High-power laser rapid focusing device

Abstract

The application discloses a high-power laser rapid focusing device and relates to the technical field of laser processing; in order to solve the problems that the existing focusing device is slow, and optical lenses are easily polluted by external pollutants and motor internal thermal volatilization, the following technical scheme is provided: the device comprises a voice coil motor, a labyrinth sealing optical mechanism and a flexible disc mechanism. A coil is wound on a bobbin in the voice coil motor and is surrounded by a magnetic field; the coil is forced to move after being electrified, drives the cat-eye lens to move under the guidance of the flexible disc structure, and meanwhile, a grating ruler and a reading head provide position feedback to realize the focusing function. The cat-eye lens and the convex lens are enclosed in the labyrinth sealing mechanism and are relatively isolated from the coil in the motor and the outside, so that the pollution of the external pollutants and the motor coil thermal volatilization to the lenses is avoided; the high-power laser rapid focusing device has high performance, low cost and high reliability, and provides an effective solution for the field of high-power laser processing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of laser processing, and in particular to a high-power laser fast focusing device. Background Art

[0002] In laser processing, rapid zooming is often required, such as in 3D galvanometer processing and laser cutting. Because the workpieces being processed are distributed at different heights or have complex 3D surfaces, the laser focus must always be located on the processing surface to ensure the processing effect.

[0003] There are two main focusing methods currently available:

[0004] 1. Solution 1: A focusing structure employing dual galvanometer motors and dual parabolic mirrors. For example, the dynamic focusing module disclosed in patents CN112068309A and DE102012111091A1 achieves synchronous, high-speed response to changes in the focus spot's position along three axes, making it the fastest focusing mechanism currently on the market. However, due to patent protection and its complex structure, this solution is prohibitively expensive and has therefore not been widely adopted.

[0005] 2. Solution 2: Focusing is achieved by changing the relative position of the optical components in the laser beam expansion and focusing system. For example, the dynamic focusing device disclosed in patent CN216680699U achieves dynamic focusing by changing the distance between the negative lens and the focusing mirror, outputting laser beams of different sizes to achieve different processing depths. In addition, voice coil motors are widely used in laser focusing due to their high acceleration and high efficiency. Patent US11090761 B2 discloses a fast focusing mechanism based on an air-bearing guide rail and a voice coil motor. Utilizing the frictionless nature of the air-bearing guide rail and the high acceleration of the voice coil motor, it can achieve accelerations of up to 50G and an unlimited lifespan.

[0006] However, the high cost and bulk of dual-galvanometer motors and dual parabolic reflectors have hindered widespread adoption. While the voice coil motors used in air-bearing guides offer significant advantages, they require extremely high precision in machined parts, making cost control difficult. Furthermore, air-bearing guides rely on an air supply, and insufficient air can damage the product. Therefore, they require an air compressor, air tanks, and a high-quality filtration system. The filtration system also requires regular replacement of consumables, increasing operating costs.

[0007] Focusing mechanisms based on traditional mechanical guides require regular lubrication, but optical components used in high-power laser processing are typically tightly sealed, making grease injection on-site difficult and posing a risk of lens contamination. Consequently, products are often not relubricated during use, limiting their lifespan to 1-3 years, resulting in significant waste. Furthermore, volatiles and dust particles from the guide lubricant not only pose a risk of lens contamination, but also generally limit their application to low- and medium-power laser processing.

[0008] The structure of the voice coil motor is exposed in the coil. When it is working, the temperature rises and hot volatiles are generated. If they adhere to the lens, they may cause dirt problems. In severe cases, they may even cause cracks and safety hazards.

[0009] In summary, high-power laser focusing faces multiple technical bottlenecks, including high manufacturing and operating costs, short service life, and slow focusing response speed. These issues impact the overall performance of the equipment and limit its widespread adoption in practical applications. Therefore, the industry urgently needs innovations in materials, design, and processes to improve the reliability and efficiency of high-power laser focusing systems. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a high-power laser fast focusing device to solve the problems of slow focusing speed of existing focusing devices and susceptibility of optical lenses to contamination by pollutants and motor thermal volatiles.

[0011] The technical solution of the present invention to solve the above technical problems is as follows:

[0012] A high-power laser rapid focusing device comprises a voice coil motor, a labyrinth seal optical mechanism, and a flexible disc mechanism. The voice coil motor comprises a coil, a bobbin, and a magnetic assembly housing. One end of the bobbin is placed inside the magnetic assembly housing, and the other end of the bobbin is mounted on the flexible disc inner pressure ring B of the flexible disc mechanism. The coil is wound on the bobbin. When the coil moves in a magnetic field, it can drive the bobbin and the flexible disc mechanism connected thereto to move, thereby achieving a focusing function.

[0013] The labyrinth sealing optical mechanism includes a convex lens mounting seat, a labyrinth sealing tube and a cat's eye lens mounting tube. The cat's eye lens mounting tube is tightly mounted on the flexible disc outer pressure ring A of the flexible disc mechanism. The cat's eye lens mounting tube has two mounting end faces, which are respectively mounted on the flexible disc inner pressure ring B and the flexible disc inner pressure ring A of the flexible disc mechanism; the labyrinth sealing tube is mounted on the magnetic assembly housing.

[0014] Furthermore, the voice coil motor also includes a water inlet joint, a water channel plug and a water outlet joint which are connected in sequence.

[0015] Furthermore, a magnetic yoke, a magnet B, a pole piece B, a magnet A and a pole piece A are sequentially installed in the magnetic assembly housing.

[0016] Furthermore, a convex lens is installed in the convex lens mounting seat, and the convex lens is pressed by a convex lens stress-free clamping ring.

[0017] Furthermore, a cat's eye lens is installed in the cat's eye lens installation tube, and the cat's eye lens is pressed by a cat's eye lens stress-free clamping ring.

[0018] Furthermore, a laser protection window is installed inside the labyrinth sealing tube, and the laser protection window is pressed by a laser protection window stress-free clamping ring.

[0019] Furthermore, the flexible disc mechanism also includes a flexible disc outer pressure ring B, on which the flexible disc B is crimped, and on which the flexible disc A is crimped. The inner rings of the flexible disc A and the flexible disc B are respectively crimped on the two end surfaces of the cat's eye lens mounting tube.

[0020] Furthermore, the flexible disc mechanism also includes a housing, a reading head mounting block and a reading head. The reading head mounting block is installed in the housing, and the reading head is installed on the reading head mounting block.

[0021] Furthermore, the flexible disc mechanism also includes an interface circuit board, which is mounted on the housing and integrates the coil and the cable on the reading head.

[0022] Furthermore, the flexible disc mechanism also includes a grating ruler, which is bonded to the cat's eye lens mounting tube.

[0023] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0024] Fast focusing and high-precision positioning: Through the high thrust and fast response characteristics of the voice coil motor, the device can achieve rapid focusing, meeting the high requirements for focusing speed in high-power laser processing; through the coordinated use of the grating scale and the reading head, the device can achieve high-precision position feedback, further improving the accuracy of focusing.

[0025] Cost-effectiveness: The flexible disc guide structure adopts avoids the use of traditional mechanical guide rails and lubrication systems, thereby reducing manufacturing and maintenance costs.

[0026] Long life and maintenance-free: Since the flexible disc mechanism does not require lubrication, the maintenance work required due to lubricant volatilization or contamination is reduced, thereby extending the service life of the device; eliminating the need for traditional guide rail grease, reducing maintenance work and improving production efficiency.

[0027] Optical component protection: The labyrinth seal optical mechanism effectively isolates external pollutants and motor thermal volatiles, protects the optical lens from contamination, and ensures the cleanliness and performance of optical devices.

[0028] Heat dissipation performance: The voice coil motor adopts a water-cooling design, which effectively dissipates the heat generated by the motor and improves the stability and reliability of the motor.

[0029] Compact structure: The integrated design makes the device small in size, easy to install and use in space-constrained environments.

[0030] Environmentally friendly: Since no lubricant is required, pollution to the environment is reduced, which is in line with the development trend of green manufacturing.

[0031] Improve processing quality: Fast and precise focusing capability ensures that the laser focus is always located on the processing surface, thereby improving processing quality and efficiency.

[0032] Reduced energy consumption: Fast focusing reduces waiting time during processing, thereby reducing overall energy consumption.

[0033] Modular and easy to integrate: The device is designed with compatibility with other laser processing equipment in mind, making it easy to integrate into existing production lines. The design of each component allows for quick replacement and upgrading, facilitating future technological improvements and maintenance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the high-power laser rapid focusing device of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 2 2 is a cross-sectional view of the high-power laser rapid focusing device of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 3 This is a structural diagram of the voice coil motor of the high-power laser rapid focusing device of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 4 This is a structural diagram of the labyrinth sealing optical mechanism of the high-power laser rapid focusing device of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 5 This is a structural diagram of the flexible disc mechanism of the high-power laser rapid focusing device of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 6a This is a structural diagram of the flexible disc of the high-power laser rapid focusing device of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 6b This is a simulation diagram of the stress deformation of the flexible disc in the high-power laser rapid focusing device of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 7 This is a decay oscillation curve diagram of the high-power laser rapid focusing device of the present invention.

[0042] Figures 1 to 7The reference numerals shown in the figure represent: water inlet connector 101, magnetic pole piece A102, magnetic steel A103, magnetic pole piece B104, magnetic steel B105, coil 106, winding tube 107, magnetic yoke 108, magnetic assembly housing 109, water channel plug 110, water outlet connector 111, cat's eye lens 201, convex lens 202, convex lens stress-free clamping ring 203, convex lens mounting seat 204, cat's eye lens stress-free clamping ring 205, laser protection Window 206, laser protection window stress-free retaining ring 207, labyrinth sealing tube 208, cat's eye lens mounting tube 209, flexible disc inner pressure ring B301, flexible disc B302, flexible disc outer pressure ring B303, outer shell 304, cover 305, interface circuit board 306, flexible disc outer pressure ring A307, reading head mounting block 308, reading head 309, flexible disc A310, grating scale 311, flexible disc inner pressure ring A312. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] The following is a clear and complete description of the technical solution of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the embodiments described are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0044] Please refer to Figure 1-3 When implementing the high-power laser rapid focusing device of the present invention, it is first necessary to prepare three main parts: a voice coil motor, a labyrinth seal optical mechanism, and a flexible disc mechanism. The structure of the voice coil motor mainly includes a coil 106, a bobbin 107, and a magnetic assembly housing 109. One end of the bobbin 107 is located inside the magnetic assembly housing 109, and the other end is connected to the flexible disc inner pressure ring B301 of the flexible disc mechanism. The coil 106 is wound on the bobbin 107. When the coil 106 moves in the magnetic field, it can drive the bobbin 107 and the flexible disc mechanism connected thereto to move, thereby achieving the focusing function.

[0045] Please refer to Figure 3 Inside the voice coil motor's magnetic assembly housing 109, a magnetic yoke 108, magnet B 105, pole piece B 104, magnet A 103, and pole piece A 102 are sequentially installed. This structural design ensures that the voice coil motor generates a sufficient magnetic field during operation to drive the coil 106. To effectively dissipate heat, the voice coil motor also includes a water inlet connector 101, a water plug 110, and a water outlet connector 111, which are connected in sequence to form a closed cooling water circuit to maintain a stable temperature during high-power operation.

[0046] Please refer to Figure 4The labyrinth seal optical mechanism consists of a convex lens mount 204, a labyrinth seal tube 208, and a cat's-eye lens mounting tube 209. The cat's-eye lens mounting tube 209 is snugly mounted on the flexible disc outer pressure ring A307 of the flexible disc mechanism, while its two mounting ends are respectively mounted on the flexible disc inner pressure rings B301 and A312 of the flexible disc mechanism. The labyrinth seal tube 208 is mounted on the magnetic assembly housing 109. This design effectively protects the optical components from external contamination.

[0047] Convex lens 202 is mounted within convex lens mount 204 and secured by convex lens stress-free retaining ring 203 to ensure stability during focusing. Cat's-eye lens 201 is mounted within cat's-eye lens mounting tube 209 and secured by cat's-eye lens stress-free retaining ring 205. A laser protection window 206 is installed within labyrinth sealing tube 208 and secured by laser protection window stress-free retaining ring 207 to prevent damage to optical components caused by high-power lasers.

[0048] Please refer to Figure 5 The flexible disc mechanism design includes a flexible disc outer pressure ring B303, onto which the flexible disc B302 is crimped, and a flexible disc A310 crimped onto the flexible disc outer pressure ring A307. The inner rings of flexible disc A310 and flexible disc B302 are respectively crimped onto the end surfaces of the cat's eye lens mounting tube 209. This design allows the flexible disc mechanism to operate without traditional lubricants, thus avoiding maintenance work caused by lubricant evaporation or contamination, and improving the device's service life and reliability.

[0049] The flexible disc mechanism also includes a housing 304, a read head mounting block 308, and a read head 309. The read head mounting block 308 is mounted within the housing 304, while the read head 309 is mounted on the read head mounting block 308. This structure can precisely measure and control the movement of the focusing device, ensuring accurate focusing.

[0050] The interface circuit board 306 is mounted on the housing 304, with a cover 305 on top. It integrates the cables from the coil 106 and the readhead 309. This design simplifies circuit connections and facilitates installation and maintenance. The grating scale 311 is bonded to the cat's-eye lens mounting tube 209 and, in conjunction with the readhead 309, provides high-precision position feedback, further improving focusing accuracy.

[0051] In actual production, the voice coil motor's coil 106 is evenly wound with enameled wire around a bobbin 107. The bobbin 107 is made of 7075 high-strength aluminum alloy. This material not only offers high strength but also provides significant damping during motion due to the eddy currents generated by cutting through magnetic flux lines when moving in a magnetic field. The aluminum alloy also provides excellent heat dissipation for the coil. The magnetic assembly housing 109 is made of standard aluminum alloy. Three high-aspect-ratio water-cooling blind holes are machined into its side, housing the water inlet connector 101, the water outlet connector 111, and the waterway plug 110, forming a closed cooling water circuit.

[0052] The cat's-eye lens mounting tube 209 in the labyrinth seal optical mechanism features multiple pressure-balancing holes distributed circumferentially around the area where the cat's-eye lens 201 is mounted. This not only balances the air pressure in the air cavities on both sides of the cat's-eye lens during its left-right motion, but also creates additional damping when gas flows through the holes, increasing motion damping and reducing motion settling time. Furthermore, the gas flowing through the holes dissipates heat from the cat's-eye lens, reducing heat accumulation on the lens caused by high-power lasers.

[0053] Please refer to Figure 6a-6b The flexible discs A310 and B302 of the flexible disc mechanism are constructed from thin high-manganese steel sheets and cold-processed using ultra-fast laser cutting and other methods to ensure stress-free and deformation-free operation. This choice of material and processing method ensures that the flexible disc mechanism requires no lubrication, has an unlimited lifespan, and generates no pollutants during operation.

[0054] During assembly, a precisely machined blind hole for mounting the magnetic assembly is first created on the end face of the magnetic assembly housing 109. The yoke 108, magnet B105, pole piece B104, magnet A103, and pole piece A102 are then installed, tightly against each other. The coil 106 is then evenly wound around the bobbin 107, ensuring that one end of the bobbin 107 is connected to the inner pressure ring B301 of the flexible disc mechanism. Next, the voice coil motor's cooling water circuit is installed, including the water inlet connector 101, water plug 110, and water outlet connector 111, ensuring a tight seal and proper flow.

[0055] During assembly of the labyrinth seal optical mechanism, convex lens 202 is first installed within convex lens mounting seat 204 and secured with convex lens stress-free retaining ring 203. Next, cat's eye lens 201 is installed within cat's eye lens mounting tube 209 and secured with cat's eye lens stress-free retaining ring 205. Finally, laser protection window 206 is installed within labyrinth seal tube 208 and secured with laser protection window stress-free retaining ring 207. Labyrinth seal tube 208 is threaded onto magnetic assembly housing 109 to ensure sealing and stability.

[0056] Assembly of the flexible disc mechanism involves crimping the flexible disc outer pressure ring B303 and flexible disc A307 onto flexible discs B302 and A310, respectively. The inner rings of flexible discs A310 and B302 are crimped onto the end faces of the cat's-eye lens mounting tube 209. Next, the readhead mounting block 308 is installed within the housing 304, and the readhead 309 is mounted onto the readhead mounting block 308. The interface circuit board 306 is mounted on the housing 304, and the cables from the coil 106 and readhead 309 are combined. The grating scale 311 is bonded to the cat's-eye lens mounting tube 209 and used in conjunction with the readhead 309.

[0057] During the debugging process, the magnetic field strength of the voice coil motor and the movement of coil 106 must be precisely controlled to ensure focusing accuracy and responsiveness. Furthermore, the sealing and protective properties of the labyrinth seal optical mechanism must be tested to ensure the safety and stability of the optical components under high-power lasers. The motion accuracy and stability of the flexible disc mechanism also require rigorous testing to ensure long-term operational reliability.

[0058] In practical applications, this high-power laser rapid focusing device can be widely used in scenarios such as 3D galvanometer processing and laser cutting. This is especially true when the workpieces are distributed at different heights or have complex 3D curved surfaces. The laser's focal point must always be located on the processing surface to ensure effective processing. The device's rapid focusing function significantly improves processing efficiency and quality while reducing maintenance costs and environmental pollution risks.

[0059] Please refer to Figure 7 To further verify the device's performance, a series of tests can be performed. For example, by measuring the scale data, a damping ratio of 0.19 can be calculated, thereby evaluating the damping effect provided by the aluminum alloy bobbin and the balanced air pressure port. The measured attenuation oscillation curve demonstrates that the device can effectively reduce settling time and improve focus response speed.

[0060] In summary, the high-power laser rapid focusing device of the present invention, through its unique design, overcomes the high cost, high operating costs, short lifespan, slow response, and pollution issues of existing technologies. The device offers advantages such as rapid focusing response, long lifespan, maintenance-free operation, compact structure, and cost-effectiveness, making it suitable for a variety of high-power laser processing applications.

[0061] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A high-power laser rapid focusing device, characterized in that: include: A voice coil motor, a labyrinth seal optical mechanism, and a flexible disc mechanism, wherein the voice coil motor comprises a coil (106), a bobbin (107), and a magnetic assembly housing (109), one end of the bobbin (107) is placed inside the magnetic assembly housing (109), and the other end of the bobbin (107) is mounted on a flexible disc inner pressure ring B (301) of the flexible disc mechanism, the coil (106) is wound on the bobbin (107), and when the coil (106) moves in a magnetic field, it can drive the bobbin (107) and the flexible disc mechanism connected thereto to move, thereby realizing a focusing function; The labyrinth sealing optical mechanism comprises a convex lens mounting seat (204), a labyrinth sealing tube (208) and a cat's eye lens mounting tube (209); the cat's eye lens mounting tube (209) is tightly mounted on the flexible disc outer pressure ring A (307) of the flexible disc mechanism; the cat's eye lens mounting tube (209) has two mounting end faces, which are respectively mounted on the flexible disc inner pressure ring B (301) and the flexible disc inner pressure ring A (312) of the flexible disc mechanism; the labyrinth sealing tube (208) is mounted on the magnetic assembly housing (109); The voice coil motor further comprises a water inlet joint (101), a water channel plug (110), and a water outlet joint (111) which are connected in sequence; A magnetic yoke (108), a magnet B (105), a magnetic pole piece B (104), a magnet A (103) and a magnetic pole piece A (102) are sequentially installed in the magnetic assembly housing (109); the flexible disc mechanism also includes a flexible disc outer pressure ring B (303), the flexible disc B (302) is pressed onto the flexible disc outer pressure ring B (303), and the flexible disc A (310) is pressed onto the flexible disc outer pressure ring A (307), and the inner rings of the flexible disc A (310) and the flexible disc B (302) are respectively pressed onto the two end surfaces of the cat's eye lens mounting tube (209).

2. The high-power laser rapid focusing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A convex lens (202) is installed in the convex lens mounting seat (204), and the convex lens (202) is pressed tightly by a convex lens stress-free clamping ring (203).

3. The high-power laser rapid focusing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A cat's eye lens (201) is installed in the cat's eye lens installation tube (209), and the cat's eye lens (201) is pressed tightly by a cat's eye lens stress-free clamping ring (205).

4. The high-power laser rapid focusing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A laser protection window (206) is installed inside the labyrinth sealing tube (208), and the laser protection window (206) is pressed tightly by a laser protection window stress-free clamping ring (207).

5. The high-power laser rapid focusing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flexible disc mechanism further comprises a housing (304), a reading head mounting block (308), and a reading head (309), wherein the reading head mounting block (308) is mounted in the housing (304), and the reading head (309) is mounted on the reading head mounting block (308).

6. The high-power laser rapid focusing device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The flexible disc mechanism further includes an interface circuit board (306), which is mounted on the housing (304) and combines the coil (106) and the cable on the reading head (309).

7. The high-power laser rapid focusing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flexible disc mechanism further comprises a grating ruler (311), and the grating ruler (311) is bonded to the cat's eye lens mounting tube (209).

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