the workpiece with the laser beam having a spot diameter output from the laser processing head, wherein the number of the plurality of fiber laser modules oscillated is adjusted so as to achieve the spot diameter corresponding to the workpiece, and thereby, a beam quality from the laser processing head is adjusted.

Claims

1. A power control method for a fiber laser processing machine comprising:

a fiber laser oscillator having a plurality of fiber laser modules each of which generates a laser beam;

a laser processing head for emitting the laser beam generated from said fiber laser oscillator;

a condenser lens with a prescribed focal length provided between a workpiece and said laser processing head, for irradiating said workpiece with the laser beam having a spot diameter output from said laser processing head; and

an assist gas supply portion for blowing away molten material from the workpiece, wherein

the number of said plurality of fiber laser modules oscillated is adjusted so as to achieve the spot diameter corresponding to a thickness of the workpiece and a pressure of the assist gas, and thereby, a beam quality indicated by an M square value from said laser processing head is adjusted.

2. The power control method for a fiber laser processing machine according to claim 1, wherein

as compared with the number of said fiber laser modules oscillated at the time of cutting a workpiece having a prescribed plate thickness, the number of said fiber laser modules oscillated at the time of cutting a workpiece having a plate thickness thinner than said prescribed plate thickness is set to be smaller.

3. The power control method for a fiber laser processing machine according to claim 1, wherein

as compared with the number of said fiber laser modules oscillated at the time of cutting at a prescribed speed, the number of said fiber laser modules oscillated at the time of cutting at a speed higher than said prescribed speed is set to be smaller.

4. The power control method for a fiber laser processing machine according to claim 1, wherein

the number of said fiber laser modules oscillated is restricted when a total laser command power is equal to or smaller than a prescribed power.

5. The power control method for a fiber laser processing machine according to claim 1, wherein

powers of said plurality of fiber laser modules are made different from one another.

6. A fiber laser processing machine, comprising:

a fiber laser oscillator having a plurality of fiber laser modules each of which generates a laser beam;

a laser processing head for emitting the laser beam generated from said fiber laser oscillator;

a condenser lens with a prescribed focal length provided between a workpiece and said laser processing head, for irradiating said workpiece with the laser beam having a spot diameter output from said laser processing head;

an assist gas supply portion for blowing away molten material from the workpiece; and

a control device capable of adjusting a beam quality indicated by an M square value from said laser processing head in accordance with the number of said plurality of fiber laser modules oscillated, wherein

said control device adjusts the number of said plurality of fiber laser modules oscillated so as to achieve the spot diameter corresponding to a thickness of the workpiece and a pressure of the assist gas.

7. The fiber laser processing machine according to claim 6, wherein

as compared with the number of said fiber laser modules oscillated at the time of cutting a workpiece having a prescribed plate thickness, said control device sets to be smaller the number of said fiber laser modules oscillated at the time of cutting a workpiece having a plate thickness thinner than said prescribed plate thickness.

8. The fiber laser processing machine according to claim 6, wherein

as compared with the number of said fiber laser modules oscillated at the time of cutting at a prescribed speed, said control device sets to be smaller the number of said fiber laser modules oscillated at the time of cutting at a speed higher than said prescribed speed.

9. The fiber laser processing machine according to claim 6, wherein

said control device restricts the number of said fiber laser modules oscillated, when a total laser command power is equal to or smaller than a prescribed power.

10. The fiber laser processing machine according to claim 6, wherein

said control device executes control to make powers of said plurality of fiber laser modules different from one another.