METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING CUTTING PARAMETERS FOR A LASER CUTTING MACHINE

Abstract

A method for determining cutting parameters for a laser cutting machine includes the following steps: Receiving at least one machine parameter, at least one process parameter and/or at least one material parameter; outputting properties that can be influenced by the cutting parameters, of a laser-cut edge to be cut by the laser cutting machine; receiving a weighting of the properties; and determining the cutting parameters using the at least one machine parameter, the at least one process parameter, and/or the at least one material parameter and also using the weighted properties. There is also described an apparatus for carrying out the method, in particular an apparatus for machining a workpiece and/or an apparatus which is designed to simulate a production process.

Claims

1. A method of determining cutting parameters for a laser cutting machine, the method comprising the following steps: A) receiving at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of a machine parameter, a process parameter, and a material parameter; B) outputting properties that can be influenced by the cutting parameters, of a laser-cut edge to be cut by the laser cutting machine; C) receiving a weighting of the properties; D) determining the cutting parameters using the at least one parameter and the weighting of the properties.

2. The method according to claim 1, which comprises outputting at least one of the cutting parameters in a step E1.

3. The method according to claim 2, which comprises transmitting the cutting parameters determined in step D) to the laser cutting machine.

4. The method according to claim 3, which comprises performing a laser cutting process using the cutting parameters transmitted to the laser cutting machine.

5. The method according to claim 2, which comprises outputting information about at least one of the properties in a step E2.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the receiving steps A) or C) is effected via a graphical user interface.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the outputting steps B), E1 or E2 is effected via a graphical user interface.

8. The method according to claim 5, which comprises displaying, in a step F, a graphical representation of the laser-cut edge, which is linked to using the at least one parameter and the cutting parameters transmitted to the laser cutting machine.

9. The method according to claim 8, which comprises reading from a memory the graphical representation of the laser-cut edge on a basis of the at least one parameter and the cutting parameters transmitted to the laser cutting machine.

10. The method according to claim 8, which comprises determining the graphical representation of the laser-cut edge using a data aggregation routine, and thereby using the at least one parameter and the cutting parameters as input into the data aggregation routine.

11. An apparatus for machining a workpiece, the apparatus comprising: a graphical user interface configured to receive at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of a machine parameter of a laser cutting machine, a process parameter, and a material parameter; and said graphical user interface being configured to output properties of a laser-cut edge to be cut by the laser cutting machine, with the properties being able to be influenced by cutting parameters, and to receive a weighting of the properties; a computing unit configured to determine the cutting parameters using the at least one parameter and using the weighting of the properties.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a laser cutting machine configured to cut a workpiece by way of a laser cut using the cutting parameters.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said graphical user interface is further configured to output at least one of the cutting parameters determined and/or to output information about at least one of the properties.

14. An apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to simulate a production process, with the production process including a laser cutting machine configured to carry out a laser cutting process using the cutting parameters so determined.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0065] FIG. 1 schematically shows a flow diagram of the method according to the invention;

[0066] FIG. 2 schematically shows an apparatus for machining a workpiece; and

[0067] FIG. 3 shows an example of a graphical user interface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0068] Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, in particular, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a flowchart pertaining to the method according to the invention. In step A, at least one machine parameter, at least one process parameter, and/or at least one material parameter is received. This may be effected, for example, by an operator's selection specifying the process, the material and the machine, etc. for which the cutting parameters should be optimized. In a step B), properties, that can be influenced by the cutting parameters, of a laser-cut edge able to be cut by the laser cutting machine 18 are output. In a step C), a weighting of the properties is received. The receiving is preferably done by an operator input relating to the properties output in step B). Depending on how the weighting changes, the importance of the individual properties change. If the same weighting were input for each property, all of the properties would have the same importance. In a step D), the cutting parameters are determined using the at least one machine parameter, the at least one process parameter and/or the at least one material parameter and also using the weighted properties. A property with a larger weighting is assigned higher importance in the determination here. If, for example, all properties have the same weighting, they have the same importance in the determination of the cutting parameters, as already mentioned.

[0069] The method may run for example on a computing unit 14 (FIG. 2), into which, via an input/output unit, the parameters and weightings are input as operator preferences, to be received by the computing unit 14. Taking the inputs as a starting point, the “optimum” cutting parameters are determined and output. In addition, there is a visual indication that the change to a parameter and/or to a weighting limits the options at other points and the approximate cut edge to be expected is displayed.

[0070] This assists an operator in obtaining precisely the cutting edge that best meets their requirements during the laser cutting operation. The operator likewise gains the option of changing the settings relating to the cutting parameters themselves and in the process is assisted by the method and/or the apparatus in determining a complete set of cutting parameters which produces a cutting result coming closest to the desired laser-cut edge.

[0071] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an apparatus 10 for machining a workpiece. The apparatus 10 has a graphical user interface (GUI) 12 which may for example be part of an input/output unit. The graphical user interface 12 is set up to carry out at least steps A), B), C) of the method of FIG. 1, that is to say to receive at least one machine parameter, at least one process parameter and/or at least one material parameter, to output properties of a laser-cut edge able to be cut by a laser cutting machine, with the properties being able to be influenced by cutting parameters, and to receive a weighting of the properties. The apparatus 10 moreover has the computing unit 14 set up to determine the cutting parameters using the at least one machine parameter, the at least one process parameter and/or the at least one material parameter and also using the weighted properties. The program code for carrying out the method, for example, can be stored in a memory 16 of the apparatus 10. A laser cutting machine 18 is designed to cut the workpiece by means of a laser beam, i.e., to carry out a laser cutting method using the cutting parameters determined. For this, the cutting parameters determined in the computing unit 14 can be output to the laser cutting machine 18.

[0072] FIG. 3 illustrates a graphical user interface 12 by way of example, as can be used in an apparatus 10 according to FIG. 2.

[0073] Graphical user elements allowing an operator to input material parameters, machine parameters and process parameters are arranged in a first area 12.1 (field 12.1) of the surface 12. In the example illustrated, the material parameters “material”—material to be cut of the workpiece—and “thickness”—thickness of the workpiece—can be specified. Stainless steel, construction steel, aluminum or copper or combinations thereof can be used as materials, for example. The thickness of the workpiece can—depending on the material—be from under 1 millimeter (mm) to several centimeters (cm). Moreover, “machine,” that is to say the type of laser cutting machine 18 used, can be specified. Examples of laser cutting machines 18 that can be used are commercially available under the names Trumpf TruLaser® 5030 and Trumpf TruLaser® Center 7030. Depending on the laser cutting machine, the optical systems used and the like, for example, may be different. Furthermore, “laser” can specify the type of laser used. Examples for laser specifications are disk lasers, CO2 lasers, each having the possible specification of maximum laser power output.

[0074] In a second area 12.2 (field 12.2), properties, that can be influenced by the cutting parameters, of the laser-cut edge able to be cut by the laser cutting machine 18 can be output and provided with a weighting. For this purpose, the properties are output for example with their names, in this instance for example “productivity,” “process reliability,” “burr,” “edge inclination,” “roughness.” A slide control, via which the weighting of the property can be set in comparison with the other properties from the second area 12.2, is preferably displayed next to each property. In this case, one end of the slider, e.g., the left-hand end, means “less important,” and the opposite end, e.g., the right-hand end, of the slider means “very important.” Further conditions that “bundle” multiple properties together can also be set in the second area 12.2. An example for this is the desire for a cut edge in accordance with the standard DIN EN ISO 9013, which provides maximum values for roughness and edge inclination. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, this condition is selected by a check mark. One condition that can be selected in the example illustrated is that a cut should be made in accordance with a recommendation from the manufacturer of the machine tool. This recommendation comprises a set of cutting parameters, using which the cut is to be made, for each material, each thickness, each machine etc. This set of parameters is thus not entirely determined individually, but comprises a set of generally valid parameters, which e.g. touches on empirical knowledge.

[0075] In a third area 12.3 (field 12.3), the cutting parameters determined are output at the bottom. In the example illustrated, in this instance the values for “advancement rate,” “nozzle-metal sheet distance,” “setting dimension” and “gas pressure” are output. The values that should be assumed by the cutting parameters are advantageously restricted by additional conditions in order that the cutting process itself can still be carried out. For example, the nozzle-metal sheet distance should not be set as so small that collisions occur between the laser cutting head and the workpiece.

[0076] Above this—in the center area of 12.3—properties of the laser-cut edge that are to be expected are illustrated. In the example illustrated, these properties include the features of the cut edge itself, in this instance “burr,” “edge inclination” and “roughness.” The properties moreover include the features of the process by which the cut edge was created, in this instance: “productivity,” “process reliability.” A graphical indication of the quality of the property is displayed next to the properties. This may be e.g. whether the value of the property has improved in comparison with the last determination of the cutting parameters—green upward arrow—or whether the value has worsened in comparison with the last determination of the cutting parameters—red downward arrow.

[0077] In the top part of the area 12.3 there is illustrated a graphical representation 20, e.g., a photograph of the laser-cut edge, as it is expected under the determined cutting parameters illustrated in the bottom area of 12.3. Graphical representations 20 of laser-cut edges, which are linked to machine parameters, to process parameters, to material parameters and also to cutting parameters, may be stored in the memory 16 (FIG. 2). In this way, with respect to given parameters, the graphical representation 20 best matching a laser cutting result to be achieved can be read from the memory 16 and output on the graphical user interface 12 to provide information to an operator.

[0078] The invention makes it possible to represent the quality of the cut edge objectively, transparently and individually. The setting can be done intuitively. The way in which the properties of the cut edge are linked and the fact that an improvement of a property influences the quality of the other properties is clearly shown to an operator. However, this also clearly shows the limits within which the cutting process can be set by the cutting parameters. The cutting process becomes more predictable.

[0079] The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention: [0080] 10 Apparatus [0081] 12 Graphical user interface (GUI) [0082] 12.1 First area of the graphical user interface 12 [0083] 12.2 Second area of the graphical user interface 12 [0084] 12.3 Third area of the graphical user interface 12 [0085] 14 Computing unit [0086] 16 Memory (MEM) [0087] 18 Laser cutting machine [0088] 20 Graphical representation