This abstract describes a project dealing with the measuring of TCP speed of an industrial robot and a conventional 3-axis cutting machine with the aim of continously regulating the laser output power in proportion to the actual speed and shows, on basis of realistic trials, how it is possible to achieve even surface quality resulting from laser cutting when applying the method mentioned.
A common problem during laser processing together with especially industrial robots is the difficulty of obtaining constant speed of the robot path throughout the actual processing sequence. This is of particular significance, especially in the case of laser welding when too much power per unit length may burn holes in the workpiece. We decided on a method where we accept that the TCP-speed can vary and control the power applied by the laser, that in relation to the above speed. The method is based on a microcomputer system that computes the actual TCP-speed and, together with operator supplied processing parameters, controls the laser power. The microcomputer system has a lot of built-in knowledge about the cutting and welding process and can be used as a database when processing different kinds of materials.