Abstract: A method and a device for detecting a focal position of a laser beam, particularly a machining laser beam in a laser machining head, includes an optical element which is arranged in the laser beam converging toward the focal point and which is designed to outcouple a reflection from the laser beam path, and a sensor arrangement which is designed to detect beam characteristics of said laser beam in the region of the focal point in the laser extension direction, and which measures the outcoupled reflection of the laser beam at at least two locations that are offset to one another in the extension direction, in order to determine the current focal position.

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: A method and a device for detecting a focal position of a laser beam, particularly a machining laser beam in a laser machining head, includes an optical element which is arranged in the laser beam converging toward the focal point and which is designed to outcouple a reflection from the laser beam path, and a sensor arrangement which is designed to detect beam characteristics of said laser beam in the region of the focal point in the laser extension direction, and which measures the outcoupled reflection of the laser beam at at least two locations that are offset to one another in the extension direction, in order to determine the current focal position.

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: 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: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for clamping components (12) during machining, in particular during welding of sheet-metal components arranged in two or multiple layers, having a holder (10) for a machining head (11), in particular for a laser machining head, which can be fitted on an industrial robot in order to guide the machining head (11) along a machining line, a pressure-exerting element (14) which is fitted on the holder (10) in a movable fashion relative thereto, and a pressure-exerting device (17) which is provided operatively between holder (10) and pressure-exerting element (14), with the aid of which the pressure-exerting element (14) can be moved relative to the holder (10).

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: 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).

Abstract: Temperature compensation in the context of capacitive distance measurement with the aid of an LC oscillator 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).

Abstract: A nozzle for a tool for the working of material and having a nozzle body which is composed of electrically conducting material and carries a nozzle electrode in its tip region with the tip region of the nozzle body and the remaining region of the nozzle body being formed by separate parts which are connected to one another and electrically insulated from one another, the nozzle electrode being in direct electrical contact with the tip region.

Abstract: A nozzle for a device for machining materials, can be rigidly connected at its end opposite the nozzle tip to a connector head of the device. The connection of the nozzle with the connector head is made by a connecting element (7; 17) made of a brittle material and comprising a break-off region (11; 20). If a collision between the nozzle tip and a workpiece to be machined takes place accidentally, then the connecting element breaks in the break-off region in order to prevent further, even greater damage to the connector head, nozzle or workpiece. The break-off region is crossed by an electrical conductor (14; 27) which breaks in the event of a collision, so that in this way an alarm signal for stopping the device can be generated.