Electric heating – Metal heating – By arc
Patent
1989-11-22
1991-08-27
Albritton, C. L.
Electric heating
Metal heating
By arc
21912161, 21912183, 36447408, B23K 2604
Patent
active
050435558
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an NC laser device which is a combination of a numerical control apparatus and a laser oscillator and used for metal machining and the like, and more particularly, to an NC laser device having a display function for the maintenance of optical components.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Gas laser oscillators such as a Co2 gas laser, etc., provide a high-power output with high efficiency and have excellent beam characteristics. Accordingly, they are widely used in combination with a numerical control apparatus to function as an NC laser device for metal machining and the like. To improve the oscillation efficiency of this type gas laser oscillator, the high-temperature laser gas heated by laser oscillation must be properly cooled. Therefore the laser gas is constantly circulated through a cooling unit in the device, by using a Roots blower or the like. A Roots blower, however, uses rolling bearings, and accordingly, the laser gas picks up lubrication oil which contaminates and lowers the output of the optical components. Thereafter, after a long term operation, the optical components must be cleaned or replaced to recover the required laser output. Conventionally, the operating term is judged by the operator and the cleaning or replacement of the optical components is carried out in accordance with the operator's judgment.
This procedure, which includes a determination of the operating term, and the judgment on the need for a cleaning or replacement of the optical components, all carried out by the operator, has the following problems.
If the operator forgets or makes an error when determining the term, or misjudges same, the cleaning or replacement of the optical components is not carried out when actually needed. In such a case, the output power of the laser oscillator is lowered, and thus the machining efficiency is reduced or defective machining of workpieces occurs.
Further, if contaminated optical components are not cleaned or replaced, the contaminant absorbs the laser beam and is heated, whereby the optical components are damaged and cannot be restored even by cleaning. Therefore, the judgment of the time at which the optical components must be cleaned or replaced is very important, since it directly affects the life and the performance of the laser oscillator, and effectively eliminates unnecessary replacements of expensive optical components, which is obviously economically undesirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, the object of a present invention is to provide an NC laser device capable of displaying information warning an operator of the need to clean or replace optical components of a laser oscillator.
To achieve the above and other objects the present invention provides an NC laser device which is a combination of a numerical control apparatus and a laser oscillator and is able to determine the time at which the optical components of the NC laser device must be cleaned or replaced. The NC laser device comprises a measuring means for measuring a laser oscillation time, and a power measuring means for measuring a laser output power, and is provided with means for displaying a message warning that the optical components must be cleaned when the oscillation time is shorter than a predetermined time based on the life of the optical components and an output power drop rate is higher than a specified value, and for displaying a message warning that the optical components must be replaced when the laser oscillation time is longer than the predetermined time and the output power drop rate is higher than the specified value.
Namely, the laser oscillation time is measured, and when the oscillation time is shorter than the predetermined time and the output power drop rate is lower than the specified value, a message is displayed warning the operator that the optical components must be cleaned.
Further, when the laser oscillation time becomes longer than the predetermined time and the output p
REFERENCES:
patent: 4545018 (1985-10-01), Clements et al.
patent: 4555610 (1985-11-01), Polad et al.
patent: 4937422 (1990-06-01), Nagamine et al.
Iehisa Nobuaki
Suzuki Kazuhiro
Albritton C. L.
Fanuc Ltd.
LandOfFree
NC laser device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with NC laser device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and NC laser device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1415996