Laser device, laser machining apparatus, and method for controlling output of laser device

1. A laser device including a plurality of laser modules, the laser device comprising:

a plurality of drive power supplies to drive the laser modules;

a plurality of laser output detectors to detect laser outputs from the laser modules, and to output detected values as first output signals;

a coupled output detector to detect a total laser output after coupling of a plurality of the laser outputs, and to output a detected value as a second output signal;

a memory to store first initial values, being initial values of the first output signals detected by the laser output detection detectors on a per laser module basis, and a second initial value, being an initial value of the second output signal detected by the coupled output detector;

a processing circuitry

to set a plurality of output correction factors for correspondingly controlling the laser modules using the first output signals and the second output signal; and

to control the plurality of drive power supplies using the plurality of output correction factors, wherein

laser modules of the plurality of laser modules whose laser outputs have output change ratios different from each other by a specific value or less are classified as belonging to a same group, and the plurality of output correction factors are set, on a per group basis, to allow the total laser output to be maintained at a constant value, and the processing circuitry sets the plurality of output correction factors to cause a group having higher change ratios with respect to initial values of the laser outputs to be assigned a lower output correction factor.

2. The laser device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

the memory stores data of the laser outputs of the plurality of laser modules, of values of power to be supplied by the drive power supplies, and of the total laser output.

3. A laser machining apparatus comprising:

a laser device including a plurality of laser modules;

a machining apparatus to perform machining of an item to be worked by a laser beam output from the laser device; and

a machining apparatus controller to control the machining apparatus, wherein

the laser device includes

a plurality of drive power supplies to drive the laser modules;

a plurality of laser output detectors to detect laser outputs from the plurality of laser modules, and to output detected values as first output signals;

a coupled output detector to detect a total laser output after coupling of a plurality of the laser outputs, and to output a detected value as a second output signal;

a memory to store first initial values, being initial values of the first output signals detected by the plurality of laser output detectors on a per laser module basis, and a second initial value, being an initial value of the second output signal detected by the coupled output detector;

a processing circuitry

to set a plurality of output correction factors for correspondingly controlling the laser modules using first output signals and the second output signal; and

to control the plurality of drive power supplies using the plurality of output correction factors, wherein

laser modules of the plurality of laser modules whose laser outputs have output change ratios different from each other by a specific value or less are classified as belonging to a same group, and the plurality of output correction factors are set, on a per group basis, to allow the total laser output to be maintained at a constant value, and the processing circuitry sets the plurality of output correction factors to cause a group having higher change ratios with respect to initial values of the laser outputs to be assigned a lower output correction factor.

4. A method for controlling an output of a laser device, the method comprising:

setting reference information of a device status of the laser device including a plurality of laser modules;

storing the reference information in a memory;

periodically checking the device status;

comparing the device status identified by the checking, with the reference information on a per laser module basis; and

calculating a plurality of output correction factors for correspondingly controlling the plurality of laser modules based on a result of the comparison, wherein

the device status of the laser device includes correspondence relationship information that represents correspondence relationship between power to be supplied to drive power supplies that drive the plurality of laser modules and laser outputs of the plurality of laser modules, laser outputs detected on a per laser module basis, and a total laser output after coupling of the laser outputs from the plurality of laser modules,

the reference information includes the correspondence relationship information in an initial state, initial values of the laser outputs detected on a per laser module basis, and an initial value of the total laser output,

and the plurality of output correction factors calculated are correction factors for the laser outputs of the plurality of laser modules, corresponding to the device status,

laser modules of the plurality of laser modules whose laser outputs have output change ratios different from each other by a specific value or less are classified as belonging to a same group, and the plurality of output correction factors are set, on a per group basis, to cause the total laser output to be maintained at a constant value, and

the plurality of output correction factors are set to cause a group having higher change ratios with respect to initial values of the laser outputs to be assigned a lower output correction factor.

5. The method for controlling the output of the laser device according to claim 4 , wherein

the calculating the output correction factors calculates

the plurality of output correction factors not to exceed an upper limit value.

6. The method for controlling the output of the laser device according to claim 4 , wherein

the setting the reference information sets the reference information of the device status at a time point that is set based on an expected lifetime of each of the laser modules.

7. The method for controlling the output of the laser device according to claim 4 , wherein

the periodically checking the device status checks

the device status after a particular operation that is performed after start-up of the plurality of laser modules.

8. The method for controlling the output of the laser device according to claim 5 , wherein

the setting the reference information sets the reference information of the device status at a time point that is set based on an expected lifetime of each of the laser modules.

9. The method for controlling the output of the laser device according to claim 5 , wherein

the periodically checking the device status checks

the device status after a particular operation that is performed after start-up of the plurality of laser modules.

10. The method for controlling the output of the laser device according to claim 6 , wherein

the periodically checking the device status checks

the device status after a particular operation that is performed after start-up of the plurality of laser modules.

11. The method for controlling the output of the laser device according to claim 8 , wherein

the periodically checking the device status checks

the device status after a particular operation that is performed after start-up of the plurality of laser modules.