JPH1015676A - Scanning type laser marking device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a marking position to be adjusted simply, quickly and accurately in an object to be worked. SOLUTION: In 'pattern projection' mode, a controller identifies a starting No. indicated on a display screen (step A1), retrieving plotting data corresponding to this starting No., from a memory (step A2). Concerning the conditions data such as a marking speed (scanning speed), a set value is retrieved for the 'pattern projection' mode (step A3). The controller operates He-Ne laser with the laser oscillator turned off, lighting up a guide light (step A4). A scanning control signal in accordance with the retrieved plotting data and conditions data is transmitted to a scanning head, scanning once the beam spot of the guide light on the surface of the object to be worked, plotting the pattern by this starting No., and repeating the scanning operation until other command is inputted (step A5 to A6 to A7 to A5).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a scanning type laser marking apparatus which scans a beam spot of a laser beam on a surface of a workpiece to mark a desired pattern.

[0020]

2. Description of the Related Art A scanning type laser marking method irradiates a workpiece with laser light focused at a high density,
The laser light is shaken by a scan mirror to scan a laser spot on the surface of the workpiece, and while evaporating or discoloring a minute portion of the surface of the workpiece hit by the beam spot with laser energy, characters, This is a technique for marking (engraving) by drawing a desired pattern such as a figure or a symbol.

In general, a scanning type laser marking apparatus includes a laser oscillating section for oscillating and outputting a laser beam, and a scanning head for condensing and irradiating a laser beam from the laser oscillating section toward a workpiece while scanning (scanning) the laser beam. And a control unit that controls each operation (laser oscillation operation, scanning operation) of the laser oscillation unit and the laser emission unit.

The scanning head is fixedly arranged with its laser emission port facing, for example, a marking processing position on a work table. Scanning coordinates on software are set on the work table as viewed from the apparatus side. The workpiece is set on the worktable with the surface to be marked (marking surface) facing the laser emission port side of the scanning head. By changing the position and orientation of the workpiece on the worktable, the marking position (pattern forming position) on the workpiece can be adjusted.

[0050]

In a laser marking apparatus of this type, a pattern to be marked on a workpiece is set at an arbitrary position on scanning coordinates and has an arbitrary spread and directionality. Y direction and θ
It is necessary to align the position of the workpiece in the direction.

Conventionally, in order to adjust or determine a marking position on a workpiece, a desired pattern is actually marked on a sample of the workpiece, and a worker (working position) and a desired marking position are marked. An error with respect to the marking position is estimated and the position of the workpiece is adjusted according to the estimated error.

However, in the conventional method of performing the positioning of the workpiece by trial and error while performing the marking process, the laser oscillator, the workpiece (sample), and the like are wastefully consumed or consumed. However, there is a problem that much time and labor are required for alignment and productivity is low.

The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a scanning type laser marking apparatus capable of simply, quickly and accurately adjusting a marking position on a workpiece. And

[0090]

In order to achieve the above object, a first scanning type laser marking apparatus according to the present invention provides a laser beam for marking from a laser oscillating section through a scanning mirror. Irradiate the object, the scanning means swings the scanning mirror in response to a scanning control signal from the control unit, scan the beam spot of the laser light on the surface of the workpiece, characters, symbols or In a scanning laser marking apparatus for marking a desired pattern such as a figure or the like, prior to the marking step, irradiating the workpiece with visibility guide light from guide light generating means via the scan mirror. The scanning mirror according to the scanning means in response to a scanning control signal from the control unit. A pattern projection image forming means for shaking and continuously and repeatedly scanning the beam spot of the guide light on the surface of the workpiece to form a projection image having substantially the same pattern as the pattern; And

Further, a second scanning type laser marking apparatus according to the present invention, in the first apparatus, wherein a scanning speed for forming the projection image is higher than a scanning speed for the marking step. did.

[0110]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a scanning YAG laser marking apparatus according to this embodiment. This YAG
The laser marking device has a control power supply unit 10, a laser oscillation unit 12, and a scanning head 20.

In the control power supply unit 10, a display 13 of a display section is provided in an upper room, a keyboard and a control board are provided in an intermediate room (behind the front door 14), and a lower room (behind the front door 16). , A laser power supply circuit, a laser cooling device, and the like are arranged. The scanning control signal generated by the control unit in the intermediate room is transmitted to the scanning head 20 via a predetermined signal line (not shown). The scanning head 20 is attached to the laser emission port of the laser oscillation unit 12, and the work table 18 is provided directly below the head 20.
Is arranged. On the worktable 18, the workpiece W
Is marked.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration of a main part in the control power supply unit 10 and the laser oscillation unit 12.

The laser oscillation unit 12 has a YAG laser beam LM for oscillating and outputting a YAG laser beam LM for marking.
In addition to the laser oscillator 22, a He-Ne laser 24 for generating visibility, for example, red guide light LG is also provided. The YAG laser light LM oscillated and output from the YAG laser oscillator 22 is first bent at a right angle by a mirror 26, then bent at a right angle by a mirror 28, and then travels straight to the scanning head 20.
The guide light LG generated by the He-Ne laser 24 is:
First, the optical path is bent at a right angle by the mirror 30, and then the mirror 3
After the optical path is bent at a right angle in 2, the light passes through the mirror 28 from the back side, travels straight as it is, and is sent to the scanning head 20.

In the control power supply unit 10, a YAG laser power supply section 34, a He-Ne laser power supply section 36, a control section 3
8, display unit 40, input unit 42, interface circuit 44
Etc. are provided. The YAG laser power supply unit 34 supplies power to laser excitation means (for example, an excitation lamp) in the YAG laser oscillator 22 under the control of the control unit 38. H
The e-Ne laser power supply unit 36 supplies power to laser excitation means (for example, a laser tube) in the He-Ne laser 24 under the control of the control unit 38.

The display unit 40 displays a screen on the display 13 in accordance with the image data and the display control from the control unit 38. The input unit 42 includes input devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, and an image scanner. The interface circuit 44 is used to exchange data, control signals, and the like with an external device (not shown).

The control unit 38 comprises a microcomputer, performs necessary data processing according to predetermined software stored in a built-in memory, and controls each unit in the apparatus. In particular, the control unit 38 supplies a scanning control signal for controlling a scanning operation in the scanning head 20 to be described later to a scanning drive circuit in the head 20 via the signal line 46. The YAG laser oscillator 22 has a peak output (peak value).
A Q switch for obtaining an extremely high pulsed laser beam is built in, and the control unit 38 also controls the Q switch via a control line (not shown).

FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the scanning mechanism in the scanning head 20. This scanning mechanism includes an X-axis scan mirror 52 and a Y-axis scan mirror 54 attached to rotating axes 52a and 54a orthogonal to each other, and an X-axis galvanometer 56 for rotating and oscillating (swinging) both mirrors 52 and 54, respectively. And a Y-axis galvanometer 58.

The laser light LM and / or the guide light LG from the laser oscillation unit 12 entering the scanning head 20 first enter the X-axis scan mirror 52, where it is totally reflected, and then Y-axis. The light enters the scan mirror 54, is totally reflected by the mirror 54, passes through the fθ lens 60, and is condensed and irradiated on the marking processing surface of the workpiece W. The position of the beam spot SP on the marking surface is determined by the deflection angle of the X-axis scan mirror 52 in the X direction, and is determined by the deflection angle of the Y-axis scan mirror 54 in the Y direction.

The X-axis scan mirror 52 oscillates (oscillates) in the directions of arrows A and A 'when the X-axis galvanometer 56 is driven. On the other hand, the Y-axis scan mirror 54 oscillates (oscillates) in the directions of arrows B and B ′ by driving the Y-axis galvanometer 58.

The X-axis galvanometer 56 has a movable iron piece (rotor) coupled to the X-axis scan mirror 52, a control spring connected to the movable iron piece, and a drive coil attached to the stator. Have been. A driving current corresponding to an X-direction scanning control signal is supplied from an X-axis galvanometer driving circuit (not shown) to the driving coil in the X-axis galvanometer 56 via an electric cable 62, so that the movable iron piece (rotor) ) Swings at an angle specified by the X-direction scanning control signal integrally with the X-axis scan mirror 52 against the control spring.

The Y-axis galvanometer 58 has the same configuration, and a drive current corresponding to the Y-direction scanning control signal is supplied from a Y-axis galvanometer drive circuit (not shown) via the electric cable 64 to the Y-axis galvanometer 58. , The movable iron piece (rotor) in the Y-axis galvanometer 58 swings at an angle designated by the Y-direction scanning control signal together with the Y-axis scan mirror 54.

Therefore, each time the laser beam LM and / or the guide beam LG from the laser oscillation unit 12 enters the scanning head 20 at a predetermined timing, the two galvanometers 56 and 58 are synchronized with the X direction and the scanning direction. By oscillating the X-axis scan mirror 52 and the Y-axis scan mirror 54 at predetermined angles in response to the Y-direction scanning control signal, the laser light LM and / or the guide light LG on the marking surface of the workpiece W.
Is scanned.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a setting screen displayed on the display 13 of the control power supply unit 10. In the left area of the screen, the current mode (the illustrated mode is the “start standby” mode) is displayed at the top. Below that,
A start No. for designating the marking operation. Is displayed, and the activation No. is displayed below it. , The condition data defining the marking operation, ie, Q switch frequency, marking speed, lamp current, aperture No. The setting input values of various condition data such as are listed and displayed. In the right area of the screen, the start number is displayed. Is displayed on the XY coordinates as an image.

In the ROM in the control unit 38, the start No. Software for a “setting input” mode for setting and inputting drawing data and various condition data for defining a desired pattern in units of unit; Software for a “marking execution” mode for controlling the execution of the marking operation in units is stored. In the RAM or the external storage device in the control unit 38, each start No. Drawing data, condition data, and the like set and input for each are stored in predetermined storage locations in a correspondence relationship as shown in FIG.

In the present embodiment, the software and the set values for executing the “pattern projection” mode as described later are also stored in the ROM and RAM in the control unit 38, respectively.
Is stored in

In this laser marking apparatus, there are a "setting input" mode, a "marking execution" mode, and a "pattern projection" mode according to the present embodiment, in addition to the "start standby" mode as shown in FIG. Each mode is switched by inputting a predetermined command from a keyboard or a mouse of the input unit 42 or the like.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the control unit 38 in the "pattern projection" mode.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4, when entering the “pattern projection” mode, the control unit 38 first activates the start-up No. currently displayed on the screen of the display 13. (No.
3) is identified (step A1), and then this activation No.
(No. 3) corresponding to the drawing data Dm1 (“ABC
D ") from the memory (step A).
2). However, for the condition data such as the marking speed (scanning speed), the set value for the "pattern projection" mode is searched (step A3). The scanning speed for the “pattern projection” mode is usually set to a value higher than the setting value for the marking process.

Next, the control section 38 keeps the YAG laser oscillator 22 in the off-state while keeping the He-Ne laser power supply section 3
The He-Ne laser 24 is operated through 6 to turn on the guide light LG (step A4). Then, a scanning control signal corresponding to the retrieved drawing data and condition data is sent to the scanning head 20, and the beam spot SP of the guide light LG is set to 1 on the surface of the workpiece W.
Scanning, and the start No. is displayed on the surface of the workpiece W.
A pattern (character of "ABCD") according to (No. 3) is drawn (step A5). This scanning operation,
It repeats continuously until another command is input (step A5 → A6 → A7 → A5). In this repetitive scanning, the beam spot SP returns from the end point of the pattern to the start point for some time. By increasing the limit speed of the scan mirror, the return time of the beam spot SP can be reduced.

As described above, the visible (red) guide light L
G (characters of “ABCD”) is continuously repeated to draw the pattern (“ABC”) on the surface of the workpiece W due to the visual afterimage effect possessed by humans.
A stationary projection image of the letter "D") is formed.

Therefore, the worker checks the pattern ("AB
The position of the workpiece W may be adjusted so that the projected image of the letter “CD”) matches the desired marking position (location) on the workpiece W.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the workpiece W is inclined with respect to the projected image of the pattern (the character “ABCD”) (FIG. 7A), the workpiece W is The workpiece W may be rotated in the θ direction. If the workpiece W is still displaced in the XY directions (FIG. 7B), the workpiece W may be translated in the X and Y directions. During this time, the pattern ("ABCD"
) Is fixed at a fixed position, so that positioning of the workpiece W can be performed quickly and accurately with reference to the pattern projection image.

When the position of the workpiece W has been adjusted in the "pattern projection" mode as described above, the operator may input a command in the "marking execution" mode.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the control unit 38 in the “marking execution” mode.

[0370] When entering the "marking execution" mode, the control unit 38 first activates the start No. currently displayed on the screen of the display 13. (No. 3) (Step B1)
), And then the activation No. The drawing data Dm1 ("ABCD" image data) and condition data (Q switch frequency, marking speed, etc.) corresponding to (No. 3) are retrieved from the memory (step B2).

Next, the control unit 38 controls the YAG laser oscillator 22 and the He-Ne laser 24 through the YAG laser power supply unit 34 and the He-Ne laser power supply unit 36, respectively.
To turn on the YAG laser light LM and the guide light LG, respectively (steps B3 and B4). And
A scanning control signal corresponding to the retrieved drawing data and condition data is sent to the scanning head 20, and the beam spot SP of the YAG laser light LM and the guide light LG is scanned once on the surface of the workpiece W,
This activation No. is displayed on the surface of the workpiece W. A pattern (character of "ABCD") according to (No. 3) is drawn (step A5).

[0390] By this scanning operation, the work W
On the surface of the workpiece, the minute portion of the surface of the workpiece hit by the beam spot of the YAG laser beam LM instantaneously evaporates or discolors with the laser energy, and as a result, the pattern ("ABCD") is marked (engraved). Is done.
Further, since the beam spot of the visible light (red) guide light LG draws the same pattern as the beam spot of the invisible light (infrared light) YAG laser light LM, the trajectory of the marking can be visually confirmed.

[0400] Usually, the marking process is completed by one scanning. Therefore, after one scanning, the scanning control signal is stopped there (step B6), and the YAG laser light LM and the guide light LG are turned off (step B7). Note that scanning for marking processing can be repeated a plurality of times as necessary.

By performing the scanning with the YAG laser beam LM in the “marking execution” mode as described above, the surface of the workpiece W is placed on the surface of the workpiece W, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), marking (engraving) is performed in the same pattern as the projected image at a desired position that has been aligned in the immediately preceding “pattern projection” mode.

[0420] The guide light generating means (He-Ne laser 24) is provided to allow a human (operator) to visually check the trajectory of the marking in the "marking execution" mode.
It is provided conventionally. In the apparatus of the present embodiment, the guide light generating means (He-Ne laser 24) is also used in the "pattern projection" mode, so that a pattern projection image by the guide light LG is obtained. Therefore, it is not necessary to newly provide a guide light generating means for the “pattern projection” mode.

In the YAG laser marking device according to the above-described embodiment, the laser oscillation unit for marking is constituted by a YAG laser oscillator, and the guide light generating means is constituted by a He-Ne laser. However, these are only examples, and in the present invention, any laser oscillation unit for marking and any guide light generating means can be used.

[0440]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Prior to the laser marking process, the beam spot of the visible guide light was continuously and repeatedly scanned on the surface of the workpiece to form a projection image having a pattern substantially the same as the marking pattern. In addition, the adjustment of the marking position on the workpiece can be performed simply, quickly and accurately.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a scanning YAG according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a perspective view showing the appearance of a laser marking device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part in a control power supply unit and a laser oscillation unit in the apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a scanning mechanism in a scanning head in the apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen displayed on a display of a control power supply unit in the apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a format example of data management of setting values in the apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation of a control unit for a “pattern projection” mode in the apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of positioning of a workpiece W in a “pattern projection” mode in the apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation of a control unit for a “marking execution” mode in the apparatus according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 20 scanning head 22 YAG laser oscillator 24 He-Ne laser 26-32 mirror 34 YAG laser power supply unit 36 He-Ne laser power supply unit 38 control unit 40 display unit 42 input unit W Workpiece

Claims (2)

[Claims] An object to be processed is irradiated with a laser beam for marking from a laser oscillation unit via a scan mirror, and the scanning mirror is swung by scanning means in response to a scanning control signal from a control unit. In a scanning laser marking device that scans a beam spot of the laser light on the surface of the workpiece to mark a desired pattern including characters, symbols, figures, and the like, prior to the marking step, a guide light Irradiating the workpiece with visibility guide light from the generating means via the scan mirror, and causing the scanning mirror to swing by the scanning means in response to a scanning control signal from the control unit; By continuously and repeatedly scanning the beam spot of the guide light on the surface of the workpiece, Serial pattern substantially the same scanning type laser marking apparatus comprising the pattern projection image forming means for forming a projected image having a pattern. 2. The scanning type laser marking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a scanning speed for forming the projection image is higher than a scanning speed for the marking step.