# US 10,369,716 B2 · Laser machining apparatus including guide laser > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,369,716 B2 - Document ID: US10369716B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/730,093 - Filed: 2017-10-11 - Published: 2018-04-19 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-10-14 - Assignees: Fanuc Corporation - Applicants: Fanuc Corporation - Inventors: Ryusuke Miyata - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369716B2 ## CPC - B26D 5/007: {Control means comprising cameras, vision or image processing systems} - B23K 26/043: {along the beam path, i.e. alignment of laser beam axis relative to laser beam apparatus} - B23K 26/048: {by controlling the distance between laser head and workpiece} - B23K 26/38: by boring or cutting - B23K 26/60: Preliminary treatment - B26D: CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING (for growing crops or plants A01D, A01G; for fodder or straw A01F; for bulk butter A01J; for dough A21C; slaughtering A22B; for tobacco, cigars or cigarettes A24; marking-out, perforating or making buttonholes A41H25/00; manufacturing footwear A43D; brushmaking A46D; surgery A61B; disintegrating, mincing or shredding in general B02C; cutting wire, making pins or nails B21F, B21G; of the kind used formetal B23; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; hand-held cutting tools B26B; perforating, cutting-out, stamping-out or punching, or severing by means other than cutting B26F; for wood B27; for stone B28D; working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29; making boxes, cartons, envelopes or bags, of paper or similarly worked materials, e.g. metal foil, B31B; article or web delivery apparatus incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices B65H35/00; for leather or upholstery B68, C14B; for glass C03B; making matches C06F; for peat C10F; for sugar C13B45/00; for textile materials D06H; civil engineering, building, mining, see Section E; for light guides G02B6/25; cutting processed photographic material G03D15/04) - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM ## Abstract A laser machining apparatus capable of extending the life time of a guide laser is provided. A laser machining apparatus 1 includes a cutting head 2 that irradiates a machining laser light to a machining target W, a guide laser 5 that irradiates a visible guide light to the machining target W, and a power supply 6 that supplies electric power to the guide laser 5. The laser machining apparatus 1 further includes a controller 7 that performs control so that, before the machining laser light is irradiated from the cutting head 2 to the machining target W and laser cutting starts, electric power is supplied from the power supply 6 to the guide laser 5, and the guide light is irradiated from the guide laser 5 to the machining target W according to an output position of the machining laser light output from the cutting head 2 so that the output position of the machining laser light is ascertained. The controller 7 has a laser output setting unit 4 capable of adjusting an output of the guide light of the guide laser 5 within a range where the visibility of the guide light is secured when the guide light is output from the guide laser 5. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A laser machining apparatus comprising: a cutting head that irradiates a machining laser light to a machining target; a guide laser that irradiates a visible guide light to the machining target; a power supply that supplies electric power to the guide laser; and a controller that performs control so that, before the machining laser light is irradiated from the cutting head to the machining target and laser cutting starts, electric power is supplied from the power supply to the guide laser, and the guide light is irradiated from the guide laser to the machining target according to an output position of the machining laser light output from the cutting head so that the output position of the machining laser light is ascertained, wherein the controller has a laser output setting unit capable of adjusting an output of the guide light of the guide laser within a range where the visibility of the guide light is secured when the guide light is output from the guide laser, and a gap sensor that measures a distance between the cutting head and the machining target, wherein the laser output setting unit adjusts an output of the guide light of the guide laser according to the distance based on an output signal from the gap sensor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The laser machining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the laser output setting unit correlates the output of the guide light of the guide laser with the distance using a quadratic function when adjusting the output of the guide light of the guide laser. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The laser machining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the laser machining apparatus includes a scattered light sensor that detects an intensity of a scattered light of the guide light irradiated from the guide laser to the machining target, and the laser output setting unit adjusts the output of the guide light of the guide laser according to the intensity of the scattered light on the basis of an output signal of the scattered light sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The laser machining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the laser machining apparatus includes an illuminance sensor that detects an illuminance of an environment where the machining target is provided, and the laser output setting unit adjusts the output of the guide light of the guide laser according to the illuminance of the environment on the basis of an output signal from the illuminance sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The laser machining apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the laser output setting unit correlates the output of the guide light of the guide laser with the illuminance of the environment using a linear function when adjusting the output of the guide light of the guide laser. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The laser machining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined amount of electric power is supplied from the power supply to the guide laser, the controller adjusts the output of the guide light of the guide laser by supplying an amount of electric power that is different from the predetermined amount, and the laser output setting unit adjusts the output of the guide light of the guide laser by supplying the amount of electric power that is different from the predetermined amount.