LASER MACHINE TOOL HAVING SUCTION SYSTEM

Abstract

A machine for machining workpieces and/or for producing molded bodies by location-selective solidification of material powder to form connected regions by means of a focused laser beam, including: a process chamber which can be closed by a process chamber door and which encloses a process space, a material powder container cabinet, which can be closed by a door, for storing material powder, and a suction system. The suction system has a fan for generating an air flow, a first suction apparatus fluidically connected to the fan by a first waste air duct to suction particles out of the process space, and a second suction apparatus fluidically connected to the fan by a second waste air duct to suction particles out of the material powder container cabinet. The first suction apparatus has means for controlling its suction power and/or the second suction apparatus has means for controlling its suction power.

Claims

1. A machine for machining workpieces and/or for producing molded bodies by location-selective solidification of material powder, to form connected regions by means of a focused laser beam, comprising: a process chamber which can be closed by a process chamber door and which encloses a process space; a material powder container cabinet which can be closed by a door for storing material powder; and a suction system comprising: a fan for generating an air flow; a first suction apparatus fluidically connected to the fan via a first waste air duct for suctioning particles out of the process space; and a second suction apparatus fluidically connected to the fan via a second waste air duct for suctioning particles out of the material powder container cabinet, wherein the first suction apparatus comprises means for controlling a suction power of the first suction apparatus; and/or the second suction apparatus comprises means for controlling a suction power of the second suction apparatus.

2. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the means for controlling the suction power of the first suction apparatus and/or the second suction apparatus each comprise actuators.

3. The machine according to claim 1, wherein an air inlet and an air outlet fluidically connected to the first waste air duct are arranged in the process space, so that an air flow is generated over a focal point of the focused laser beam.

4. The machine according to claim 3, wherein the air inlet and the air outlet are arranged so that the air flow is generated in a horizontal direction.

5. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the means for controlling the suction power of the first suction apparatus and/or the second suction apparatus are arranged to adjust the suction power of the first suction apparatus and/or the second suction apparatus depending on an opening state of the process chamber door and/or an opening state of the door of the material powder container cabinet.

6. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the means for controlling the suction power of the first suction apparatus and/or the second suction apparatus are arranged to adjust the suction power of the first suction apparatus and/or the second suction apparatus depending on a machining and/or manufacturing process of the machine.

7. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the means for controlling the suction power of the first suction apparatus and/or the second suction apparatus are arranged to adjust the suction power of the first suction apparatus and/or the second suction apparatus depending on the material and/or a material composition of the material powder used.

8. Method for suctioning particles out of a process space in a process chamber of a machine for processing workpieces and/or for producing molded bodies by location-selective solidification of material powder to form connected regions by means of a focused laser beam, the method comprising the following steps: locking of the process chamber door before the machine starts a machining process; operating of a first suction apparatus for suctioning particles out of the process space at throttled power while the machine is carrying out the machining process; operating the first suction apparatus for suctioning particles out of the process space at maximum power for a defined period of time after a machining process is interrupted or terminated; and unlocking the process chamber door after the defined time period has elapsed.

9. Method according to claim 8 comprising the additional steps: operating a second suction apparatus for suctioning particles out of a material powder container cabinet, wherein the suction power of the second suction apparatus is adjusted depending on whether a door of the material powder container cabinet is opened or closed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0023] Further preferred configurations are described in more detail below on the basis of an embodiment shown in the drawings, to which the invention is, however, not restricted.

[0024] It is shown schematically by:

[0025] FIG. 1: a structure of a machine tool for producing or machining a molded body or workpiece by means of focused laser radiation.

[0026] FIG. 2: a perspective view of an example of a laser machine tool having a suction system.

[0027] FIG. 3: a detailed view of the waste air ducts and throttle valves of the laser machine tool according to the embodiment of FIG. 2.

[0028] FIG. 4: a perspective view of the process space of a laser machine tool according to an embodiment.

[0029] FIG. 5: an exemplary time sequence of the suction.

[0030] FIG. 6: an illustration of the operation principle of laser deposition welding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION BY MEANS OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0031] In the following description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, identical reference signs denote identical or comparable components.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a machine 1 for machining a workpiece and/or for producing a molded body by location-selective solidification of material powder to form connected regions by means of laser radiation. The machine 1 comprises a machine frame 21, to which a workpiece table 20 on the one hand and a laser processing head 23 with a powder nozzle 15 on the other hand are mounted indirectly via intermediate adjusting axes 22. The adjusting axes 22 can each have several translatory (X, Y, Z) or rotary (, , ) axes, which can be adjusted according to a machine control. The configuration can be such that, for example, the laser processing head 23 is fixed to the machine frame 21 via one, two or three translatory adjusting axes 22 (X and/or Y and/or Z), while the workpiece table 20 is attached to the machine frame 21 via one, two or three rotary adjusting axes 22.

[0033] For example, the machine 1 can be a five-axis laser machine tool for the production of molded bodies by location-selective solidification of material powder to form connected regions by means of laser radiation. A workpiece can be releasably attached to the workpiece table 20 for machining. Alternatively, a molded body can be built up layer by layer on the workpiece table 20 by location-selective hardening of material powder.

[0034] Such a laser machine tool 1 usually has a closed process chamber 10, in which a vacuum can be generated by means of a suction system to protect an environment of the machine 1 from contamination by welding fumes or other particles, for example, material powder. The process chamber 10 encloses a process space 12, which is accessible via a process chamber door 11. The process chamber door 11 can comprise a locking mechanism that can be actuated depending on the machining process. This can prevent the process chamber door 11 from being opened during a running machining process.

[0035] The suction system can suck air from the process space 12 via an air outlet 5a. The air outlet 5a is fluidically connected to a fan 2 via a first waste air duct 3a. Via an air inlet 5b, which is fluidically connected to a supply air duct 3d, fresh air can be supplied to the process space 12. By means of a suitable positioning of the air inlet 5b and the air outlet 5a in the process space 12, the direction of the air flow F in the process chamber 12 can be adjusted in such a way that the air flow F passes essentially horizontally an operating point of the laser machine tool 1, where a focused laser beam L fuses the material powder P fed through the powder nozzle 15 with the workpiece. The operating principle of laser deposition welding is described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 6. The air flow F is shown as a dotted arrow in FIG. 1. Further dotted arrows illustrate a supply air flow through the supply air duct 3d and an exhaust air flow through the first waste air duct 3a.

[0036] In an alternative configurations of the invention, the air inlet 5b may also be omitted. Fresh air from the environment can then be supplied through slots and/or joints in the process chamber 10 or between the process chamber 10 and the process chamber door 11. However, the provision of the air inlet 5b has the advantage that the direction of the air flow F can be defined more precisely so that an essentially laminar, horizontal flow can be generated via the operating point of the machine 1. In alternative configurations, more than one air inlet 5b and/or more than one air outlet 5a may be provided. In addition, the air flow F can also be generated with any other flow direction, for example vertical, instead of horizontal.

[0037] A perspective view of a five-axis laser machine tool 1 according to the invention for producing molded bodies by location-selective solidification of material powder to form connected regions by means of laser radiation according to an embodiment is shown in FIG. 4. The embodiment shown essentially corresponds to the machine 1 schematically shown in FIG. 1. However, FIG. 4 does not show a laser processing head 23 fixed to the adjusting axis 22.

[0038] The workpiece table 20 is arranged in a process chamber 10 (process cabin) which can be closed by a process chamber door 11 and which encloses the process space 12 and. A control unit 13 located outside the process chamber 10 serves as interface between operator and machine control. For example, measured values and/or warning messages and/or control applications can be shown on a display of the control unit 13. In the process space 12, the air outlet 5a is arranged on the left. The dotted arrow illustrates the air flow F generated by the suction system. The air inlet 5b is not visible in FIG. 4 because it is covered by the process chamber door 11.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a perspective rear view of the inventive five-axis laser machine tool 1. FIG. 2 illustrates further details of the suction system not shown in FIG. 4. Machine 1 includes a material powder container cabinet 7 for storing material powder in one or more material powder containers in the material powder container cabinet 7. The material powder container cabinet 7 has a door (not shown) through which an operator can fill the not shown material powder container with material powder. From the material powder container cabinet 7, lines lead the material powder to the powder nozzle 15. A carrier gas, for example argon, is used to transport the material powder.

[0040] The suction system comprises a fan 2 for generating an air flow, a first suction apparatus for suctioning particles out of the process space 12 and a second suction apparatus for suctioning particles out of the material powder container cabinet 7. The first suction apparatus comprises a first waste air duct 3a, via which the air outlet 5a located in the process space 12 is connected to the fan 2. The second suction apparatus comprises a second waste air duct 3b, via which an air outlet (not shown) arranged in the material powder container cabinet 7 is fluidically connected with the fan 2. The first waste air duct 3a and the second waste air duct 3b are connected via a T-piece to a third waste air duct 3c, which is fluidically connected to the fan 2.

[0041] The first suction apparatus and the second suction apparatus each have means 4a, 4b for adjusting a suction power. A detailed view in FIG. 3 shows the T-piece that connects the first waste air duct 3a and the second waste air duct 3b with the third waste air duct 3c. FIG. 3 shows the means for adjusting the suction power as throttle valves 4a and 4b in the first waste air duct 3a and in the second waste air duct 3b, respectively. The throttle valves 4a, 4b can be controlled via actuators 6a, 6b. In particular, the actuators 6a, 6b are controlled by the machine control. By adjusting a degree of opening of the throttle valves, an air flow through the first and/or second suction apparatus can be adjusted. In particular, the air flow through the first and/or second suction apparatus can be adjusted as a function of a process and/or as a function of the state of the process chamber door 11 and/or the door of the material powder container 7. Due to the fact that the throttle valves 4a, 4b are controlled by actuators 6a, 6b, the adjustment of the suction power can be integrated into a process sequence fully automatically controlled by the machine control.

[0042] The fan 2 can have one or more filters to filter the extracted particles from the airflow. For example, the fan may have a category C filter with dedusting. The particles filtered from the air can be collected in a separate container and removed for disposal. The filtered air flow can either be passed on via an external waste air duct or directed to the environment of the machine 1. In particular, if the filtered air flow is directed to the environment of the machine 1, it must be ensured that the air is as far as possible free of particles harmful to health. For this purpose, the fan may have one or more filters for suspended particles, in particular HEPA filters, for example of category H13 and/or H14.

[0043] Other than shown in FIG. 2, a fan 2 located at a distance can also be used to generate the waste air flow. For example, the fan 2 can be located outside a building in which the machine 1 is installed. Thus, the waste air can be discharged directly to the outside so that lower demands can be made on the filtering of the waste air than if the waste air is discharged into the room air.

[0044] An exemplary time sequence for suction is now described by means of FIG. 5. The top line in FIG. 5 indicates whether the process is in the on or off state, that is whether a laser deposition welding process is currently running or not. The second line shows the status of the door to the material powder container cabinet 7, that is whether the door is currently open or closed. The third line indicates whether the suction of process space 12 is in operation at full power, at throttled power or not at all. The bottom line indicates whether the suction of the material powder container cabinet 7 is in operation at full power, at reduced power or not at all. The state of the process chamber door 11 is not shown in FIG. 5. At the lower edge of FIG. 5 a time axis is shown at which five points in time T1 to T5 are depicted, which are explained in the following.

[0045] At time T1, the laser deposition welding process starts in the machine 1. The door to the material powder container cabinet 7 and the process chamber door 11 are closed. With the start of the process at time T1, the suction of process space 12 and the suction of the material container cabinet 7 is started, respectively. Both the suction of the process space 12 and the suction of the material powder container 7 are operated at throttled power. The power of the suction of the process space 12 is throttled so that the process is not disturbed by unintentional suction of the material powder from the powder nozzle 15. The power of the suction system of the material powder container cabinet 7 can be operated at a throttled power when the door is closed, since this only requires a vacuum to be maintained which is sufficient to prevent material powder from escaping into the environment of the machine 1.

[0046] At time T2, the door to the material powder container cabinet 7 is opened by an operator of the machine 1 to refill material powder. In order to prevent material powder from escaping into the environment as far as possible even when the door is open, the power of the suction out of the material powder container 7 is now increased to maximum power. After the operator has refilled the material powder container 7, he closes the door again at time T3. The suction out of the material powder container cabinet 7 can now be continued at throttled power.

[0047] At time T4, the laser deposition welding process is completed in the machine 1. At this time T4, the power of the suction out of the process space 12 is increased to the maximum value in order to clean the process space 12 as completely as possible from welding fumes and other particles. This prevents harmful particles from escaping into the environment when the process chamber door 11 is opened. The suction at maximum power is carried out during a defined period T until time T4, when the suction out of the process space 12 and the material powder container cabinet 7 is switched off. The defined time period T is selected so that at the end of the defined time period T as many harmful particles as possible are suctioned out of the process space 12. The process chamber door 11 can be locked until time T5 so that an operator of the machine 1 can only open the process chamber door 11 when it has been ensured that a large part or, if possible, all harmful particles have been suctioned out of the process space 12.

[0048] The method described above can, for example, be controlled by a machine control of the machine 1 which can preferably be operated via the control unit 13. As an alternative to the sequence shown, the suction can also be continued after time T5. However, in order to reduce noise and save energy, it is advantageous to throttle down or completely switch off the suctioning completely after the defined period T.

[0049] The operating principle of laser deposition welding is illustrated by means of FIG. 6. FIG. 6 shows a powder nozzle 15 near a workpiece W to be machined. A focused laser beam L coming from the laser processing head runs coaxially to the powder nozzle 15 and is focused to an operating point on or just above the workpiece W. The material powder P is guided coaxially to the laser beam L through the powder nozzle 15 to the focal point of the laser beam L on the workpiece W. A protective or carrier gas G such as argon also flows through the powder nozzle 15 and transports the material powder P. The protective gas G also serves to prevent undesired reactions of the heated material powder P or the workpiece W with atmospheric oxygen. During the welding process, welding fumes S may be generated. Said welding fumes are to be removed from the operating space 12 of the machine 1 by the suction system described above. For this purpose, the suction system generates the air flow F illustrated by dotted arrows, which preferably passes the workpiece W as a horizontal, laminar flow, thereby carrying the welding fumes S with it. The strength of the air flow F must be adjusted so that the air flow F does not disturb the flow of the material powder P with carrier gas G. If the air flow F is set too strong, material powder P can be suctioned out by the powder nozzle 15, which would disturb the process.

[0050] A typical value of the maximum power of the suction out of the process space is approximately 1000 m.sup.3 per hour. In throttled operation, approximately 200 to 600 m.sup.3 per hour are suctioned out. In comparison, during the laser welding process, a flow of about 3 to 6 liters of carrier gas with material powder, for example argon, per minute typically flows through the powder nozzle 15. When comparing the two values, it should be noted that the waste air flow F has a much larger diameter so that the flow velocity of the powder flow (carrier gas with material powder) is usually at least one order of magnitude greater than the flow velocity of the air flow F.

[0051] The features disclosed in the above description, claims and drawings may be relevant to the realization of the invention in its various configurations, either individually or in any combination.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0052] 1 laser machine tool [0053] 2 fan [0054] 3a first waste air duct [0055] 3b second waste air duct [0056] 3c third waste air duct [0057] 3d supply air duct [0058] 4a first throttle valve [0059] 4b second throttle valve [0060] 5a air outlet [0061] 5b air inlet [0062] 6a first actuator [0063] 6 second actuator [0064] 7 material powder container cabinet [0065] 10 process chamber [0066] 11 process chamber door [0067] 12 Process space [0068] 13 control unit [0069] 15 powder nozzle [0070] 20 workpiece table [0071] 21 machine frame [0072] 22 adjusting axes [0073] 23 laser processing head [0074] L laser beam [0075] W workpiece [0076] P workpiece powder [0077] G protective and/or carrier gas [0078] S welding fumes