BEAM MACHINING PLATE-LIKE OR TUBULAR WORKPIECES

Abstract

Methods, devices, and systems for beam processing of plate-shaped or tubular workpieces are provided. In one aspect, a method includes: generating at least one section of a cutting gap cutting through the workpiece along a cutting line corresponding to at least part of a contour of a workpiece part to be produced from the workpiece by a processing beam, and performing at least one non-joining and non-cutting finishing treatment of the workpiece with a partially cut-out workpiece part at least in one section of at least one finishing zone by the processing beam, the finishing zone extending along the cutting line.

Claims

1. A method for beam processing of a plate-shaped or tubular workpiece, comprising: generating at least one section of a cutting gap cutting through the workpiece along a cutting line by a processing beam, the cutting line corresponding to at least part of a contour of a workpiece part to be produced from the workpiece; and performing at least one non-joining and non-cutting finishing treatment of the workpiece with a partially cut-out workpiece part in at least one section of at least one finishing zone by the processing beam, wherein the at least one finishing zone extends along the cutting line.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the finishing treatment of the workpiece is performed between generation of two sections of the cutting gap.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the finishing treatment of the workpiece is performed in a section of the at least one finishing zone extending at least partly along a section of the cutting gap.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the finishing treatment of the workpiece is performed in a section of the at least one finishing zone that at least partially does not include a section of the cutting gap.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the finishing treatment of the workpiece is performed continuously in the section of the at least one finishing zone that extends along the section of the cutting gap.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein sections of the cutting gap successively extend the cutting gap.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a last-generated section of the cutting gap has a length that is shorter than respective lengths of previously generated sections of the cutting gap.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the lengths of the sections of the cutting gap, starting from a free-cutting point of the workpiece part, are kept constant or increase counter to a direction for generating the cutting gap.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein, during a finishing treatment of the workpiece, at least one of a workpiece part-side cutting edge of the cutting gap or a residual grid-side cutting edge of the cutting gap is included in the at least one section of the at least one finishing zone.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising: prior to a finishing treatment of the workpiece in a section of the at least one finishing zone, applying a layer of an anti-adhesive agent to the workpiece at least in the finishing zone, the anti-adhesive agent being configured to inhibit adhesion of substances produced during the finishing treatment.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing beam is guided with a meandering movement along at least one section of the cutting line during performing the at least one non-joining and non-cutting finishing treatment of the workpiece.

12. The method of claim 1, comprising: cutting free the workpiece by the processing beam after performing one or more finishing treatments of the workpiece.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the at least one non-joining and non-cutting finishing treatment of the workpiece comprises at least one of: i) removing an oxide layer formed when generating the cutting gap, ii) removing a burr in the region of the cutting gap, iii) rounding one or more cutting edges delimiting the cutting gap, iv) changing a shape of at least one cutting edge delimiting the cutting gap, v) generating a chamfer along the cutting gap, vi) heat-treating the workpiece along the cutting gap, or vii) coating the workpiece along the cutting gap.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein, during performing the at least one non-joining and non-cutting finishing treatment of the workpiece, the partially cut-out workpiece part is not completely cut out of the workpiece and remains firmly connected to the workpiece.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing beam has a first power density for generating the at least one section of the cutting gap and a second power density for performing the at least one non-joining and non-cutting finishing treatment of the workpiece, and wherein the second power density is smaller than the first power density.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the finishing treatment of the workpiece is performed along one of: a finishing line identical to the cutting line, or a finishing line laterally offset from the cutting line.

17. A beam processing device comprising: a beam head configured to guide a processing beam; and an electronic control device configured to control beam processing of plate-shaped or tubular workpieces, wherein the electronic control device comprises: at least one processor; and one or more memories coupled to the at least one processor and storing programming instructions for execution by the at least one processor to perform operations comprising: generating at least one section of a cutting gap cutting through a workpiece along a cutting line by a processing beam, wherein the cutting line corresponds to at least part of a contour of a workpiece part to be produced from the workpiece; and performing at least one non-joining and non-cutting finishing treatment of the workpiece with a partially cut-out workpiece part in at least in one section of at least one finishing zone by the processing beam, wherein the finishing zone extends along the cutting line.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having machine-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations for beam processing of a plate-shaped or tubular workpiece, the operations comprising: generating at least one section of a cutting gap cutting through the workpiece along a cutting line by a processing beam, wherein the cutting line corresponds to at least part of a contour of a workpiece part to be produced from the workpiece; and performing at least one non-joining and non-cutting finishing treatment of the workpiece with a partially cut-out workpiece part in at least in one section of at least one finishing zone by the processing beam, wherein the finishing zone extends along the cutting line.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The present disclosure will now be explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0075] FIGS. 1-15 show an example of a process for beam processing a workpiece as described herein.

[0076] FIGS. 16-21 show various applications for finishing a workpiece as described herein.

[0077] FIG. 22-25 show an example of multiple finishings of a workpiece as described herein.

[0078] FIG. 26-28 show another example of multiple finishings of a workpiece as described herein.

[0079] FIG. 29 is a schematic representation of an example of a beam processing device for carrying out the processes according to the present disclosure for beam processing a workpiece.

[0080] FIG. 30 is a flow diagram of the processes according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0081] First of all, a beam processing device known per se for the beam cutting of plate-like workpieces is illustrated in FIG. 29. The beam processing device, altogether designated with the reference number 1, includes a beam cutting device 2 with a beam head 3, as well as a work table 4 with a workpiece support 5 for a workpiece 9 (not shown in FIG. 29, see FIGS. 1 to 15), for example a flat sheet metal plate. The workpiece support 5 is spanned by a cross member 6, which is guided so that it can be moved along a first axial direction (x-direction).

[0082] A guide carriage 7 for the beam head 3 is mounted on the cross member 6, which is guided on the cross member 6 so that it can move along a second axial direction (y-direction) perpendicular to the first axial direction. The beam head 3 can thus be moved in a plane spanned by the two axial directions (x-direction and y-direction) parallel and relative to, for example, the horizontal workpiece support 5. Furthermore, the beam head 3 is configured to be vertically movable in a third axial direction (z-direction) perpendicular to the first and second axial directions, whereby the distance perpendicular to the workpiece support 5 can be changed. In the case of a horizontal workpiece support 5, the z-direction corresponds to the direction of gravity. On its side facing the workpiece support 5, the beam head 3 has a conically tapering beam nozzle 13 towards the workpiece support 5. The beam head 3 serves to guide a processing beam, here for example a laser beam, as well as a working gas beam.

[0083] The processing beam is generated by a processing beam source 8 and guided to the beam head 3, for example, by a beam guiding tube and several deflecting mirrors or a light guiding cable. A focusing lens or adaptive optics can be used to direct the processing beam onto the workpiece in a bundled form. Because the beam head 3 can be moved along the first axis direction (x-direction) and the second axis direction (y-direction), the processing beam can approach any point on the workpiece. The working distance of the beam nozzle 13 to the workpiece can be adjusted by changing the distance (e.g., vertical distance) to the workpiece surface through the height adjustment of the beam head 3 in the z-direction. The distance of the beam head 3 from the workpiece surface, e.g., the cutting height, can be adjusted before, during, and after the cutting process. Cutting processing of the workpiece can be carried out, e.g., with a variable cutting height within a cutting height range. The focus position (or focal point) of the processing beam can be adjusted via optical elements in the beam head 3, for example adaptive optics.

[0084] A first working gas beam (not shown in more detail) is used to drive the melt out of the cutting gap. The working gas beam is generated by a gas beam generation device (not shown in more detail). The inert working gas used can be, for example, helium (He), argon (Ar) or nitrogen (N.sub.2). Oxygen (O.sub.2) can be used as the reactive working gas. The use of gas mixtures is also known. The working gas beam emerges from the same beam nozzle 13 as the processing beam 16 and is guided, e.g., coaxially to the processing beam 16, to the processing point and impinges there on the workpiece surface of the workpiece with an (initial) gas pressure predetermined by the gas beam generation device.

[0085] As shown in FIG. 29, the workpiece support 5 includes, for example, a number of support elements with, for example, triangular support point peaks, which together define a support plane for the workpiece 9 to be machined. The support elements are designed here, for example, as elongated support webs which each extend along the y-direction and are arranged next to one another in a parallel arrangement along the x-direction with, for example, a constant intermediate spacing. An extraction device is not shown in more detail, by means of which cutting smoke, slag particles and small waste parts produced during the beam cutting can be extracted.

[0086] A program-controlled control device 12 serves to control/regulate the process according to the present disclosure for beam processing the workpiece 9 in the beam device 1.

[0087] Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 to 15, in which an exemplary process for the beam processing of a workpiece by the beam processing device 1 of FIG. 29 is illustrated. FIGS. 1 to 15 correspond in this order to later situations of the process.

[0088] FIG. 1 shows a cutting line 14 (dashed line). The cutting line 14 is an imaginary line which corresponds to a complete contour (outline) of a workpiece part 11 to be cut out. The contour defines an outer shape of the workpiece part 11 to be cut out. The workpiece part 11 is to be cut out completely from a plate-shaped or tubular workpiece 9, which is not shown in greater detail, leaving the residual grid 10. The workpiece part 11 here has, for example, a rectangular shape with rounded corners, whereby it is understood that the workpiece part 11 can have any desired shape.

[0089] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the processing beam 16, for example a laser beam, emerging from the beam head 3. The processing beam 16 is guided along the cutting line 14, whereby a cutting gap 15 is created in the workpiece 9 at a corresponding power density to cut the workpiece part 11 out of the workpiece 9. The beam head 3 can be moved to a position above the cutting line 14, in which the processing beam 16 meets a cutting position A of the cutting line 14 with its beam axis. As shown in FIG. 2, the beam head 3 is moved along the cutting line 14, whereby the processing beam 16 is moved from the cutting position A to a cutting position B. This creates the cutting gap 15 (solid line) between the first cutting position A and the second cutting position B, which breaks through the workpiece 9.

[0090] As can be seen from further explanations, the cutting gap 15 is created section by section, whereby a first section 15-1 of the cutting gap 15 is first created. The first section 15-1 of the cutting gap 15 is correspondingly generated in a first section 14-1 of the cutting line 14. It is understood that the processing beam 16 can also penetrate the workpiece 9 at a distance from the cutting line 14, whereby the cutting gap 15 in the sense of the present disclosure extends only along the contour (cutting line 14) of the workpiece part 11.

[0091] FIG. 3 illustrates a situation in which the first section 15-1 of the cutting gap 15 has been completely created between the cutting position A and the cutting position B. The cutting operation on the workpiece 9 is now interrupted. The processing beam 16 is switched off and the beam head 3 is moved to a position above the cutting position A of the cutting line 14. As illustrated by an arrow in FIG. 3, the traversing movement of the beam head 3 within the cutting line 14, e.g., above the workpiece part 11 to be cut out, can take place in a direct line between the cutting position B and the cutting position A of the cutting line 14. The cutting position A corresponds to a first finishing position of a finishing line 18 (see FIG. 4). It is equally possible that the workpiece part 11 to be cut is not passed over.

[0092] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the processing beam 16 is now switched on again and the beam head 3 is moved along the finishing line 18 (dashed line), whereby the processing beam 16 is moved from the first finishing position corresponding to the cutting position A to a second finishing position corresponding to the cutting position B. Here, the workpiece 9 is finished in a first section 22-1 of a finishing zone 22 (schematically illustrated by the solid line).

[0093] FIG. 5 shows a situation in which the workpiece 9 has been finished along the entire first section 15-1 of the cutting gap 15. The finished region or the first section 22-1 of the finishing zone 22 is schematically illustrated with a solid line. Analogous to the section-by-section creation of the cutting gap 15, the finishing zone 22 is created section-by-section. Specifically, the workpiece 9 is finished in the first section 22-1 of the finishing zone 22.

[0094] In FIG. 4 and further in FIGS. 5 to 15, the finishing line 18 and the finishing zone 22 respectively are shown offset parallel and equidistant to the cutting line 14 for display reasons. This also corresponds to positioning of the finishing line 18 for certain applications. For the finishing described here as an example, the finishing line 18 can be identical to the cutting line 14, which corresponds to equally positioning of the finishing line 18 for certain applications.

[0095] It is understood that the finishing zone 22 can have a wider dimension perpendicular to its extension than the finishing line 18, which is not shown graphically in the schematic representation. The finishing line 18 merely indicates the movement of the beam head 3. The finishing zone 22 is the area of the workpiece 9 that is finished by irradiation. The finishing line 18 extends along the cutting line 14. The finishing zone 22 can also extend along the cutting line 14. However, the finishing zone 22 does not have to contain the cutting line 14 and the cutting gap 15. In some embodiments, the finishing zone 22 may contain the cutting gap 15 or a portion of the cutting gap 15. The cutting gap 15 is delimited by two opposing cutting edges 19, 19′ (as illustrated with more details in FIGS. 16-28).

[0096] The finishing in a section of the finishing zone 22 is described by moving the beam head 3 from a respective first finishing position to a respective second finishing position. For each section of the finishing zone 22, the respective first and second finishing positions are indicated.

[0097] As illustrated in FIG. 5, starting from the cutting position B, which represents the first cutting position for the following second cutting procedure, the workpiece 9 is further cut, whereby the previously (or already) created first section 15-1 of the cutting gap 15 is extended to the cutting position C.

[0098] FIG. 6 illustrates a situation in which a further or second section 15-2 of the cutting gap 15 has been created between the cutting position B and the cutting position C along a second section 14-2 of the cutting line 14. The cutting operation on the workpiece 9 is now interrupted. The processing beam 16 is switched off and the beam head 3 is moved to a position above the first cutting position B of the cutting line 14, as illustrated by an arrow. The cutting position B corresponds to a first finishing position of the finishing line 18 for the following finishing (see FIG. 7).

[0099] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the processing beam 16 is switched on again and the beam head 3 is moved along the finishing line 18, whereby the processing beam 16 is moved from the first finishing position corresponding to the cutting position B to a second finishing position corresponding to the cutting position C.

[0100] FIG. 8 shows a situation in which the workpiece 9 has been finished along the entire second section 15-2 of the cutting gap 15 between the first finishing position corresponding to the cutting position B and the second finishing position corresponding to the cutting position C in a further or second section 22-2 of the finishing zone 22. The second section 22-2 of the finishing zone 22 extends the previously created first section 22-1 of the finishing zone 22.

[0101] As illustrated in FIG. 8, starting from the cutting position C, the workpiece 9 is then further cut, whereby the previously created part of the cutting gap 15 is extended to the cutting position D.

[0102] FIG. 9 illustrates a situation in which a third section 15-3 of the cutting gap 15 has been created between the cutting position C and the cutting position D along a third section 14-3 of the cutting line 14. The cutting operation on the workpiece 9 is now interrupted. The processing beam 16 is switched off and the beam head 3 is moved to a position above the cutting position C of the cutting line 14. The cutting position C corresponds to a first finishing position of the finishing line 18 for the now following finishing (see FIG. 10). The third section 15-3 of the cutting gap 15 extends the second section 15-2 of the cutting gap 15.

[0103] As illustrated in FIG. 10, the processing beam 16 is switched on again and the beam head 3 is moved along the finishing line 18, whereby the processing beam 16 is moved from the first finishing position corresponding to the cutting position C of the third cutting procedure to a second finishing position corresponding to the cutting position D.

[0104] FIG. 11 shows a situation in which the workpiece 9 has been finished along the entire third section 15-3 of the cutting gap 15 between the first finishing position and the second finishing position in a third section 22-3 of the finishing zone 22. The third section 22-3 of the finishing zone 22 extends the previously created second section 22-2 of the finishing zone 22.

[0105] As illustrated in FIG. 11, starting from the cutting position D, the workpiece 9 is further cut, whereby the previously created part of the cutting gap 15 is extended to the cutting position E.

[0106] FIG. 12 illustrates a situation in which a fourth section 15-4 of the cutting gap 15 has been created between the cutting position D and the cutting position E along a fourth section 14-4 of the cutting line 14. The cutting processing of the workpiece 9 is interrupted. The fourth section 15-4 of the cutting gap 15 extends the third section 15-3 of the cutting gap 15.

[0107] The processing beam 16 is switched off and the beam head 3 is moved to a position above the cutting position D. The cutting position D corresponds to a first finishing position of the finishing line 18 for the following finishing (see FIG. 13).

[0108] As illustrated in FIG. 13, the processing beam 16 is switched on again and the beam head 3 is moved along the finishing line 18, whereby the processing beam 16 is moved from the first finishing position corresponding to the cutting position D to a second finishing position corresponding to the cutting position E.

[0109] FIG. 14 shows a situation in which the workpiece 9 has been finished along the entire fourth section 15-4 of the cutting gap 15 between a first finishing position corresponding to the cutting position D and the second finishing position corresponding to the cutting position E in a fourth section 22-4 of the finishing zone 22. The fourth section 22-4 of the finishing zone 22 extends the previously created third section 22-3 of the finishing zone 22.

[0110] As illustrated in FIG. 14, starting from the cutting position E, the workpiece 9 is further cut, whereby the previously created part of the cutting gap 15 is extended to the cutting position A along a fifth section 14-5 of the cutting line 14. Hereby, the cutting gap 15 is closed and the workpiece part 11 is cut free from the remaining grid 10, so that it can be removed. There is no further finishing of the cut free workpiece part 11 since, according to the present disclosure, there is no finishing is performed on the cut free workpiece part 11. Here, a fifth section 15-5 of the cutting gap 15 is created which extends the fourth section 15-4 of the cutting gap 15.

[0111] In some embodiments, for the process exemplified by FIGS. 1 to 15, after finishing the workpiece 9 in the fourth section 22-4 of the finishing zone 22, but before the fifth section 15-5 of the cutting gap 15 is created, e.g., before the workpiece part 11 is cut free, further finishing of the workpiece 9 is carried out along a fifth section 14-5 of the cutting line 14 between the cutting positions E and A (see FIG. 14). This is schematically illustrated by an insert in FIG. 14. The extended fourth section 22-4′ of the finishing zone 22 extends here to the cutting position A (second finishing position), so that the finishing zone 22 extends as a closed, elongated area along the complete cutting line 14, e.g., fully over the complete contour of the workpiece part 11. In particular, during such a finishing operation, a chamfer can be created on one or both cutting edges of the cutting gap 15 to be created later in the area of the fifth section 14-5 of the cutting line 14. Subsequently, the workpiece part 11 is cut free by creating the fifth section 15-5 of the cutting gap 15.

[0112] In all cutting operations, the processing beam 16 has a first power density which is high enough such that the workpiece 9 is cut through. The first power density can assume (or have) different values, e.g., the first power density does not have to have a constant value. In all finishing operations, the processing beam 16 has a second power density which is controlled in such a way that the workpiece 9 is processed in neither a joining nor a cutting manner. In this way, the workpiece 9 is finished along the cutting line 14. The second power density can assume different values, e.g., the second power density does not have to have a constant value.

[0113] The beam axis of the processing beam 16 is, for example, axially parallel to the conical beam nozzle 13 and impinges perpendicularly on the workpiece 9. In all cutting operations and all finishing operations, the processing beam 16 is directed onto the workpiece surface 17 with an unchanged orientation of its beam axis relative to the workpiece surface 17 (e.g., 90°).

[0114] The finishing operations can be varied in many ways. For example, the finishing line 18 can be laterally offset (e.g., equidistant) from the cutting line 14. For example, the respective first finishing position and the respective second finishing position of a section 22-1 to 22-4 (22-4′) of the finishing zone 22 can also be positioned such that the workpiece 9 is only finished along a portion of the respective section 14-1 to 14-5 of the cutting line 14 or a portion of the respective section 15-1 to 15-5 of the cutting gap 15, e.g., the respective sections 22-1 to 22-4 (22-4′) of the finishing zone 22 do not extend over the complete length of the respective sections 14-1 to 14-5 of the cutting line 14 or do not extend over the complete length of the respective sections 15-1 to 15-5 of the cutting gap 15. For example, the direction of finishing can also be opposite to the direction of creation of the cutting gap 15.

[0115] In some embodiments, a respective section 14-1 to 14-5 of the cutting line 14 may be subjected to a single finishing operation. However, it is also possible that several finishing operations are carried out for the same part or section 14-1 to 14-5 of the cutting line 14. In some embodiments, during a first finishing operation of a same part or section 14-1 to 14-5 of the cutting line 14, the workpiece 9 is irradiated by the processing beam 16 in a region containing a workpiece part-side cutting edge 19 of the cutting gap 15 and/or in a region containing a residual grid-side cutting edge 19′ of the cutting gap 15. For example, when irradiating a cutting edge 19, 19′, the respective opposite cutting edge 19′, 19 is also irradiated.

[0116] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 15, the last (fifth) cutting procedure creates a part or section 15-5 of the cutting gap 15 whose length is smaller than the respective lengths of the parts of the cutting gap 15 created in all previous cutting operations. By this measure, it can be achieved that a possibly small part of the cutting gap 15 is not subjected to any finishing. It can also be possible for the lengths of the parts of the cutting gap 15 produced in the cutting procedures to increase continuously, for example, starting from the free-cutting point of the workpiece part 11. Alternatively, as described above in connection with FIG. 14, the workpiece 9 can still be subjected to a finishing operation before the workpiece part 11 is cut free in an area where the workpiece 9 still has connection to the residual grid 10. Thus, during the finishing of the last (fifth) section 14-5 of the cutting line 14, the workpiece 9 is first finished and then a (fifth) section of the cutting gap 15 is created for cutting free the workpiece part 11.

[0117] In some embodiments, the finishing line 18 has a meandering course along the cutting line 14. This allows the finishing zone 22 to be widened in a direction perpendicular to the cutting line 14.

[0118] Reference is now made to FIGS. 16 to 21, in which various applications for finishing the workpiece 9 in the process according to FIGS. 1 to 15 are illustrated.

[0119] In FIG. 16, oxide layers are removed from the workpiece part-side cutting edge 19 and the residual grid-side cutting edge 19′ of the cutting gap 15 during the finishing operation by the processing beam 16. The oxide layers can be easily removed by flaking. The processing beam 16 penetrates the cutting gap 15 and is focused so that both cutting gap edges 19, 19′ are irradiated. The finishing line 18 may be identical to or different from the cutting line 14.

[0120] Subsequent to the removal of the oxide layers or alternatively to the removal of the oxide layers, a coating (e.g., zinc coating) can be applied to the workpiece part-side cutting edge 19 and/or the residual grid-side cutting edge 19′ of the cutting gap 15. This is illustrated in FIG. 21, in which a second working gas beam 23, e.g., guided coaxially to the processing beam 16 is shown by a coating material 24 (e.g., zinc) transported therein. The coating material 24 is added to the second working gas beam 23, which, e.g., completely irradiates both cutting edges 19, 19′, with the result that the coating material 24 is deposited there and forms a coating (e.g., zinc coating).

[0121] In FIG. 17, during the finishing operation by the processing beam 16, the workpiece part-side cutting edge 19 of the workpiece part 11 adjacent to the workpiece surface 17 is rounded by re-melting. The finishing line 18 can be arranged laterally (e.g., equidistantly) offset relative to the cutting line 14, whereby, in some embodiments, a maximum distance between finishing line 18 and cutting line 14 is half of the cutting gap width of the cutting gap 15 plus the radius of the beam cone of the processing beam 16 at the workpiece surface 17.

[0122] In FIG. 18, during the finishing operation by the processing beam 16, the workpiece part-side cutting edge 19 adjacent to the workpiece underside 20 is simultaneously rounded and the residual grid-side cutting edge 19′ adjacent to the workpiece surface 17 is smoothed. The finishing line 18 can be the same as the cutting line or offset laterally (e.g., equidistantly) relative to the cutting line 14.

[0123] In FIG. 19, during finishing by the processing beam 16, the workpiece part-side cutting edge 19 adjacent to the workpiece surface 17 is provided with a chamfer 21. The finishing line 18 is laterally offset (e.g., equidistant) relative to the cutting line 14. Here, the chamfer 21 is created by, e.g., one or more steps or finishing procedures performed on the same section of the cutting gap 15. In a first finishing procedure, the workpiece part 11 is irradiated in an area containing the workpiece part-side cutting edge 19. The finishing line 18 may be the same as the cutting line or laterally offset (e.g., equidistant) relative to the cutting line 14 (in the direction of the workpiece part). This can be repeated one or more times if necessary. In one or more subsequent finishing operations, the finishing line 18 is offset even further towards or across the workpiece part 11 to form the chamfer 21 further away from the workpiece part-side cutting edge 19. In this case, the cutting edge 19 on the workpiece part side is no longer beam processed. It would also be conceivable to first irradiate the workpiece part 11 in such a way that an area not containing the cutting edge 19 on the workpiece part side is irradiated, followed by a continuous shifting of the finishing line 18 in the direction of the cutting gap 15, whereby finally the cutting edge 19 on the workpiece part side is also irradiated. In some embodiments, the processing beam 16 is moved in a meandering manner along the cutting line 14 when creating the chamfer 21, whereby the width of the chamfer 21 can be increased. In some embodiments, in addition to creating a chamfer 21, oxide is also removed from the workpiece 9 in the area of the cutting edge. It can also be possible to form a corresponding chamfer on the opposite side, e.g., the cutting edge 19′ on the residual grid side.

[0124] In FIG. 20, burr is simultaneously removed from the workpiece part-side cutting edge 19 adjacent to the workpiece underside 20 and from the residual grid-side cutting edge 19′ adjacent to the workpiece underside 20 during the finishing operation by the processing beam 16. The finishing line 18 can be identical to or different from the cutting line 14. The focus position of the processing beam 16 is adjusted so that the two cut edges 19, 19′ are irradiated accordingly.

[0125] The various applications can be provided individually or in any combination, in which case two or more finishing operations are carried out along at least one same part or section of the finishing zone 22 or along the complete finishing zone or along at least one same part or section of the cutting gap 15 or along the complete cutting gap 15 or along at least one same part or section of the cutting line 14.

[0126] The various applications can also be provided for in the variant described above, in which a finishing operation is carried out on the workpiece part 11 immediately before it is cut free in that area with which the workpiece part 11 is still connected to the residual grid 10 (fifth section 14-5 of cutting line 14). In some embodiments, a finishing operation can be, for example, the creation of a chamfer on the cutting edge 19′ on the side of the residual grid.

[0127] FIGS. 22 to 25 describe an example of multiple finishing of a workpiece 9. Accordingly, a cutting gap 15 is first created (FIG. 22). Then a chamfer 21 is created on the cutting edge 19 on the workpiece part side. In this case, the finishing zone 22 comprises the cutting edge 19 on the workpiece part side during the initial finishing (FIG. 23). Subsequently, the chamfer 21 is enlarged, whereby the finishing zone 22 no longer contains the cutting edge 19 on the workpiece part side (FIG. 24). In a further finishing operation, any adhesions 25, such as oxide, formed during the previous finishing operation are removed from the workpiece part 11 (FIG. 25).

[0128] It is clear from FIGS. 22 to 25 that, particularly in the case of a non-first-time finishing operation, the finishing zone 22 need not contain the cutting edges 19, 19′. As a rule, a finishing zone 22 at least partially contains a previous finishing zone 22.

[0129] FIGS. 26 to 28 describe another example of multiple finishing of a workpiece 9. Accordingly, a cutting gap 15 is first created (FIG. 26). Then the workpiece 9 is coated with an anti-adhesive agent 26, for example an oil, in the area of the cutting gap 15. The coating is applied by an anti-adhesive agent nozzle 27, from which the anti-adhesive agent 26 emerges in the form of a jet cone in the direction of the workpiece 9 (FIG. 27). Furthermore, a chamfer 21 is created at the cutting edge 19 on the workpiece side (FIG. 28). The anti-adhesive agent 26 can be used to avoid adhesions 25 (e.g., slag or melt). This is shown schematically in FIG. 28.

[0130] FIG. 30 shows a flow diagram of the process according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The process includes creating at least a section of a cutting gap cutting through a workpiece along a cutting line corresponding to at least a part of a contour of a workpiece part to be produced from the workpiece with the processing beam (step I). It further includes finishing the workpiece with the workpiece part partially cut out one or more times in at least a portion of at least one finishing zone extending along the cutting line with the processing beam, where the workpiece is finished in the finishing zone in a non-joining and non-cutting manner (step II).

[0131] As can be seen from the above description, the present disclosure provides a novel process for beam processing of a plate-shaped or tubular workpiece, by which a workpiece part is partially or completely cut out and the workpiece part that has not yet been cut free (e.g., not completely cut out) and/or the residual grid along the cutting line, optionally along the cutting gap, is subjected to at least one finishing operation by the processing beam. This makes mechanical finishing of the cut-out workpiece part unnecessary, so that the production of workpiece parts can be carried out more simply, more quickly and more economically. In a particularly advantageous manner, due to the rigid, fixed position between the partially cut-out workpiece part and the remaining workpiece, a particularly precise finishing of the partially cut-out workpiece part can be carried out in a simple manner, so that high quality requirements can be met. An implementation of the process according to the present disclosure in previously existing beam processing devices is possible in a simple way without having to provide for complex technical measures. Rather, a desired finishing of a workpiece part still connected to the residual grid or of the residual grid itself can be realized by the process according to the present disclosure by merely intervening in the machine control.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

[0132] A number of embodiments of the present disclosure have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0133] 1 Beam processing device [0134] 2 Beam cutting device [0135] 3 Beam head [0136] 4 Work table [0137] 5 Workpiece support [0138] 6 Cross member [0139] 7 Guide carriage [0140] 8 Processing beam source [0141] 9 Workpiece [0142] 10 Residual grid [0143] 11 Workpiece part [0144] 12 Control device [0145] 13 Beam nozzle [0146] 14 Cutting line [0147] 14-1, 14-2, 14-3, 14-4, 14-5 Section of the cutting line [0148] 15 Cutting gap [0149] 15-1, 15-2, 15-3, 15-4, 15-5 Section of the cutting gap [0150] 16 Processing beam [0151] 17 Workpiece surface [0152] 18 Finishing line [0153] 19, 19′ Cutting edge [0154] 20 Workpiece underside [0155] 21 Chamfer [0156] 22 Finishing zone [0157] 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, 22-4, 22-4′ Section of the finishing zone [0158] 23 Second working gas beam [0159] 24 Coating material [0160] 25 Adhesion [0161] 26 Anti-adhesive agent [0162] 27 Anti-adhesive agent nozzle