Add-on module for interposing between a control device and a laser machining head of a laser machining system

A laser machining system for machining a workpiece by means of a laser beam, comprising:

• a computing numerical control (CNC) type system control device,
• at least one laser machining head,
• at least one sensor device associated with the at least one laser machining head, and
• an add-on module intercoupled or interposed between said system control device and the laser machining head of the laser machining system, the add-on module comprising:
• a first interface, wherein said add-on module is connected to said laser machining head and/or said at least one sensor device via said first interface so as to exchange data;
• a second interface, wherein said add-on module is connected to said system control device via said second interface so as to exchange data;
• a user interface, wherein said add-on module is configured to output data to a user of said add-on module and/or receive data from a user of said add-on module via said user interface;
• and
• a processing unit configured to process data and to output the processed data via said first and second interfaces,
• wherein said add-on module is configured to:
• receive data from the at least one sensor device and/or the laser machining head;
• process the received data in order to adjust machining parameters received from said system control device based on the processed data;
• and
• transmit the adjusted machining parameters to said laser machining head;
• wherein the machining parameters include at least one of laser power, gas pressure, nozzle type, nozzle diameter, distance from the laser machining head to a workpiece, feed rate, focal position of a laser beam of the laser machining head, beam diameter of a laser beam of the laser machining head, machining direction and machining path.

A laser machining system for machining a workpiece by means of a laser beam, comprising:

• a computing numerical control (CNC) type system control device,
• at least one laser machining head,
• at least one sensor device associated with the at least one laser machining head, and
• an add-on module intercoupled or interposed between said system control device and the laser machining head of the laser machining system, the add-on module comprising:
• a first interface, wherein said add-on module is connected to said laser machining head and/or said at least one sensor device via said first interface so as to exchange data;
• a second interface, wherein said add-on module is connected to said system control device via said second interface so as to exchange data;
• a user interface, wherein said add-on module is configured to output data to a user of said add-on module and/or receive data from a user of said add-on module via said user interface;
• and
• a processing unit configured to process data and to output the processed data via said first and second interfaces,
• wherein said add-on module is configured to:
• receive sensor data from the at least one sensor device;
• process the received sensor data in order to adjust machining parameters received from said system control device based on the processed data;
• and
• transmit the adjusted machining parameters to said laser machining head;
• wherein the machining parameters include at least one of laser power, gas pressure, nozzle type, nozzle diameter, distance from the laser machining head to a workpiece, feed rate, focal position of a laser beam of the laser machining head, beam diameter of a laser beam of the laser machining head, machining direction and machining path.