Processing program creation device, method for determining scattering direction of molten metal, laser processing machine, and laser processing method

A processing program creation method comprising:

• using a computer appliance to calculate an optimum scattering angle that is an angle most desirable for scattering of molten metal in a search region at a time of piercing processing of opening a pierced hole in a sheet metal to cut the sheet metal and fabricate a first product, the molten metal being generated by melting of the sheet metal, the search region being a circle having a predetermined radius and centered on a center of the pierced hole, the molten metal being not adhered to an approach path extending to the pierced hole and not adhered to a processing path for a second product positioned within the search region at the optimum scattering angle;
• and
• using the computer appliance to create a processing program by adding an auxiliary code to a code for cutting the sheet metal and fabricating the first product, the auxiliary code indicating that, at a time of the piercing processing on the first product, a position of a laser beam in an opening of a nozzle attached to a tip end of a processing head is displaced in an angle direction of the optimum scattering angle from a center of the opening, the laser beam being emitted from the opening, wherein
• using the computer appliance to calculate the optimum scattering angle comprises:
• setting the search region;
• setting a scattering angle region having a center angle based on a spread angle of spatters determined in advance, the scattering angle region being where the molten metal is scattered and spread in a fan shape to be adhered to the sheet metal when a position of the laser beam in the opening is displaced from the center of the opening while assist gas is being blown onto the sheet metal from the opening, the laser beam being emitted from the opening;
• extracting, from the search region, two or more angle regions at least having an angle range of the scattering angle region, the two or more angle regions not interfering with both the approach path and the processing path;
• determining a bisecting angle that is an angle at which a bisector of each angle region of the two or more angle regions is located;
• and
• determining, as the optimum scattering angle indicating an angle direction in which the molten metal is to be scattered, an angle, among the bisecting angles of the two or more angle regions, closest to an extension line obtained by extending the approach path in a direction away from the first product.