US 12,251,775 B2
Methods and devices for determining a reference focus position of a beam of beam-based machine tools by performing test cuts on a workpiece
Jeremy Meyer, Leonberg (DE)
Assigned to TRUMPF Laser—und Systemtechnik GmbH, Ditzingen (DE)
Filed by TRUMPF Laser—und Systemtechnik GmbH, Ditzingen (DE)
Filed on Dec. 21, 2018, as Appl. No. 16/229,217.
Application 16/229,217 is a continuation of application No. PCT/EP2017/065291, filed on Jun. 21, 2017.
Claims priority of application No. 102016111455.3 (DE), filed on Jun. 22, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2019/0111516 A1, Apr. 18, 2019
Int. Cl. B23K 26/04 (2014.01); B23K 26/00 (2014.01); B23K 26/03 (2006.01); B23K 26/08 (2014.01); B23K 26/38 (2014.01); B23K 31/12 (2006.01); B23K 37/02 (2006.01); B23K 37/04 (2006.01)
CPC B23K 26/048 (2013.01) [B23K 26/0093 (2013.01); B23K 26/032 (2013.01); B23K 26/0861 (2013.01); B23K 26/0884 (2013.01); B23K 26/38 (2013.01); B23K 31/12 (2013.01); B23K 37/0235 (2013.01); B23K 37/0408 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for determining a reference focus position of a beam of a beam-based machine tool, the method comprising:
providing a relative motion trajectory that delimits a sequence of discoid areas with respect to a surrounding area, wherein the discoid areas are each connected to the surrounding area via at least one respective bridge area for each discoid area;
performing a plurality of test cuts on a workpiece, wherein at each test cut of the plurality of test cuts, a cutting structure is cut in the workpiece by guiding the beam of the beam-based machine tool along the relative motion trajectory around a discoid area and along the bridge area to form a plurality of cutting structures, wherein each test cut is performed along the at least one bridge area of each of the discoid areas of the relative motion trajectory at a different focus position, wherein test cuts at focus positions that result in narrow cutting widths form a bridge that connects the cutting structure to remaining material of the workpiece, and test cuts at focus positions that result in wide cutting widths that overlap in the bridge area sever the cutting structure from remaining material of the workpiece and cause the cutting structure to fall out of the workpiece;
evaluating whether for a single cutting structure of the plurality of cutting structures, the workpiece has the single cutting structure held by at least one bridge in the discoid area of the relative motion trajectory or whether the workpiece has, in the discoid area of the relative motion trajectory, an opening in the workpiece where the single cutting structure has fallen out of the workpiece, and
assigning the reference focus position, based on the evaluating of the plurality of cutting structures.