Back to results
US 6,528,762 B2Granted
Laser beam position control apparatus for a CNC laser equipped machine tool
AssigneeW. A. Whitney Corp.
InventorJoachim Mayer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A laser beam position control apparatus for a CNC laser equipped machine tool, that will automatically maintain precise alignment of the beam path, though the machine may be operating in a non-uniform temperature environment. The apparatus compensates for small deviations in flatness of machine mounting surfaces by steering the laser beam. The laser beam control apparatus includes a laser beam position sensor for mounting in the beam path of the machine tool and that communicates with a signal processor that in turn communicates with at least one drive apparatus that controls at least one actuator capable of moving an object to steer the laser beam.
Claims30
A laser beam position control apparatus for a laser equipped machine tool comprising in combination:
- a computer controlled laser equipped machine tool;
- a laser beam position sensor mounted on the machine tool;
- a signal processor that communicates with the laser beam position sensor;
- two drive devices responsive to the signal processor that each control respective actuators moving an object to steer a laser beam that the laser beam position sensor is monitoring;
- wherein the laser beam position sensor comprises a single resistive grid sensor mounted in the beam path of the machine tool;
- and
- wherein both actuators move a common mirror, one actuator moving the common mirror to steer the laser beam in a vertical direction and the other actuator moving the common mirror to steer the laser beam in a horizontal direction.
4 more elements
A laser beam position control apparatus for a laser equipped machine tool comprising in combination:
- a computer controlled laser equipped machine tool including;
- a single laser beam position sensor including a wire grid mounted in the beam path on the laser side of a last directional bending mirror before the focal lens;
- a signal processor mounted separated from the laser beam position sensor and connected to communicate therewith;
- two drive devices connected to communicate with the signal processor;
- the drive devices being connected to control two actuators that are driven by motor and that include a translation screw, both actuators moving a common mirror, one actuator moving the common mirror to steer the laser beam in a vertical direction and the other actuator moving the common mirror to steer the laser beam in a horizontal direction.
2 more elements
A laser beam position control apparatus for a laser equipped machine tool comprising in combination:
- a computer controlled laser equipped machine tool;
- a single laser beam position sensor including a wire grid mounted in the beam path on the nozzle side of a last directional bending mirror before the cutting nozzle;
- a first signal processor connected to the laser beam position sensor and residing in a housing therewith for producing position signals indicative of the position of a laser beam;
- a second separate signal processor connected to receive the position signals for accomplishing laser beam position control system functions of activation, deactivation, communicating status signals and correction signals;
- two drive devices;
- and
- two actuators that are driven by motor responsive to the drive devices and that include a translation screw, both actuators moving a common mirror, one actuator moving the common mirror to steer the laser beam in a vertical direction and the other actuator moving the common mirror to steer the laser beam in a horizontal direction.
4 more elements
A laser beam position control apparatus for a laser equipped machine tool comprising in combination:
- a computer controlled laser equipped machine tool;
- a single laser beam position sensor including a wire grid mounted in the beam path on the nozzle side of a last directional bending mirror before the cutting nozzle;
- a signal processor connected to the beam position sensor and mounted in an enclosure therewith;
- two drive devices responsive to the signal processor;
- two actuators that are driven by motor responsive to the drive devices and that include a translation screw, both actuators moving a common laser, one actuator moving the laser to steer the laser beam in a vertical direction and the other actuator moving the laser to steer the laser beam in a horizontal direction.
2 more elements
A laser beam position control apparatus for a laser equipped machine tool comprising in combination:
- a computer controlled laser equipped machine tool having a laser producing a laser beam which is projected along a beam path including bending mirrors to a workhead, a laser beam position sensor mounted in said beam path proximate a last bending mirror before the workhead, said laser beam being aligned such that it is directed through the workhead;
- said laser beam position sensor having an aperture through which the laser beam passes, a fixed grid of thin wires within said aperture, said thin wires mounted in said aperture in a fixed parallel and perpendicular grid-like spacing, said laser beam position sensor mounted such that said grid intersects the beam path of said laser beam and said grid is located about a proximate centerline of said aligned laser beam, said laser beam position sensor functioning by measurement of the increase of resistance caused by a temperature increase caused by absorption of laser radiation;
- said laser beam position sensor communicating with a signal processor that communicates with a drive device that controls an actuator moving an object to steer the laser beam based on measurements by said beam position sensor;
- and
- said laser beam position sensor and said actuator being active to maintain the position of the laser beam on said grid during relative motion between the workhead and the workpiece when said laser beam is on.
2 more elements
A laser beam position control apparatus for a laser equipped machine tool comprising in combination:
- a computer controlled laser equipped machine tool having a laser source producing a laser beam which is projected along a beam path including bending mirrors to a workhead, a laser beam position sensor mounted in said beam path proximate a last bending mirror before the workhead, said laser beam being aligned such that it is directed through the workhead;
- said laser beam position sensor having an aperture through which the laser beam passes, a fixed grid of thin wires within said aperture, said thin wires mounted in said aperture in a fixed parallel and perpendicular grid-like spacing, said laser beam position sensor mounted such that said grid intersects the beam path of said laser beam and said grid is located about a proximate centerline of said aligned laser beam, said laser beam position sensor functioning by measurement of the increase of resistance caused by a temperature increase caused by absorption of laser radiation;
- said laser beam position sensor communicating with a signal processor that communicates with a drive device that controls an actuator moving an object to steer the laser beam based on measurements by said beam position sensor, said object to steer the laser beam being located proximate the laser source;
- and
- said laser beam position sensor and said actuator being active to maintain the position of the laser beam on said grid during relative motion between the workhead and the workpiece when said laser beam is on.
2 more elements
A laser beam position control apparatus for a laser equipped machine tool comprising in combination:
- a computer controlled laser equipped machine tool having a laser source producing a laser beam which is projected along a beam path including bending mirrors to a workhead, a laser beam position sensor mounted in said beam path proximate a last bending mirror before the workhead, said laser beam being aligned such that it is directed through the workhead;
- said laser beam position sensor having an aperture through which the laser beam passes, a fixed grid of thin wires within said aperture, said thin wires mounted in said aperture in a fixed parallel spacing in vertical and horizontal directions, said laser beam position sensor mounted such that said grid intersects the beam path of said laser beam and said grid is located about a proximate centerline of said aligned laser beam, said laser beam position sensor functioning by measurement of the increase of resistance caused by a temperature increase caused by absorption of laser radiation;
- said laser beam position sensor communicating with a signal processor that communicates with two drive devices, each drive device controlling a respective actuator, each said actuator moving an object to steer the laser beam based on measurements by said beam position sensor;
- and
- said laser beam position sensor and said actuators being active to maintain the position of the laser beam on said grid during relative motion between the workhead and the workpiece when said laser beam is on.
2 more elements
A laser beam position control apparatus for a laser equipped machine tool comprising in combination:
- a computer controlled laser equipped machine tool having a laser producing a laser beam which is projected along a beam path including bending mirrors to a workhead, a laser beam position sensor mounted in said beam path proximate a last bending mirror before the workhead, said laser beam being aligned such that it is directed through the workhead;
- said laser beam position sensor having an aperture through which the laser beam passes, a fixed grid of thin wires within said aperture, said thin wires mounted in said aperture in a fixed parallel spacing in vertical and horizontal directions, said laser beam position sensor mounted such that said grid intersects the path of said laser beam and said grid is located about a proximate centerline of said aligned laser beam, said laser beam position sensor functioning by measurement of the increase of resistance caused by a temperature increase caused by absorption of laser radiation;
- said laser beam position sensor communicating with a signal processor that communicates with two drive devices, each drive device controlling a respective actuator, said actuators moving a common mirror, one actuator moving the common mirror to steer the laser beam in a vertical direction and the other actuator moving the mirror to steer the laser beam in a horizontal direction;
- said laser beam position sensor and said actuators are active to maintain the position of the laser beam on said grid during relative motion between the workhead and the workpiece when said laser beam is on.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.