The FiberCUT® ST is a robotic laser processing head designed for use in demanding manufacturing environments. Its straight input for all connections, including the fiber, optimizes the robot's complete working envelope. The FiberCUT® ST is composed of four main subassemblies: the robotic mount, the fiber collimator assembly, the drive mechanism, and the tip retainer assembly.
Function Description:
The FiberCUT® ST head is designed to precisely focus a high-power laser beam for cutting applications. The robotic mount connects the cutting head to the robot, often through an optional collision sensing device, protecting the head during a crash. The fiber collimator unit uses a doublet collimating lens to gather laser light from the fiber optic cable and collimate it. A standard collimator focal length is 100mm, with other focal lengths available. The laser beam then propagates through a final focusing lens, which focuses the laser through the orifice of the gas jet tip. The drive assembly provides the motion system, allowing the tip to track the part's surface and maintain constant laser focus. This patented drive system offers smooth, linear motion with 25mm of travel. The tip retainer assembly houses the final focusing lens and a cover glass to protect the lens from contaminants. The lens housing is threaded into the tip assembly, which in turn threads into the tip retainer, controlling gas flow to the workpiece. The tip retainer assembly also provides electrical feedback to maintain a constant gap between the tip and the part. The FiberCUT® controller manages the head's operation, including standoff height, motion, and fault conditions.
Important Technical Specifications:
Cutting Head:
- Power Rating: Up to 4 kW
- Focusing Lens (Effective Focal Length): 75mm, 104mm, 130mm, 150mm
- Focusing Lens (Diameter): 28 mm
- Clear Aperture: 25 mm
- Nozzle Tip: Various Shapes
- Assist Gas Pressure: Up to 20 BAR
- Gas: Female 1/8 NPT
- Water Ports: 6 mm tube to M5 fittings
- Weight: 3.5 kg
- Height (Center Of Travel): 182 mm
- Slide Travel: ±12.5 mm
- Max. Travel Speed: 175 mm/sec.
- Standoff Distance Range (1 mm Recommended): 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm
Collimator:
- Effective Focal Length (Doublet, Fused Silica): 78, 102 mm
- Recollimating Lens (Diameter): 28 mm
- Clear Aperture: 25 mm
- Fiber Socket (Others Available On Request): QBH, HCL-8, LLK-B, QD, LCA, PIPA
Control Box:
- Sealed Enclosure: 380 mm L x 300 mm W x 160 mm H
- Single Interconnect Cable: Up to 15 m long
- Number of Standoff Settings: 7
- Electrical Supply: 85-264 VAC, 1-Phase, 47-63 Hz
- Interface Inputs: 5-24 VDC, 2.2 KΩ impedance, optically isolated
- Interface Outputs: 12-24 VDC, 150 mA max., sink/source, optically isolated
Coolant Specifications:
- Minimum Flow Rate: 1.6 liter/minute @ 2 BAR minimum
- Inlet Pressure: 170 to 520 kPa
- Inlet Temperature: ≥room temperature / >dew point
- Hardness (Equivalent to CaCO3): <250mg/liter
- pH: 6 to 8
- Particulate Size: <200 microns in diameter
Assist Gas Specifications:
- Oxygen Purity: 99.8%, Max H2O ppm <5 ppm, Max HC ppm <1 ppm
- Nitrogen Purity: 99.998%, Max H2O ppm <5 ppm, Max HC ppm <1 ppm
- Argon Purity: 99.998%, Max H2O ppm <5 ppm, Max HC ppm <1 ppm
- Helium Purity: 99.998%, Max H2O ppm <5 ppm, Max HC ppm <1 ppm
Usage Features:
- Digital Inputs: The controller supports 5 to 24VDC, 10mA at 24V digital inputs for various functions.
- Height Select Bits (HS1-HS3): Three discrete bits activate seven standoff heights (0.5mm to 2.0mm). When all are off, the head retracts.
- Teach / Center of Travel (COT): Sets the head to a fixed center of travel position, useful for teaching motion paths.
- Programmable Retract Position: Allows positioning the head at seven different retracted positions (-12.5mm to -2.0mm) to reduce cycle time.
- Motion Inhibit (HOLD): Holds the head at its current position regardless of measured standoff height, useful for starting cuts off the workpiece.
- Analog Input Enable (AIE): When active, an analog input controls standoff height; otherwise, HS1-HS3 control it.
- Reset/Servo Disable (RST): Resets the head after a fault; disabling the servo motor and fully extending the head if held active.
- Analog Inputs: 0 to 5VDC input range for standoff height selection (1V to 4V for 0.5mm to 2.0mm).
- Digital Outputs: 5 to 24VDC, 250mA per output, configurable for sourcing or sinking.
- In-Position (IN-POS): Indicates the tip is within the selected standoff height range, ready for processing.
- Retracted Position (RET-POS): Indicates the head is at the retracted position.
- Tip Touch (TIP-TOUCH): Signals electrical contact between the tip and part/object.
- Crash/Fault (CRASH): Indicates a crash or fault condition, with status bits (STAT1-STAT4) providing details.
- Crash Interlock Relay (INT1, INT2): A solid-state relay opens on fault/crash, rated 500mA at 0-60VDC, 0-48VAC.
- Analog Output (ANALOG-OUT): 0 to 5VDC output with five configurable options: HSU Voltage, Linear Pot Voltage, Electronics Temperature, Collimator Temperature, and Lower Assembly Temperature.
- Ethernet Interface (P3): Allows interfacing with the controller for discrete I/O capabilities and fault descriptions. Supports simulating inputs and analog input.
- Remote I/O Options: EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, Profibus, and PROFINET protocols are available for simplified hardware integration into laser processing cells.
- FiberCUT® Monitor Software: A PC-based tool for real-time monitoring of tip standoff, head position, temperatures, and I/O. Offers standard and multiple views, connection management, and diagnostic views for troubleshooting.
- Settings: Allows configuration of Extended Crash, Inverted Crash, Programmable Retract Positions, Sleep Mode (powers off motor after inactivity), Stand Off Compensation, Analog Output type, Controller IP Address/Name, and EtherNet/IP settings.
- Beam Centering Camera System: Aids in centering the laser beam in the tip orifice by providing virtual images on a computer screen.
Maintenance Features:
- Initial Inspection: Instructions for inspecting shipping containers and contents upon arrival, and procedures for handling damaged goods.
- Electrical Grounding and Noise: Guidelines for proper grounding of the part and cutting head to ensure accurate capacitive sensing and minimize electrical noise.
- Control Box Mounting: Recommendations for mounting the control box to ensure clearance, access, and protection from debris and liquids.
- Power Up Sequence: Detailed steps for verifying connections and head positioning before power-up, and the automatic calibration sequence.
- Sequence of Operation: A summary chart outlining the steps for a cut, including rapid positioning, starting at the part, processing, and end of cut.
- Servicing the Gas Jet Nozzle Tip: Instructions for unscrewing, inspecting, and replacing the tip and O-ring/isolator.
- Cleaning the Outside of the Head: Recommended procedure using vacuum, dry wipes, and wet wipes to remove dust and debris.
- Servicing the Tip Assembly: Steps for removing and installing the tip assembly, including unscrewing the shroud, unbolting, and unplugging the SMB connector.
- Servicing the Cover Glass: Procedure for unscrewing the shroud, pulling out the cover glass holder, and replacing the cover glass and seal.
- Servicing the Focusing Lens Cartridge: Steps for removing, inspecting, and reinstalling the focusing lens cartridge, including adjusting the focus and lens holder tension.
- Removing and Installing the Cutting Head and Fiber: Detailed instructions for dismounting the head from the robot, cleaning, inspecting the fiber end, and reinstalling the head and fiber.
- Servicing the Fiber Collimator Assembly: Procedure for unbolting, removing, and reinstalling the collimator assembly, including aligning the collimator.
- Servicing the Collimating Lens Cartridge: Steps for removing, inspecting, and reinstalling the collimating lens cartridge.
- Removing and Installing the Motor: Instructions for lifting the actuator follower block, rotating the cam arm, loosening bolts, and carefully removing/reinstalling the motor.
- Servicing the Manifold Seal: Procedure for unscrewing the shroud, removing, inspecting, and reinstalling the manifold seal.
- Troubleshooting Guide: A comprehensive table of symptoms, causes, and remedies for common faults, including crash interlocks, head not extended/retracted, calibration faults, watchdog errors, temperature errors, and position errors.
- Updating Controller Firmware: Instructions for downloading and installing the latest firmware using the FiberCUT® Update software.
Need help?
General
To Next Page