PIPE PROCESSING MACHINE FOR CUTTING PIPES OR PROFILED SECTIONS USING A LASER BEAM

Abstract

A laser pipe cutting machine for cutting pipes or profiled sections using a laser beam generated by a laser unit, includes a machine bed on which a feed station is provided for feeding pipes or profiled sections to be processed along an x-axis, and a push-through chuck through which the pipe or profiled section is pushed to a cutting head. The cutting head is movably disposed along a y-axis running perpendicularly to the x-axis and along a z-axis running perpendicularly to the y-axis. The machine bed is equipped with an axis support on which the cutting head is movably mounted and the push-through chuck is disposed.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A pipe processing machine for cutting pipes or profiled sections using a laser beam, the pipe processing machine comprising: a machine bed; an axis support disposed on said machine bed; a feed station provided on said machine bed for feeding pipes or profiled sections to be processed along an X-axis; a cutting head movably mounted on said axis support, said cutting head being movable along a Y-axis running perpendicular to the X-axis and along a Z-axis running perpendicular to the Y-axis; and a push-through chuck through which the pipe or profiled section is to be pushed to said cutting head, said push-through chuck being disposed on said axis support.

16. The pipe processing machine according to claim 15, wherein said machine bed is formed in one piece with said axis support.

17. The pipe processing machine according to claim 15, wherein said machine bed is non-detachably connected to said axis support.

18. The pipe processing machine according to claim 15, wherein said machine bed and said axis support are joined together by welding or by screws.

19. The pipe processing machine according to claim 15, wherein said axis support has a greater extent than said machine bed in the Y direction.

20. The pipe processing machine according to claim 15, wherein said push-through chuck is disposed on said axis support immovably in direction of the X-axis.

21. The pipe processing machine according to claim 15, which further comprises: a Y-guide disposed on said axis support, said Y-guide having a Y-slide movable along said Y-guide for moving said cutting head along the Y-axis; a Z-guide provided on said Y-slide, said Z-guide having a Z-slide movable along the Z-guide for moving said cutting head along the Z-axis; and said cutting head being disposed on said Z-slide.

22. The pipe processing machine according to claim 15, wherein said cutting head is movable along an additional X-axis.

23. The pipe processing machine according to claim 22, wherein the additional X-axis is aligned to hold said cutting head or a tool center point at a constant distance from said push-through chuck during an oblique cut.

24. The pipe processing machine according to claim 22, wherein the additional X-axis is a dynamic axis for superimposing movement with the X-axis.

25. The pipe processing machine according to claim 22, wherein: said axis support has a Y-guide with a Y-slide movable along said Y-guide for moving said cutting head along the Y-axis; an additional X guide is provided on said Y slide, said additional X guide has an additional X slide movable along said additional X guide for moving said cutting head along the additional x-axis; a Z-guide is provided on said additional X-slide, said Z-guide has a Z-slide movable along said Z-guide for moving said cutting head along the Z-axis; and said cutting head is disposed on said Z-slide.

26. The pipe processing machine according to claim 15, wherein said cutting head is pivotable about the Y axis.

27. The pipe processing machine according to claim 15, wherein said axis support has interfaces for an arrangement of further functional components.

28. The pipe processing machine according to claim 15, which further comprises a switch cabinet formed in one piece with said machine bed.

Description

[0024] In the figures:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a pipe processing machine according to the invention in side view;

[0026] FIG. 2 shows the machine according to FIG. 1 in front view;

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a detail of the machine according to FIG. 1 in an isometric view;

[0028] FIG. 4 shows the front view of a second machine according to the invention; and

[0029] FIG. 5 shows a detail of the machine according to FIG. 4 in an isometric view.

[0030] In FIGS. 1 to 3, a pipe processing machine 10 for cutting pipes or profiled sections by means of a laser beam is shown. The machine 10 comprises a machine bed 12, on which a feed station 14 is provided for feeding pipes or profiled sections to be processed along an X-axis 16. For the support of pipes or profiled sections, not illustrated in the figures, workpiece supports 18 are provided on the machine bed 12.

[0031] On the front side of the machine 10, at the free end of the machine bed 12, an axis support 20 is provided, which is connected to the machine bed 12 in one piece and in particular non-detachably. Preferably, the axis support 20 is welded onto the machine bed 12. Processing of the machine bed 12 and of the axis support 20 is preferably carried out following the joining of the machine bed 12 and axis support 20. In this way, a permanent and positionally accurate arrangement of the components and the functional sections thereof relative to one another can be achieved.

[0032] However, according to the invention it is also conceivable that the machine bed and the axis support are detachably joined to each other, for example by screwing.

[0033] Provided on the axis support 20 is a cutting head 22, which is movably arranged along a Y-axis 24 running perpendicular to the X-axis 16 and in the horizontal direction, and a Z-axis 26 running perpendicular to the X-axis in the vertical direction. The axis support 20 also has a push-through chuck 28, through which the pipe or profiled section to be processed is guided by the axis support 20 and by means of which the pipe or profiled section can be clamped during the processing. The push-through chuck 28 is arranged to be fixed in the direction of the X-axis and immovably on the axis support 20.

[0034] To provide a laser beam emerging from the cutting head 22, by means of which the pipe or profiled section to be processed is cut, a laser generator, not illustrated in the figures, is provided, the laser beam generated by which is deflected toward the cutting edge 22 by deflection means, likewise not illustrated in detail.

[0035] As becomes clear in particular from FIG. 3, the axis support 20 has a greater extent in the direction of the Y-axis 24 than the machine bed 12. This results in a stable and rugged arrangement. In particular, torsion about the X-axis 16 can reliably be suppressed.

[0036] As further becomes clear, in particular from FIG. 3, a Y-guide 30 is provided on the axis support, in which a Y-slide 32 can be moved in the direction of the Y-axis 24. The Y-slide 32 provides a Z-guide 34, along which a Z-slide 36 is movably arranged. Finally, the cutting head 22 is arranged on the Z-slide 36, wherein the cutting head can be rotated about the Y-axis 24 along a B-axis, which is indicated by the arrow 38.

[0037] The control of the cutting head 22 along the Y-axis 24, the Z-axis 26 and the B-axis 38 is carried out via a machine controller, which controls appropriately arranged and set-up drive units for displacing the cutting head 22. The machine controller can be provided in a switch cabinet, which is formed in one piece with the machine bed 12 and in particular is non-detachably connected to the machine bed 12. The switch cabinet can in particular be welded onto the machine bed 12.

[0038] In FIGS. 4 and 5, a further pipe processing machine 50 according to the invention is shown, the structure of which corresponds substantially to the structure of the pipe processing machine 10. Corresponding components are provided with corresponding designations.

[0039] As distinct from the pipe processing machine 10, in the pipe processing machine 50 the cutting head 22 is additionally movable along an additional X-axis 52. To this end, an additional X-guide 54, along which an additional X-slide 56 can be moved, is provided on the Y-slide 32. The slide 56 then has the Z-guide 34, along which the Z-slide 36 can be moved. In a way corresponding to the pipe processing machine 10, in the pipe processing machine 50 the cutting head on the Z-slide 36 can also be pivoted about the Y-axis 24 along the B-axis 38.

[0040] In the machine 50, as in the machine 10, CNC-controlled drives are provided, with which the cutting head 22 can ultimately be moved along the Y-axis 24, the Z-axis 26, the additional X-axis 52 and the B-axis 38.