GB2328636A

GB2328636A - A support for a laser tool

Info

Publication number: GB2328636A
Application number: GB9718425A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Reza Aini
Original assignee: RYE MACHINERY Ltd
Current assignee: RYE MACHINERY Ltd
Priority date: 1997-08-29
Filing date: 1997-08-29
Publication date: 1999-03-03
Also published as: GB9718425D0

Abstract

A support for a laser tool having a horizontal track 22 attached to a gantry 18. A carriage 24 is mounted for translational movement along track 22. The laser 40 is mounted on plate 34 with its longitudinal axis vertical. Plate 34 is moveable vertically by means of ties 38 engaging a second track means 30 which is attached to fixture 26. Fixture 26 is attached to carriage 24. This allows horizontal and vertical movement of a laser tool which requires fewer optical components and is simpler.

Description

A SUDDOrt for a Laser Tool This invention relates to a support for a laser tool.

In laser cutting, a workpiece is usually positioned on a fixed bed and is cut using an overhead laser tool, which is movable in three dimensions.

Said laser tool typically comprises a laser, e.g. a CO2 laser, which is mounted with its longitudinal axis disposed substantially horizontally.

The laser is fitted with a phase retarder unit and a workhead comprising a lens and a gas nozzle. An optical pipe connects the lens with the phase retarder unit.

It is generally customary to mount the laser horizontally, and a large number of optical components are then required between the laser and the workhead It is an object of the present invention to provide a simpler support for a laser tool. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a support for a laser which is more convenient to install and use, and which requires fewer optical components intermediate the workhead.

According to the present invention therefore there is provided a support for a laser tool, which support comprises elongate gantry means that can be secured juxtaposed a fixed or movable bed with the longitudinal axis of said gantry means disposed substantially horizontally, first track means that extend longitudinally on the gantry means, carriage means engaged with said track for translation movement therealong, a fixture on the carriage means, second track means that extend substantially vertically on the fixture and a mounting plate for mounting the tool with the longitudinal axis of the laser disposed substantially vertically, which mounting plate comprises two spaced tie arms that engage the second track means, whereby the first and second track means allow movement of the laser tool respectively horizontally and vertically.

The support of the present invention does allow the laser to be mounted substantially vertically, and in turn this means that shear components are required between the laser/phase retarder and the workhead. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the fewer reflections there are in the optical path of the laser beam, the greater the output power of the laser at the workhead.

Said fixture may comprise two spaced, upstanding support arms, and the second track means may comprise two elongate rails, each rail being carried by a respective one of the support arms. Each rail may be disposed on an outwardly facing surface of its respective support arm.

Said support arms may be interconnected by a plurality of cross bars for added section modulus and strength. In this arrangement, the mounting plate will slide on the two stationary support bars which are transformed into a reinforced column via the cross bars. The structure is thus made rigid to ensure static and dynamic stability for accurate laser beam delivery.

Said carriage means is preferably fitted with a third track means that extends parallel to the second track means and engages a lower end of the mounting plate.

Said first track means may comprise two spaced rails on the gantry means. Preferably, said gantry means is movable horizontally relative to the bed in a direction transverse the longitudinal axis of the gantry means.

The present invention also embraces a laser cutter apparatus comprising a fixed or movable bed for a workpiece, a support in accordance with the invention and a laser tool. The following is a description by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings of embodiments of the present invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a laser cutter apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a front elevation of the laser cutter apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view from above and to one side of the front of a support incorporated in the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2, and Figure 4 shows a detail of the laser tool incorporated in Figures 1 to 3.

The laser cutting apparatus of Figures 1 and 2 comprises a fixed bed (10) that is supported on a support frame (12) in a conventional manner.

Said fixed bed (10) is adapted to receive a workpiece (not shown) for cutting. Typically, the cutting apparatus may be used for cutting metal plates, e.g. steel plates, although of course other materials may be cut as well including timber.

Said support frame (12) is further equipped with two spaced, elongate rails (14) that support a gantry assembly (16) that stands over the fixed bed (10). Said gantry assembly (16) includes a crossbar (18), which may be a box girder as shown In Figures 1 and 2. Said crossbeam (18) extends transversely across the fixed bed (10) relative to the longitudinal direction of the rails (14).

A drive unit and associated controls are provided for driving the gantry assembly (16) to and fro along the rails (14).

with reference to Figure 3, the crossbar (18) indudes a substantially vertical front face (20) that is fitted with two vertically spaced, parallel rails (22). Said rails carry a slideway mounting plate (24), and suitable, selectively operable drive means are provided for driving the slideway mounting plate (24) to and fro on the rails (22).

Said slideway mounting plate is fitted with two upstanding, elongate support bars (26) that are interconnected for strength by a plurality of vertically spaced crossbars (28).

Juxtaposed their upper extremities, each of the support bars is equipped with a substantially vertically extending linear rail (30). Each rail (30) is formed on an outwardly facing surface of the respective support bar (26).

Said slideway mounting plate (24) also includes two, substantially vertically extending lower linear rails (32). Said lower linear rails are substantially parallel to the upper linear rails (30).

Said upper linear rails (30) and lower linear rails (32) cany a laser mounting plate (34) having a substantially vertical, planar surface (36) on an opposite side of the plate (34) from the support bars (26).

The said mounting plate (34) canies a laser (40) on said planar surface (36). As will be seen from the drawings, the laser (40) is mounted on the plate (34) with its longitudinal axis oriented substantially vertically.

Said laser mounting plate (34) is connected to the upper linear rails (28) by two opposing tie bars (38). Suitable, selectively operable driving means are provided for moving the mounting plate and the laser mounted thereon in a vertical direction relative to the crossbar (18).

The output of the laser (40) is connected to a phase retarder (42) as shown in Figure 4. In turn, the phase retarder it connected to a lens (44) via an optical pipe (46). The output of the lens is connected to a gas nozzle (48) which is directed downwardly towards the fixed bed for cutting the workpiece.

It will be seen that the optical path between the gas nozzle (48) and the laser output is small, thus maximising the useful power of the laser for cutting.

By mounting the laser (40) with its longitudinal axis oriented substantially vertically on the mounting plate (34), installation and use of the laser Is made significanty more convenient that the prior art arrangements which will be known to those skilled in the art.

The upper linear rails (30) and lower linear rails (32) permit vertical movement of the laser, whilst the horizontal rails on the crossbar (18) permit movement of the laser sidto-side across the workpiece.

Movement of the laser (40) in a third direction, orthogonal to the vertical and side-to-side directions is permitted by movement of the entire gantry assembly (16) along the rails on the support (12).

The use of the crossbars (28) between the two upwardly extending support bars (38), and the bridging of the two support bars (26) by the laser mounting plate (34) provides a structure of great strength and rigidity which minimises unwanted vibrations of the laser (40), thus allowing greater accuracy in cutting the workpiece.

Claims

1. A support for a laser tool, which support comprises elongate gantry means that can be secured juxtaposed a fixed or movable bed with the longitudinal axis of said gantry means disposed substantially horizontally, first track means that extend longitudinally on the gantry means, carriage means engaged with said track for translational movement therealong, fixture means on the carriage means, second track means that extend substantially vertically on the fixture means and a mounting plate for mounting the tool with the longitudinal axis of the laser disposed substantially vertically, which mounting plate comprises tie means that engage the second track means, whereby the first and second track means allow movement of the laser tool respectively horizontally and vertically.

2. A support as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixture means comprise two spaced, upstanding support arms.

3. A support as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second track means comprises two elongate rails, each rail being carried by a respective one of the support arms.

4. A support as daimed in claim 3, wherein each rail is disposed on an outwardly facing surface of its respective support am.

5. A support as claimed in claim 2, claim 3 or claim 4, wherein said support arms are interconnected by a plurality of cross bars.

6. A support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said tie means comprise two spaced tie arms.

7. A support as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said carriage means is fitted with a third track means that extends parallel to the second track means and engages a lower end of the mounting plate.

8. A support as daimed in any preceding claim, wherein said first track means comprises two spaced rails on the gantry means.

9. A support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said gantry means is movable horizontally relative to the bed in a direction transverse the longitudinal axis of the gantry means.

10. Laser cutter apparatus comprising a fixed or movable bed for a workpiece, a support as claimed in any preceding claim and a laser tool.

11 Laser cutter apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said laser tool comprises a laser, a phase retarder, a lens, an optical pipe between the retarder and the lens and a gas nozzle.

12. A support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in figures 3 of the drawings.

13. Laser cutter apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings and as illustrated in figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.