PROCESSING HEAD FOR GUIDING A LASER BEAM AND LASER PROCESSING APPARATUS COMPRISING A PROCESSING HEAD

A processing head for guiding a laser beam for processing a workpiece includes a housing main body configured to accommodate a beam guiding element. The housing main body has a first main surface section and a second main surface section. The processing head further includes a functional module configured to connect to the housing main body or to be inserted into the housing main body. The first main surface section and the second main surface section of the housing main body are aligned with one another, at least partly surround a free internal volume of the housing main body, and are configured differently from one another for receiving and/or for inserting the functional module and/or a functional component.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a processing head for guiding a laser beam for processing a workpiece, comprising a housing main body, in which at least one deflection mirror is arrangeable, and comprising at least one functional module which is connectable to the housing main body or is insertable into the housing main body. The disclosure further relates to a laser processing apparatus comprising such a processing head for guiding a laser beam.

BACKGROUND

DE 295 07 189 U1 discloses a connection head for processing a workpiece by means of a laser beam, comprising a housing and an insert with a focusing optical unit for focusing the laser beam, said insert being able to be introduced laterally into the housing. Said focusing optical unit is displaceable relative to the insert by way of adjusting means that are accessible from outside. Said insert enables simple insertion and exchange of the focusing optical unit if other optical properties are desired.

DE 196 28 857 A1 furthermore discloses a connection head for processing a workpiece by means of a laser beam. This embodiment comprises a carrier unit with a cassette, which is displaceable in the axial direction of the focusing optical unit. A pressure space is situated between the focusing optical unit and a beam exit of the connection head, a working gas under excess pressure being able to be introduced into said pressure space. That end of the carrier unit which faces away from the beam exit projects into the pressure chamber and the carrier unit is kept at equilibrium by the working pressure in the pressure chamber.

DE 10 2008 048 323 B3 discloses a processing head for a laser processing system constructed from a plurality of functional modules. Said functional modules enable an adaptation to the laser processing system in the case where a collimator lens has different focal lengths. Said functional modules can be serially strung together and connected to one another along a processing laser beam path, the individual collimator lenses being coordinated with one another for the stringing together.

In the case of such laser processing systems, an extended process diagnosis is increasingly being used during the laser material processing, thus resulting in an increase in the requirement regarding flexibility and modularity of the optical units used.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a processing head for guiding a laser beam for processing a workpiece. The processing head includes a housing main body configured to accommodate a beam guiding element. The housing main body has a first main surface section and a second main surface section. The processing head further includes a functional module configured to connect to the housing main body or to be inserted into the housing main body. The first main surface section and the second main surface section of the housing main body are aligned with one another, at least partly surround a free internal volume of the housing main body, and are configured differently from one another for receiving and/or for inserting the functional module and/or a functional component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure provides a processing head and a laser processing apparatus comprising a processing head that enable a stable and modular construction for receiving optical components for laser material processing.

A processing head according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a housing main body having at least two main surface sections which are aligned with one another and which at least partly surround a free internal volume of the housing main body, wherein at least two of the main surface sections are configured differently from one another for receiving and/or for inserting the at least one functional module and/or at least one functional component. Such a configuration of the main surface sections makes it possible to satisfy the requirements regarding the interface flexibility and the requirements regarding modularity for receiving and/or for inserting functional modules and/or functional components. As a result, such a processing head can satisfy various requirements during laser material processing.

One such functional module can be a housing having a deflection mirror, for example, by means of which a laser beam is coupled into or out of the processing head. One such functional module can also be for example a scanner block having a scanning mirror, the angular position of which is electronically controllable. A functional component can be an electrical controller or an electronic component, for example, which is inserted or pushed into the housing main body or is secured thereto. An objective lens or a collimator lens, for example, can be provided as a further functional component.

The housing main body of the processing head has at least one first housing main surface section having an interface for connecting the functional module and/or at least one second main surface section having a connection location for a handling device or for a housing of a laser processing machine and/or at least one third main surface section having a cutout for inserting the at least one functional component into the internal volume of the housing main body. Increased modularity and flexibility can be achieved by means of such a configuration. Proceeding from an as yet unprocessed housing main body, the main surface sections can be specifically introduced and adapted and configured for the respective application. In this case, the housing main surface section can be formed just by an outer peripheral frame determined by the thickness of the neighboring main surface sections adjoining it. Moreover, a main surface section can be embodied over the whole area and can be provided with holes or connection elements. Moreover, a main surface section can have a cutout.

It is preferably provided that the main surface sections, in particular six main surface sections, form a stiff frame or rectangular profile in X-, Y- and in Z-directions. This makes possible not only a secure receiving arrangement for individual components, but also a high precision when receiving and aligning optical components in the processing head.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the interface, the connection location and/or the cutout of the main surface sections have a bearing surface. Said bearing surface serves for connecting the functional module, the handling device and/or further functional components and also for receiving a housing cover. After the insertion of the at least one functional component and/or the connection of the functional module and/or the functional component and/or the housing cover and/or the handling device, the housing can be completely closed. The functional modules, functional components or the like that that are arranged in the housing main body of the processing head are thereby completely protected against external influences.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that a peripheral groove for receiving a seal or a sealing groove is provided on the bearing surface of the main surface sections and/or on a bearing surface of a housing cover of the functional component and/or the functional module. As a result, after the securing of the housing cover, the functional component and/or the functional module to the housing, it is possible to provide a sealing arrangement in order to protect the at least one optical component against contamination.

A further advantageous configuration of the processing head provides for a respective cutout of two or three main surface sections adjoining one another to form a common cutout. As a result, the cutout can extend over a side edge of two main surfaces adjoining one another or even over a region of three main surface sections adjoining one another. This can result in improved accessibility into the free internal volume of the housing.

A further preferred configuration of the processing head provides for the housing main body to be produced from a solid material by material-removing processing. Cost-effective manufacture of such a housing can be made possible in particular by high-speed material processing. A stable, in particular integral, configuration of the housing main body is provided at the same time.

Alternatively, provision can be made for the housing main body to be produced from a strand-shaped rectangular profile. This can result in a further shortening of the manufacturing time.

Advantageously, the housing main body and/or the housing cover are/is produced from a light metal. In this case, aluminum or an aluminum alloy is preferably provided.

A laser processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a handling device, on which a processing head is provided, and a beam source with a beam guide extending between the beam source and the processing head. The processing head comprises at least one beam guiding element by which a laser beam is deflected and directed onto a workpiece to be processed. The processing head is configured according to any of the embodiments described above. As a result, a flexible adaptation to the respective configuration of the laser processing apparatus can be effected, thereby affording high modularity and interface flexibility.

Advantageous embodiments, and developments thereof, will be described and explained in more detail below on the basis of the examples illustrated in the drawings. The features that can be gathered from the description and the drawings can be used individually by themselves or as a plurality in any combination.

FIG. 1illustrates a schematic side view of a laser processing apparatus11for processing a workpiece12. Said laser processing apparatus11is provided for laser welding, in particular. The laser processing apparatus11comprises a handling device14with a processing head41, in particular a welding head, provided thereon.

The handling device14is configured as a multi-axis manipulator17having a stationary base18, a carousel19, a rocker20, an arm21and a hand22. The movement possibilities of the manipulator17are illustrated by double-headed arrows inFIG. 1. Accordingly, the manipulator17has six movement axes.

The processing head41is attached to the hand22of the manipulator17. A laser beam25generated by a beam source15is fed to the processing head41by means of a beam guide16. A fiber-optic cable for laser light is preferably provided as the beam guide16. The processing head41comprises at least one beam guiding element42. The latter can be part of a functional component66or a functional module55. Preferably, the beam guiding element42can be configured as a focusing optical unit which, during operation of the laser processing apparatus11, focuses the laser beam25and directs it onto a processing location26, in particular welding location, of the workpiece12to be processed.

The laser processing apparatus11can alternatively also be an apparatus for constructing workpieces by selective solidification of a construction material applied layer by layer. These laser processing apparatuses11are also referred to as 3D printing systems, selective laser sintering machines, selective laser melting machines, or the like. The processing head41can be secured to a housing of said laser processing apparatus11. Alternatively, the processing head41can also be secured to a linear axis system of the housing.

FIG. 2illustrates a perspective view of the processing head41. Said processing head41comprises a housing main body43, which surrounds a free internal volume44. Said housing main body43preferably comprises six main surface sections46,47,48,49,50,51aligned with one another. Preferably, said main surface sections46,47,48,49,50,51are each aligned at right angles with respect to one another. A rectangular or cubic housing main body43is formed as a result. At least two, preferably three, main surface sections46,47,48,49,50,51differ from one another. Increased modularity of the housing main body43can be achieved as a result. A first main surface section46is configured for example as an interface54for a functional module55. Said functional module55can be a deflection device, for example, in order to deflect the laser beam25in a spatial direction, for example in order to guide the laser beam25from the beam source15into the interior of the housing main body43. Such an interface54can have a strip-shaped or flange-shaped main surface section46. A bearing surface56of the main surface section46can be configured for example by way of the wall thickness of the further main surface sections47,48,49and50adjoining it. This results in large-area accessibility into the interior of the housing. In the exemplary embodiment, the main surface section51is configured identically to the main surface section46having the functional module55.

A pattern of holes for securing elements is preferably provided in the bearing surface56. Said securing elements are preferably releasable securing elements, such as screws or the like, for example. The functional module55that is connectable thereto comprises a complementary pattern of holes. If it is not necessary for the functional module55to be connected to said interface54, said main surface section56can be closed with a plate-shaped housing cover64, as is illustrated by way of example inFIG. 3. The housing cover64has a pattern of holes analogous to the bearing surface56.

The bearing surface56of the first main surface section46preferably has a depression58in the form of a groove. A peripheral seal can be inserted into said depression58in order thereupon to form a sealed interface54. Alternatively, the interface54can also be closed by a sealing groove, that is to say that, on a bearing surface56, for example, the depression58in the form of a groove is present and on the housing cover64attachable thereto or on the functional module55, a projecting web is provided, which engages into the depression58.

A second main surface section47of the housing main body43in accordance withFIG. 2comprises for example a connection location61for the handling device14, in particular the hand22of the handling device14.

A third main surface section48comprises a cutout65, for example. Such a cutout65can serve for inserting a functional component66into the interior of the housing main body43. In the exemplary embodiment, said functional component66can be a scanner optical unit with at least one beam guiding element42or deflection mirror. Such a functional component66can also be a printed circuit board or an electronics module or the like. Furthermore, such a functional device66can also be an optical unit or a lens, in particular a focusing optical unit, through which a laser beam enters and/or exits.

A fourth main surface section49is provided opposite the third main surface section48. Said fourth main surface section can be configured over the whole area, for example. The fifth main surface section50extends between the third main surface section48and the fourth main surface section49. Said fifth main surface section can have any of the embodiments described above.

In the exemplary embodiment, the sixth main surface section51is configured identically to the first main surface section46. Moreover, this can be configured differently depending on the functional module55to be received and/or the functional component66to be inserted or the functional component66to be attached thereto.

In the embodiment of the housing main body43of the processing head41, it is preferably provided that the main surface sections46and51are configured identically in the X-direction, such that a tubular housing main body43is formed.

Said housing main body43of the processing head41is configured in an integral fashion and has a stable and stiff frame structure. Preferably, said housing main body43is milled from a solid material or produced from a prefabricated, strand-shaped, in particular extruded, rectangular profile. A light metal, in particular aluminum or an aluminum alloy, is preferably used.

FIG. 3illustrates an alternative configuration of the processing head41with respect toFIG. 2. The construction of the housing main body43with a free internal volume44is analogous toFIG. 2. In this embodiment, it is provided, for example, that the cutout65extends from the fourth main surface section49into the first main surface section46. This creates a free region along a side edge of the housing main body43in order to insert a functional component66therein. Furthermore, by way of example, the fourth main surface section49has a further housing cover64with connection elements, in particular electronic components, secured thereto. Said housing cover64can be secured to the main surface section49.

A mounting plate74is provided as a functional component66on an underside of the third main surface section48, said mounting plate receiving a further functional component66such as an objective lens or a lens, for example, and fixing it to the housing main body43. Supplementarily, in this embodiment, on the main surface section51provision is made of a flange connection75as a further functional component66for a beam guide16between the processing head41and the beam source15. Said main surface section51thus has a connection location61for the flange connection75.

Analogously to the embodiment ofFIG. 2, the housing main body43in accordance withFIG. 3likewise comprises a stiff and stable frame structure. The production of the housing main body43and the use of the materials are effected in accordance with the housing main body43inFIG. 2.