Abstract:
A method and a system are described for determining and controlling the separation distance between a processing head of a machine tool and the surface of a material, comprising: - generating a measurement low coherence optical radiation beam, leading the measurement beam towards the material and leading the reflected or diffused measurement beam from the surface of the material towards an optical interferometric sensor arrangement in a first direction of incidence, - generating a reference low coherence optical radiation beam, and leading the reference beam towards the optical interferometric sensor arrangement in a second direction of incidence at a preset angle of incidence with respect to the first direction of incidence of the measurement beam; - superimposing the measurement beam and the reference beam on a common region of incidence of the sensor arrangement; - detecting the position of a pattern of interference fringes between the measurement beam and the reference beam on the region of incidence; and - determining a difference in optical length between the measurement optical path and the reference optical path on the basis of the position of the pattern of interference fringes along an illumination axis of the region of incidence, which is indicative of a difference between (a) the current separation distance between the working head and the surface of the material and (b) a predetermined nominal separation distance.
Abstract:
The building element (E) comprises: a panel (P) of non-metallic material having a pair of flat and parallel faces (S, I), namely a top face (S) and a bottom face (I), and a plurality of lateral faces (L) extending between said flat and parallel faces (S, I); at least one beam (T) of metallic material, having a pair of opposed faces (12, 14), namely a proximal face (12) and a distal face (14); and a plurality of connection elements (B) of metallic material that rigidly connect said at least one beam (T) to the panel (P). Each beam (T) is arranged along a respective lateral face (L) of the panel (P) with the proximal face (12) in contact with said lateral face (L). Each connection element (B) is a plate element comprising a first portion (20), which is inserted into a respective seat (18) provided on a respective lateral face (L) of the panel (P) and is fixed therein by adhesive means, and a second portion (22), which protrudes from said respective lateral face (L).
Abstract:
There are described methods and systems for the determination of the relative position of an element of an optical system of an assembly for processing or for measurement of an object along a predetermined measurement line associated with the system, and for the determination of the separation distance between a processing tool or a measuring instrument and an object external thereto. These involve the generating of a measurement beam and of a reference beam of a low-coherence optical radiation, wherein the measurement beam and the reference beam, alternately or in combination, comprise a main beam and a multiplexed additional beam. The measurement beam, led toward the element of the optical system or toward the object, and back-reflected there, is superimposed on the reference beam in a region of common incidence of an interferometric optical sensor arrangement. The position or the frequency of a main interference fringe pattern and an additional interference fringe pattern is detected thereon, and as a function of these a difference is determined between (a) the position of the element of the optical system or the separation distance between the processing tool or measuring instrument and the object external thereto, and (b) a nominal predetermined position, or respectively a nominal separation distance.
Abstract:
The method comprises the steps of: a) emitting through the cutting head ( 50 ) of the laser cutting machine a focused laser beam such as not to be able to cut or etch the material of the tube (T); b) moving the cutting head ( 50 ) along a given scanning direction (x); and c) while the cutting head ( 50 ) is moving along the scanning direction (x), detecting through suitable sensors ( 56 ) the radiation reflected or emitted by the tube (T) and establishing point by point, on the base of the signal provided by these sensors ( 56 ), the presence or absence of the material of the tube (T).
Abstract:
A laser device adapted to emit a coherent optical radiation is described that includes an optical beam amplifier system (12) comprising a single interferometric optical amplification arrangement (20) or a plurality of interferometric optical amplification arrangements (20, 20') in series, each said interferometric optical amplification arrangement (20) comprising a Mach-Zehnder type interferometer with an amplification arm (20a) including an active gain region (G) and a passive propagation arm (20b) not including a gain region. The laser device (10) further comprises an optical return path (14) to conduct the beam (B0) emerging from the optical beam amplifier system (12) to an input of the optical beam amplifier system so as to form an optical ring resonant structure, and a radiation output element arranged to extract a portion of the beam emerging from the amplifier system and deliver the portion of the beam extracted as output radiation (BL) of the laser device.
Abstract:
A method of laser processing of a metallic material with control of the transverse power distribution of the laser beam (B) in a working plane, and a machine and computer program for the implementation of said method A method of laser processing of a metallic material is described, by means of a focused laser beam (B) having a predetermined transverse power distribution on at least one working plane of the metallic material, comprising the steps of: • - providing a laser beam emitting source; • - leading the laser beam along a beam transport optical path to a working head arranged in proximity to the material; • - collimating the laser beam along an optical axis of propagation incident on the material; • - focusing the collimated laser beam in an area of a working plane of the material; and • - conducting said focused laser beam along a working path on the metallic material comprising a succession of working areas, wherein the laser beam is shaped: • - by reflecting the collimated beam by means of a deformable controlled surface reflecting element having a plurality of independently movable reflection areas, and • - by controlling the arrangement of the reflection areas to establish a predetermined transverse power distribution of the beam on at least one working plane of the metallic material as a function of the area of the current working plane and/or of the current direction of the working path on the metallic material.
Abstract:
A machine and a method for the laser working of profiles (P) are described, in particular for carrying out an inclined cutting operation on the profile (P), for example for making a flared hole (H), wherein before the working operation a support and guide device (12) is positioned in a given starting position along the longitudinal axis (x) of the profile (P) with respect to a working head (10), and then, during the working operation the support and guide device (12) is moved along the longitudinal axis (x) integrally with a feeding device (14), i.e. integrally with the profile (P), so as to keep constant, during the working operation, the extent of the projection (A) of the profile (P) from the support and guide device (12), said integral movement of the support and guide device (12) with the feeding device (14) being limited to that portion of the movement of the feeding device (14) which is required to compensate for tilting movements of the working head (10) about said axis of oscillation (t).
Abstract:
The machine comprises: a working head (12) with a focussing device (18) arranged to focus a laser beam on the surface of the tube or profiled section (T) to be worked, a carriage (26) on which the working head (12) is mounted and a scanning system (20) arranged to scan at least a portion of the outline of the cross-section of the tube or profiled section (T). The carriage (26) is able to translate with respect to the tube or profiled section (T) both in a longitudinal direction (x) coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the tube or profiled section (T) and in a transverse direction (y). The scanning system (20) comprises at least one laser scanning module (20) comprising a laser emitter (22) arranged to emit a light blade (L) with which to illuminate a portion of the tube or profiled section (T) and a camera (24) arranged to acquire an image of the portion of tube or profiled section (T) illuminated by the light blade (L). The working head (12) and the at least one laser scanning module (20) are mounted on the carriage (26) so as to be drivingly connected for translation with said carriage (26) both in the longitudinal direction (x) and in the transverse direction (y).
Abstract:
A method for operating a machine for laser cutting of tubes and profiled sections, wherein the machine comprises: a working head (12) having a focusing device (18) adapted to focus a laser beam on the surface of the tube or profiled section (T) to be worked, a carriage (28) on which the working head (12) is mounted, and an automatic insert application system (30) for placing a threaded insert (I) in a housing (H) formed in a wall (w) of the tube or profiled section (T) by means of the laser beam, the automatic insert application system being integrated into the machine and being configured to operate in a coordinated manner with the working head (12).
Abstract:
A method and a system are described for determining the local position of at least one optical element associated with an optical path for transporting a laser beam in a working head of a machine for laser processing of a material, comprising: - generating a respective measurement low coherence optical radiation beam, leading the measurement beam towards the optical element and leading the reflected or diffused measurement beam from the optical element towards an optical interferometric sensor arrangement; - generating a respective beam of the reference low coherence optical radiation and the leading of the reference beam towards the interferometric optical sensor arrangement; - superimposing the measurement beam and the reference beam on a common region of incidence of the sensor means; - detecting the position of a pattern of interference fringes between the measurement beam and the reference beam on the region of incidence; and - determining a difference in optical length between the measurement optical path and the reference optical path as a function of the position of the interference pattern along an illumination axis of the region of incidence, or of the frequency of the interference pattern in the frequency domain, which is indicative of a difference between (a) the current local position of the optical element and (b) the predetermined nominal local position of the optical element.