Vulcan Reference Manual

  • Welcome to Vulcan Control
  • Introduction
    • User interface
    • Workflow
    • Machine Operation
    • Control panel
  • Production Workflow
    • Preparation
    • Create
    • File Management
    • Select Program
    • Edit NC Code
    • Edit Laser Technology
    • Edit layout
    • Simulation run
    • Work offsets
    • Run
    • Re-entry
  • Laser Technology Tables (LTT)
    • Terminology
    • Laser Data items
      • Piercing
      • Multistage Piercing
      • Cutting
      • Special Processes
    • Modifying Laser Data
    • LTT Management
    • Ramp Cycles
    • FlyLine
    • Acceleration control (DCA)
  • Technology functions
    • Vaporize Sheet
    • Nanojoints
    • PierceLine Sensor
    • Frog Jumping
    • Cutting Tools
  • Controls
    • Lubrication Cycle
    • Protective Glass Monitoring
    • Scrap Cut
    • Go To Sheet Origin
    • Height Sensor Calibration
    • Nozzle Centre
    • Target Shot
    • Gas Purge
    • HC Manual Set Point
    • Go To Park Position
    • Nozzle Clean & Height Sensor Calibration
    • Edge Detection
    • Focus Comb
    • Focal Distance
    • Pilot Diode Positioning
  • Production plan
    • Create a production plan
    • Modification
    • Run a production plan
    • Running sequence
    • sheet loading
    • Material stock
  • Drop and Cut
  • Troubleshooting
    • Frequent collisions
    • Work offset
    • Extreme small contours
  • NC Programming Reference
    • DIN format
      • DIN Program Structure
        • Program Number %
        • Block number N
        • G-functions
        • M-functions
        • Parameter Array
        • Graphical Element – Display Marker Lines
      • Laser Technology
        • Program Header
        • Technology Table (TT) Transfer
        • Check for Bound Program Active
        • Block Jump
        • Block Number
        • Start of a Part information
        • Laser parameters selection & Update
        • Contour Statements
        • Program End (G99)
        • Remnant Cut
          • Start Remnant Cut
          • End Remnant Cut
        • FlyLine
        • Only Piercing in the Contour
        • Nano Joints
        • Sample Program with Multiple Parts
        • Fly Cut Sample Program:
    • LST format
      • LST Program Structure
      • FlyLine
      • TC_WRITE
      • Incremental Command (IC)
      • Soft Micro-Joints & Nano-Joints
    • Laser Technology commands
      • Laser cutting
      • Identifying parts
      • Multiple program structure
      • Cutting distance
      • Kerf correction
      • Overshoot height
      • Timing of parts
      • Bevel cut
      • Beam suppression
      • Flying focus position alteration
  • Impressum
Controls
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Protective Glass Monitoring

Protective Glass Monitoring

Parametrization

The protective glass monitoring is a system that monitors the condition of the protective glass. It could prevent you to produce parts of low quality or even machine damage.

The behavior is defined as follows :

  • When the quality value of the protective glass is lower than the error level during cutting: The machine will stop processing, the beam will turn off, and a window will pop up on the front of the HMI.

  • If the Close button on the window is clicked, the machine will continue cutting the current sheet. Before processing the next sheet, it will perform a protective glass measurement. If the quality is still below the error level, the window will pop up again. Clicking "Close" will allow the machine to continue processing, and the window will appear again at the end of the sheet.

  • If the glass is contaminated from the beginning, after cutting the first contour, the machine will stop and perform a protective glass measurement. If the quality is below the error level, a window will pop up. Clicking the Close button will allow the machine to continue cutting the current sheet.

There is offline measurement and a online measurement possible :

Offline Measurement Online Monitoring

Measurement type

Fixed measurement conditions

In situ measurement

Triggers

Relative limit to clean reference value

Relative limit to clean reference value

Effect

Result in percent

Reaction at contour end

Purpose

Prevents production of material scrap

Triggers offline measurement

Offline Measurement : Offline measurement is used to check the glass quality under stable conditions. During offline measurement, three different levels of laser power are emitted, each for a specific time period — typically 500 ms. The reflected light from the glass is measured at each power level, and the normalized reflection luminosity is calculated and compared with a reference value, which is obtained using the same method. An offline broken factor is also involved in this calculation to determine the glass quality. For the same reflection luminosity value, a higher broken factor indicates better glass quality. Therefore, only when the glass is significantly dirty will a warning or error be triggered.

Online Monitoring : Online measurement is used to check the glass quality during cutting. Whenever there is laser output, the average value of the reflected light over a time period is calculated, and a low-pass filter is applied to this value. Due to the unstable nature of the laser output and back reflection from the cutting sheet, the online value is significantly higher than the offline one.

The parametrization is done in the setting page :

protective

Luminosity measurement

The protective window measurement is based on a luminosity measurement. If condition is Clean, protective window status is good to proceed with cutting in terms of good cutting results. If condition is Contaminated, protective window status is poor and its advisable to change the protective window to experience good cutting results.

lumi0

Depending on the result of quality value percentage, clean or replace the protective glass.

  • 80%-90% → clean

  • < 80% → replace

LumiMeasure

With the above entries, X and Y axis moves towards the positioned value.

LumiError

Running the program will follow the data of frequency and duty as per the user requirement. Power parameter is pre-defined as step up of 500W, 1000W and 1500W.

Focus diameter, Focus distance and dwell time also has been modified according to the user requirements. Entered values can be monitored when the program runs. The specified Dwell time will hold the program and then abord the program.

Measure mode has offline and reference data. In offline selection, user can run the program and check the status of protective window. In reference selection, user can cross verify the data and values of quality and linearity and it can be saved using save option. Generally, reference selection will be opted when the protective window is newer which gives fine set of results.

When lumi measure program runs, it takes the log of the data and it can be read in LumiMeasurelog.txt from the path C:\ProgramData\Metamation{APPNAME}\Log\Currentyear\Currentmonth\Currentday or in the UI.

t

lumi2

With reference to the above calculation, the following parameters will be added in the MK file to optimize the monitoring function :

  1. Offline broken factor

  2. Online broken factor

  3. Warning limit in percentage

  4. Error limit in percentage

  5. Delay time in secs to report warning

lumi3

Contents

  • Parametrization
  • Luminosity measurement
Lubrication Cycle Scrap Cut

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