Abstract: A method for comparing laser machining systems is provided, wherein a laser machining system comprises a laser machining head and a sensor module having at least one photodiode for detecting process radiation, said method comprising: detecting radiation emitted from a light source by means of the photodiode and generating a corresponding intensity signal, wherein the radiation is guided from the light source to the photodiode by at least one optical element in the laser machining head and/or by at least one optical element of the sensor module; aligning the laser machining head and the light source with one another so that the intensity signal assumes a maximum value; and comparing the intensity signal with at least one predetermined reference value. A method for monitoring a laser machining process and an associated laser machining system are also provided.

Abstract: An alignment module coupling a sensor unit to a laser machining device for monitoring a laser machining process is provided. The module includes a first coupling device with a first optical input for a process radiation coupled out of the laser machining device and a coupling element for coupling to the machining device; a second coupling device with a first optical output and a coupling element for coupling to the sensor unit; a first adjustment module arranged between the first and second coupling devices and configured to tilt and/or displace the coupling devices with respect to one another; and a focusing optics between the first optical input and the first optical output, which is slidably disposed along the optical axis of the focusing optics. A sensor module monitoring a laser machining process is provided, which includes the alignment module. A laser machining system is also provided, including the sensor module.

Abstract: An insulation part for supporting an electrically conductive nozzle in an insulated manner, and a laser machining head with a housing (10), through which a working laser beam path (11) is guided. The working laser beam path (11) exits on the machining side through an electrically conductive nozzle (17). The electrically conductive nozzle (17) is supported on an insulation part (18), which is supported on the housing (10), and which, for the capacitive distance measurement, is electrically connected to an oscillating circuit (24) of a distance measuring circuit (22). To monitor the presence of an inexpensive insulation part (18) in a user-friendly manner, the insulation part (18) comprises a ferromagnetic body (26) and a sensor (27) for detecting the ferromagnetic body (26) is provided on the housing (10). The sensor is connected to a monitoring circuit (29) that, in the absence of an insulation part (18), outputs a warning signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to an insulation part for supporting an electrically conductive nozzle in an insulated manner, and a laser machining head with a housing (10), through which a working laser beam path (11) is guided, which exits on the machining side through an electrically conductive nozzle (17), which is supported on an insulation part (18), which is supported on the housing (10), and which, for the capacitive distance measurement, is electrically connected to an oscillating circuit (24) of a distance measuring circuit (22). To be able to monitor the presence of an inexpensive insulation part (18) in a user-friendly manner, it is provided according to the invention that the insulation part (18) comprises a ferromagnetic body (26) and that a sensor (27) for detecting the ferromagnetic body (26) is provided on the housing (10), said sensor being connected to a monitoring circuit (29), which, in the absence of an insulation part (18), outputs a warning signal.

Abstract: A laser machining head for machining a workpiece with a laser beam, having a mounting, beam-shaping optics, which are mounted on the mounting such that they can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the laser beam. In order largely to avoid contamination of the optics and in order to hold the optics securely in their adjusted position, even if high inertial forces occur as a result of higher accelerations, a belt drive is provided for displacing the optics.

Abstract: The invention relates to a laser machining head for machining a workpiece with a laser beam, having a mounting, beam-shaping optics, which are mounted on the mounting such that they can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the laser beam. In order largely to avoid contamination of the optics and in order to hold the optics securely in their adjusted position, even if high inertial forces occur as a result of higher accelerations, a belt drive is provided for displacing the optics.

Abstract: An insert (18) for holding an optical system (90, 92), in particular a focusing optics, in a laser machining head (10) for machining a workpiece with a laser beam. The optical system (90, 92) is displaced in the longitudinal direction of the laser beam relative to the insert (18) via adjusting means. The adjusting means includes a linear adjusting device (64, 66, 68) with a synchronous linear motor (68). The laser machining head (10) has a housing (14) in which the insert (18) can be introduced laterally.

Abstract: The present application relates to an insert (18) for holding an optical system (90, 92), in particular a focusing optics, in a laser machining head (10) for machining a workpiece with a laser beam, it being possible to displace the optical system (90, 92) relative to the insert (18) via adjusting means, characterized in that the adjusting means for displacing the optical system (90, 92) in the longitudinal direction of the laser beam comprises a linear adjusting device (64, 66, 68) with a synchronous linear motor (68) as well as to a laser machining head (10) for machining a workpiece by means of a laser beam, having a housing (14) in which the insert (18) according to one of the preceding claims can be introduced laterally.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for clamping components during machining, in particular during welding of sheet-metal components arranged in two or multiple layers. The apparatus includes a holder for a machining head, in particular for a laser machining head, a pressure-exerting element fitted on the holder in a movable fashion relative thereto, a pressure-exerting device provided operatively between the holder and the pressure-exerting element and having a first actuating element for moving the pressure-exerting element relative to the holder into a first direction, and a second actuating element for moving the pressure-exerting element into a second direction which is opposite to the first direction, and a force-setting device for controlling the pressure-exerting device in order to set a clamping force. During welding, the clamping force is exerted on the sheet-metal components by the pressure-exerting element.

Abstract: An inductive measurement is carried out of the distance between a workpiece (3) and a working head (1), which bears an induction coil (8), through which an alternating current flows and which is part of a resonance circuit whose oscillation frequency is monitored for changes which occur as a consequence of changes in the distance between the workpiece (3) and working head (1). In this case, the working head (1) acts on the workpiece (3) with a material (2) having a dielectric constant greater than 1. The frequency of the alternating current is in the megahertz region or just therebelow. Last but not least, the induction coil is screened from external electric fields in order to avoid the influence of parasitic capacitances.

Abstract: An inductive measurement is carried out of the distance between a workpiece (3) and a working head (1), which bears an induction coil (8), through which an alternating current flows and which is part of a resonance circuit whose oscillation frequency is monitored for changes which occur as a consequence of changes in the distance between the workpiece (3) and working head (1). In this case, the working head (1) acts on the workpiece (3) with a material (2) having a dielectric constant greater than 1. The frequency of the alternating current is in the megahertz region or just therebelow. Last but not least, the induction coil is screened from external electric fields in order to avoid the influence of parasitic capacitances.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for measuring the distance between a sensor electrode and a workpiece. The sensor electrode forms, with the workpiece, a measuring capacitor through which an alternating current flows. A voltage present at the sensor electrode is tapped as a measuring voltage. In order to be able to remove the disturbing influence on the impedance of the measuring capacitor of a plasma forming between the sensor electrode and workpiece, the real part and the imaginary part from the measuring voltage are analyzed and used to determine the distance between the sensor electrode and the workpiece.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for temperature compensation of an LC oscillator (8) having a machining head (4) and serving for the capacitive measurement of a distance between the machining head (4) and a workpiece (7), in which an output signal (S) of the LC oscillator (8) is transmitted to an evaluation unit (2) arranged separately from the machining head (4). The temperature (T) of the LC oscillator (8) is measured with the aid of the temperature sensor (29) and supplied to the evaluation unit (2). In the evaluation unit (2), temperature compensation of the output signal (S) of the LC oscillator (8) is effected using the measured temperature (T) and a temperature coefficient (K) which is assigned to the machining head (4) and can likewise be transmitted from the machining head (4) to the evaluation unit (2).