A laser processing apparatus including a processing nozzle for irradiating a workpiece with laser beam, a driving mechanism for relatively moving the processing nozzle and the workpiece, and a gap sensor for detecting a gap between the processing nozzle and the workpiece. The apparatus includes a gap control section referring to a measured value detected by the gap sensor and calculating a manipulating variable used for controlling the driving mechanism so as to maintain the gap during execution of laser processing at a first dimension, a power monitoring section monitoring electric power from a power supply and sending an abnormality detection signal to the gap control section when a power abnormality occurs, and a control action switching section switching a control action of the gap control section so as to increase the gap from the first dimension when the abnormality detection signal is sent to the gap control section.

The gap control axis following speed calculating unit of a numerical controller controlling a laser processing machine calculates a gap control axis following speed based on a displacement amount obtained from a separation distance and a reference distance between a nozzle tip and a workpiece, and a gap control gain. A first determining unit determines that the nozzle tip has entered an approach side when the separation distance becomes smaller than the reference distance. A first changing unit changes the gap control gain continuously in accordance with the displacement amount.

A laser processing apparatus including a processing nozzle for irradiating a workpiece with laser beam, a driving mechanism for relatively moving the processing nozzle and the workpiece, and a gap sensor for detecting a gap between the processing nozzle and the workpiece. The apparatus includes a gap control section referring to a measured value detected by the gap sensor and calculating a manipulating variable used for controlling the driving mechanism so as to maintain the gap during execution of laser processing at a first dimension, a power monitoring section monitoring electric power from a power supply and sending an abnormality detection signal to the gap control section when a power abnormality occurs, and a control action switching section switching a control action of the gap control section so as to increase the gap from the first dimension when the abnormality detection signal is sent to the gap control section.

A laser machining apparatus includes a height controller that performs an approach operation. The height controller uses a first approach speed and a first gain when performing the approach operation in a non-peripheral-edge portion of the workpiece, and uses a second approach speed lower than the first approach speed and a second gain lower than the first gain when performing the approach operation in a peripheral edge portion of the workpiece, and to make the time required when the approach operation is performed in the non-peripheral-edge portion of the workpiece shorter than the time required when the approach operation is performed in the peripheral edge portion of the workpiece.

A computer-numerically-controlled machine can include a light source and a housing. The light source can be configured to deliver electromagnetic energy to at least one location on a material at least partially disposed within the computer-numerically-controlled machine. The housing can include at least one side part surrounding an interior space and the at least one location on the material. The housing can include a structural material defining at least a portion of the interior space. The housing can further include a protective material protecting the side part. The protective material can reduce a permeability of the side part to the electromagnetic radiation relative to the structural material alone.

The present invention makes it unnecessary to dispose a cable for driving a jig, simplifies the structure, and eliminates the restrictions on the operation of a table. Provided is a rotary table device including: a table on which a workpiece is loaded; a rotation mechanism that rotates the table about a predetermined axis, a motor-driven jig that is fixed to the table and clamps the workpiece, and a photoelectric conversion device that is fixed to the table, converts light energy into electric power, and supplies the converted electric power to the jig.

A evaluating method includes forming a plurality of processing traces each having a spot shape by irradiating different positions of an exposed surface of a workpiece with a laser beam according to respective height positions of a condensing point by moving a condenser for the laser beam and the workpiece relative to each other along a first direction as a direction of irradiation of the workpiece with the laser beam and thereby positioning the condensing point at a plurality of the height positions, and moving the condenser and the workpiece relative to each other along a second direction intersecting the first direction, obtaining an image of each of the processing traces, calculating an aspect ratio of each of the processing traces, and calculating an index indicating a degree of astigmatism on the basis of the plurality of height positions and the aspect ratio of each of the processing traces.

A laser welding method, a fuel cell, and a computer readable medium are disclosed. The laser welding method includes (i) securing the bipolar plate in place and fitting an area to be welded of the bipolar plate, (ii) determining a predetermined trajectory on the area to be welded for an alignment point of a laser welding device, the predetermined trajectory including a starting point and an end point, (iii) moving the alignment point of the laser welding device along the predetermined trajectory from the starting point and activating a laser emitter of the laser welding device, and (iv) turning off the laser emitter prior to the end point of the predetermined trajectory and keeping the alignment point moving along the predetermined trajectory until the end point of the predetermined trajectory is reached. The method and the device according to this disclosure effectively avoid a perforation defect in bipolar plate welding.

An improved laser weld process control system and method are provided. The system and method include a machine vision camera to detect a deviation between a pre-programmed laser beam toolpath and a gap centerpoint between first and second parts being welded together. The first and second parts are secured to a rotatable fixture, and the system and method cause the rotatable fixture to rotate through a corrective angle to bring the gap centerpoint into alignment with the laser beam toolpath, optionally in real time during the application of laser beam energy. The system and method can also correct for a vertical misalignment of the laser focal point due to rotation of the fixture by adjusting the vertical separation of the laser unit relative to the fixture.

A laser machining system includes a laser oscillator, a laser machining head, and a reflection unit. The laser oscillator outputs laser light. The laser machining head, which includes a first optical member for collecting the laser light, emits the collected laser light. The reflection unit, which includes a reflective member for reflecting the laser light emitted from the laser machining head, radiates the reflected laser light onto a work.