Laser electrolysis combined machining device and method capable of inclining by angle

Abstract

A laser electrolysis combined machining device and method capable of inclining the angle comprises a workpiece connected to a movement mechanism and a laser electrolysis coupling device, the movement mechanism is responsible for movement of the workpiece, the workpiece is machined through the laser electrolysis coupling device, and the laser electrolysis coupling device is connected with a laser machining mechanism and an electrolytic machining mechanism. The laser processing mechanism couples spatial light into a laser optical fiber and transmits the spatial light to the laser electrolytic coupling device, and the electrolytic processing mechanism is responsible for providing voltage and electrolyte required by processing; titanium alloy machining with low surface roughness is achieved through inclined machining, laser is transmitted through the laser optical fiber in the whole section, the coupling stability and the flexibility of the machining process are improved, multi-angle laser electrolysis composite machining can be achieved, and the high-efficiency machining requirement for low surface roughness of titanium alloy materials is met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of multi-energy field composite special machining, and particularly relates to a laser-electrolytic composite machining device and method capable of performing inclined angle machining. Background Art

[0002] Titanium alloy materials are widely used in fields such as aerospace, defense equipment, and medical equipment. Titanium alloys have a higher strength-to-weight ratio, better corrosion protection, better fatigue performance, and can withstand moderately high temperatures without creep, and are classified as difficult-to-machine materials. Traditional machining methods are no longer able to meet the increasing machining requirements for high surface quality integrity of titanium alloys. Single special machining methods also have their own defects. For example, electric discharge machining and laser machining have thermal damage; electrolytic machining has low efficiency, and stray corrosion is likely to occur on the material surface.

[0003] Composite energy field machining is currently an effective means to achieve high-quality and high-efficiency machining of titanium alloys. For example, laser-electrolytic composite machining is a high-precision and high-efficiency machining technology with the dual functions of laser machining and electrolytic machining. During the machining process, the two energies of laser and electrochemistry are conducted along the axis of the tool electrode and act together on the material machining area, enabling high-quality and high-efficiency removal of titanium alloy materials. However, most of the current laser-electrolytic coupling methods are based on total internal reflection of the laser in the liquid (Yang Y, Wang Y, Sun C, et al. Processing of titanium alloys with improved efficiency and accuracy by laser and electrochemical machining [J]. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 2024, 130(7-8): 4013-25.) or based on optical fibers inside the tool electrode (Yang Xue. Deep hole device for laser-electrolytic composite machining with electrolyte surrounding the laser tube electrode. CN116511691A) to transmit laser energy. They all use spatial light coupling into the machining head, which has great coupling difficulty and poor stability. Moreover, titanium alloy materials are extremely prone to oxidation, resulting in a relatively high surface roughness of the current machining surface. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In order to overcome the above-mentioned existing technical drawbacks, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a laser-electrolytic composite machining device and method capable of performing inclined angle machining, which can achieve machining of titanium alloys with low surface roughness through inclined machining, and uses a laser optical fiber to transmit laser throughout the process, increasing the coupling stability and the flexibility of the machining process, and can realize multi-angle laser-electrolytic composite machining to meet the high-efficiency machining requirements for low surface roughness of titanium alloy materials.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the present invention proposes the following technical solutions:

[0006] A laser-electrolytic hybrid machining device capable of performing an inclination angle includes a workpiece 1 connected to a motion mechanism and a laser-electrolytic coupling device 2. The motion mechanism is responsible for the movement of the workpiece 1, and the workpiece 1 is machined through the laser-electrolytic coupling device 2. The laser-electrolytic coupling device 2 is connected to a laser machining mechanism and an electrolytic machining mechanism. The laser machining mechanism couples spatial light into a laser optical fiber 5 and transmits it to the laser-electrolytic coupling device 2, and the electrolytic machining mechanism is responsible for providing the voltage and electrolyte required for machining.

[0007] The laser machining mechanism includes a laser 13. The laser emitted by the laser 13 reaches the position of a doublet focusing lens 3 after being collimated and expanded by an expander 14, and after focusing, by adjusting the position of an SMA905 connector 4, the laser is coupled into the laser optical fiber 5.

[0008] The electrolytic machining mechanism includes an electrolyte storage tank 12. The electrolyte in the electrolyte storage tank 12 reaches the laser-electrolytic coupling device 2 after passing through a first filter 11-1, a plunger pump 10, a pressure gauge 8, and a flow meter 7, and reaches the machining position of the workpiece 1 after passing through the laser-electrolytic coupling device 2. The refluxed electrolyte flows back into the electrolyte storage tank 12 through a second filter 11-2.

[0009] The motion mechanism includes a machine tool main body 16. An XYZ motion axis 15 is connected to the machine tool main body 16. The XY motion axes of the XYZ motion axis 15 are connected to the workpiece 1, and the Z motion axis is connected to the laser-electrolytic coupling device 2.

[0010] The laser-electrolytic coupling device 2 is used to couple the laser and electrolytic machining functions into a tool electrode 30, and includes a main body 26. A flow dividing device 25 is installed inside the main body 26. An upper water stop plug 23-1 is installed inside the flow dividing device 25. The top of the upper water stop plug 23-1 and the top of the flow dividing device 25 are connected to an upper water stop plug fixing member 22, and an upper cover plate 21 is connected above the upper water stop plug fixing member 22. The upper cover plate 21 is connected to the top of the main body 26; a bottom water stop plug 23-2 is installed at the lower part of the main body 26. The bottom water stop plug 23-2 is fixed to the main body 26 through a bottom water stop plug fixing member 27. The bottom water stop plug fixing member 27 fixes the tool electrode 30 through a chuck 28 and a lock nut 29; the tool electrode 30 is connected to the negative electrode of a DC power supply 6, and the positive electrode of the DC power supply 6 is connected to the workpiece 1; the laser optical fiber 5 passes through the upper water stop plug 23-1, the bottom water stop plug 23-2, and the tool electrode 30 to transmit the laser to the machining area.

[0011] The back of the main body 26 is connected to a rotary connector 31, and the rotary connector 31 is fixedly connected to the Z axis to realize the angular inclination of the laser-electrolytic coupling device 2.

[0012] The described laser optical fiber 5 includes a quartz optical fiber 52, and a protective layer 53 is provided on the outer wall of the quartz optical fiber 52.

[0013] The end of the described laser optical fiber 5 is connected to an SMA905 connector 51, and the SMA905 connector 51 is connected to an SMA905 connecting bracket 4 to adjust the position of the end face of the quartz optical fiber 52; the bottom of the quartz optical fiber 52 passes through the tool electrode 30 and is flush with the bottom of the tool electrode 30.

[0014] The described tool electrode 30 includes a stainless steel tube 301, and an insulating layer 302 is provided on the outer wall of the stainless steel tube 301.

[0015] A processing method using a laser electrolytic composite processing device capable of performing an inclination angle includes the following steps:

[0016] 1) The laser is introduced into the laser optical fiber 5 through beam expansion and collimation 14 and a doublet focusing lens 3, and is transmitted to the processing area through the laser optical fiber 5;

[0017] 2) The electrolyte is transmitted into the tool electrode 30 through the laser electrolytic coupling device 2 and is transmitted to the processing area through the tool electrode 30;

[0018] 3) The rotating connector 31 is fixed on the Z-axis. By adjusting the angle of the laser electrolytic coupling device 2 relative to the rotating connector 31 and locking the required angle by rotating the fixing screw 32, the inclination of the tool electrode 30 is achieved;

[0019] 4) Along with the movement of the workpiece 1, processing is realized on the surface of the workpiece 1.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0021] The present invention uses a flexible laser optical fiber to transmit the laser, enabling the laser electrolytic coupling device to achieve multi-angle deflection, avoiding the construction of a complex spatial optical path, and making the coupling process more stable; through the present invention, multi-angle inclined processing of laser electrolytic composite can be realized, and the spatial optical path does not need to be adjusted throughout the process, the processing stability is higher, and the inclined angle processing is beneficial to reducing the oxidation phenomenon on the surface of titanium alloy and improving the processing quality of titanium alloy. Description of the Drawings

[0022] Figure 1 It is an overall schematic diagram of the device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 It is an exploded schematic diagram of the laser electrolytic coupling device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 3 It is a sectional view of the laser electrolytic coupling device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the internal flow channel of the laser-electrolysis coupling device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the laser fiber according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the tool electrode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 7 Comparison diagram of the machining results at an inclination of 20° (left figure) and without inclination (right figure) according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed implementation manners

[0029] The present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with embodiments and drawings.

[0030] Refer to Figure 1 , a laser-electrolysis composite machining device capable of performing an inclination angle, including a workpiece 1 connected to a motion mechanism and a laser-electrolysis coupling device 2. The motion mechanism is responsible for the movement of the workpiece 1, and the workpiece 1 is machined through the laser-electrolysis coupling device 2. The laser-electrolysis coupling device 2 is connected to a laser machining mechanism and an electrolysis machining mechanism. The laser machining mechanism couples spatial light into the laser fiber 5 and transmits it to the laser-electrolysis coupling device 2, and the electrolysis machining mechanism is responsible for providing the voltage and electrolyte required for machining.

[0031] Refer to Figure 1 , the laser machining mechanism includes a laser 13. The laser emitted by the laser 13 is collimated and expanded by an expander 14, and then reaches a doublet focusing lens 3. After achromatization, it is focused. By adjusting the position of the SMA905 connector 4, the laser is coupled into the laser fiber 5.

[0032] Refer to Figure 1 , the electrolysis machining mechanism includes an electrolyte storage tank 12. The electrolyte in the electrolyte storage tank 12 reaches the laser-electrolysis coupling device 2 after passing through a first filter 11-1, a plunger pump 10, a pressure gauge 8, and a flow meter 7, and reaches the machining position of the workpiece 1 after passing through the laser-electrolysis coupling device 2. The refluxed electrolyte flows back into the electrolyte storage tank 12 through a second filter 11-2.

[0033] Refer to Figure 1 , the motion mechanism includes a machine tool main body 16. The XYZ motion axes 15 are connected to the machine tool main body 16. The XY motion axes of the XYZ motion axes 15 are connected to the workpiece 1, and the Z motion axis is connected to the laser-electrolysis coupling device 2.

[0034] Refer to Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4, the laser-electrolysis coupling device 2 is used to couple the laser and electrolysis machining functions into the tool electrode 30, and includes a main body 26. A flow splitting device 25 is installed inside the main body 26. A sealing ring 24 is used to seal between the flow splitting device 25 and the main body 26. An upper water stop plug 23-1 is installed inside the flow splitting device 25. The top of the upper water stop plug 23-1 and the top of the flow splitting device 25 are connected to an upper water stop plug fixing part 22. Above the upper water stop plug fixing part 22 is connected to a top cover plate 21. The upper water stop plug 23-1 is fixed inside the flow splitting device 25 by relying on the top water stop plug fixing part 22, and the top cover plate 21 is connected to the top of the main body 26; a bottom water stop plug 23-2 is installed at the lower part of the main body 26. The bottom water stop plug 23-2 is fixed on the main body 26 through a bottom water stop plug fixing part 27. The bottom water stop plug fixing part 27 fixes the tool electrode 30 through a chuck 28 and a lock nut 29, realizing the fixing and sealing of the tool electrode 30; the bottom water stop plug fixing part 27 fixes the tool electrode 30 through the chuck 28 and the lock nut 29; the tool electrode 30 is connected to the negative electrode of the DC power supply 6, and the positive electrode of the DC power supply 6 is connected to the workpiece 1; the laser optical fiber 5 passes through the upper water stop plug 23-1, the bottom water stop plug 23-2, and the tool electrode 30 to transmit the laser to the machining area.

[0035] The back of the main body 26 has a circular protrusion, which cooperates with the rotary connecting piece 31. The rotary connecting piece 31 is fixedly connected to the Z-axis, realizing the angular inclination of the laser-electrolysis coupling device 2, and is fixed by the rotary fixing screw 32, and can be used for inclined machining.

[0036] Refer to Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 , the laser optical fiber 5 includes a quartz optical fiber 52, and a protective layer 53 is provided on the outer wall of the quartz optical fiber 52; the end of the laser optical fiber 5 is connected to an SMA905 connector 51, and the SMA905 connector 51 is connected to the SMA905 connecting frame 4 to adjust the end face position of the quartz optical fiber 52; the laser optical fiber 5 passes through the upper water stop plug 23-1 to achieve the functions of sealing and fixing. The bottom of the quartz optical fiber 52 passes through the tool electrode 30 and is flush with the bottom of the tool electrode 30, and is used to transmit the laser to the machining area.

[0037] Refer to Figure 6 , the tool electrode 30 includes a stainless steel tube 301, and an insulating layer 302 is provided on the outer wall of the stainless steel tube 301.

[0038] The laser emitted by the laser processing mechanism in this embodiment is coupled into the laser fiber 5 and transmitted to the processing area via the laser fiber 5; the electrolyte flows into the main body 26, and after the outer part of the laser fiber 52 divides the electrolyte into multiple liquid flows, it flows into the gap between the tool electrode 30 and the optical fiber 52 and reaches the processing surface of the workpiece 1 synchronously; after the DC power supply 6 is turned on, an electric field is formed between the workpiece 1 and the tool electrode 30; as the workpiece 1 moves, the surface material of the workpiece processing area is removed under the action of the laser and electrolysis; the processing products flow back to the electrolyte storage tank 12 along with the electrolyte flow.

[0039] A processing method using a laser electrolysis composite processing device with an electrode guide includes the following steps:

[0040] 1) Connect the quartz optical fiber 52 inside the laser fiber 5 to the inside of the laser electrolysis coupling device 2, and connect the SMA905 connector 51 to the SMA905 adjustment bracket 4; connect the electrolyte circulation pipeline part, and connect the tool electrode 30 to the laser electrolysis coupling device 2, and adjust the position of the tool electrode 30 to ensure that the end face of the quartz optical fiber 52 is flush with the end face of the tool electrode 30;

[0041] Connect the tool electrode 30 to the negative pole of the DC power supply 6, connect the workpiece 1 to the positive pole of the DC power supply 6, insulate both the tool electrode 30 and the workpiece 1 from the machine tool main body 16, and lock the rotation fixing screw 32 after adjusting the inclination angle of the laser electrolysis coupling device 2;

[0042] After the laser is emitted by the laser 13, it is focused after passing through the beam expander 14 and the doublet focusing lens 3. Adjust the SMA905 connection bracket 4 to make the focus coincide with the end face of the quartz optical fiber 52, and the laser is transmitted to the processing area through the laser fiber 5;

[0043] 2) The electrolyte is transmitted to the inside of the tool electrode 30 through the laser electrolysis coupling device 2 and then transmitted to the processing area through the tool electrode 30;

[0044] 3) The rotating connector 31 is fixed on the Z-axis, and the inclination of the tool electrode 30 is realized by adjusting the angle of the laser electrolysis coupling device 2 relative to the rotating connector 31 and locking the required angle with the rotation fixing screw 32;

[0045] 4) The workpiece 1 starts to move and the processing starts until the workpiece 1 moves to the required position.

[0046] In this embodiment, the initial machining gap between the bottom end of the tool electrode 30 and the workpiece 1 is 0.05 - 0.3 mm; the voltage between the tool electrode 30 and the workpiece 1 is 15 - 60 V; the laser power of the laser 13 is 0 - 50 W; the tilt angle of the laser electrolysis coupling device 2 is ±0 - 30°; the diameter of the quartz optical fiber 52 is 0.1 - 0.6 mm; the inner diameter of the stainless steel tube 301 used for the tool electrode 30 is 0.4 - 0.7 mm, and the outer diameter is 0.9 - 1.2 mm; the electrolyte composition is selected from one or a mixture of sodium nitrate, sodium chloride, and sodium hypochlorite; the electrolyte pressure is 0.4 - 2 Mpa, independently selected from any value of 0.4 Mpa, 0.6 Mpa, 0.8 Mpa, 1 Mpa, 1.2 Mpa, 1.4 Mpa, 1.6 Mpa, 1.8 Mpa, 2 Mpa or any range value between the above two points; the electrolyte concentration is selected as 10 - 20% wt.

[0047] Refer to Figure 7 , Figure 7 are SEM images of the surface of the titanium alloy material processed under a tilt angle of 20° and without tilt in this embodiment. It can be seen that the surface roughness of the titanium alloy processed with a tilt angle is lower.

Claims

1. A laser-electrolytic hybrid machining device capable of tilting angle, characterized in that: It includes a workpiece (1) connected to a motion mechanism and a laser-electrolytic coupling device (2). The motion mechanism is responsible for the movement of the workpiece (1), and the workpiece (1) is processed through the laser-electrolytic coupling device (2). The laser-electrolytic coupling device (2) is connected to a laser processing mechanism and an electrolytic processing mechanism. The laser processing mechanism couples spatial light into a laser fiber (5) and transmits it to the laser-electrolytic coupling device (2), and the electrolytic processing mechanism is responsible for providing the voltage and electrolyte required for processing.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The described laser processing mechanism includes a laser (13). The laser emitted by the laser (13) reaches the position of a doublet focusing lens (3) after being collimated and expanded by a beam expander (14). After focusing, by adjusting the position of an SMA905 connector (4), the laser is coupled into the laser fiber (5).

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The described electrolytic processing mechanism includes an electrolyte storage tank (12). The electrolyte in the electrolyte storage tank (12) reaches the laser-electrolytic coupling device (2) after passing through a first filter (11-1), a plunger pump (10), a pressure gauge (8), and a flowmeter (7), and reaches the processing position of the workpiece (1) after passing through the laser-electrolytic coupling device (2). The refluxed electrolyte flows back into the electrolyte storage tank (12) through a second filter (11-2).

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The described motion mechanism includes a machine tool body (16). An XYZ motion axis (15) is connected to the machine tool body (16). The XY motion axes of the XYZ motion axis (15) are connected to the workpiece (1), and the Z motion axis is connected to the laser-electrolytic coupling device (2).

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The described laser-electrolytic coupling device (2) is used to couple the laser and electrolytic processing functions into a tool electrode (30), and includes a main body (26). A flow splitting device (25) is installed inside the main body (26). An upper water stop plug (23-1) is installed inside the flow splitting device (25). The top of the upper water stop plug (23-1) and the top of the flow splitting device (25) are connected to an upper water stop plug fixing piece (22). An upper cover plate (21) is connected above the upper water stop plug fixing piece (22), and the upper cover plate (21) is connected to the top of the main body (26); a bottom water stop plug (23-2) is installed at the lower part of the main body (26). The bottom water stop plug (23-2) is fixed to the main body (26) through a bottom water stop plug fixing piece (27). The bottom water stop plug fixing piece (27) fixes the tool electrode (30) through a chuck (28) and a lock nut (29); the tool electrode (30) is connected to the negative pole of a DC power supply (6), and the positive pole of the DC power supply (6) is connected to the workpiece (1); the laser fiber (5) passes through the upper water stop plug (23-1), the bottom water stop plug (23-2), and the tool electrode (30) to transmit the laser to the processing area.

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The back of the described main body (26) is connected to a rotary connector (31), and the rotary connector (31) is fixedly connected to the Z axis to realize the angular inclination of the laser-electrolytic coupling device (2).

7. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The described laser fiber (5) includes a quartz fiber (52), and a protective layer (53) is provided on the outer wall of the quartz fiber (52).

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The end of the laser optical fiber (5) is connected to an SMA905 connector (51), and the SMA905 connector (51) is connected to an SMA905 connector holder (4) to adjust the position of the end face of the quartz optical fiber (52); the bottom of the quartz optical fiber (52) passes through the tool electrode (30) and is flush with the bottom of the tool electrode (30).

9. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The tool electrode (30) includes a stainless steel tube (301), and the outer wall of the stainless steel tube (301) has an insulating layer (302).

10. A processing method using a laser-electrolytic composite machining device capable of tilting angles according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, It includes the following steps: 1) The laser is introduced into the laser optical fiber (5) after passing through beam expansion and collimation (14) and a doublet focusing lens (3), and is transmitted to the processing area through the laser optical fiber (5); 2) The electrolyte is transmitted into the tool electrode (30) through the laser electrolysis coupling device (2) and is transmitted to the processing area through the tool electrode (30); 3) The rotating connector (31) is fixed on the Z-axis. The inclination of the tool electrode (30) is achieved by adjusting the angle of the laser electrolysis coupling device (2) relative to the rotating connector (31) and locking the required angle with the rotating fixing screw (32); 4) With the movement of the workpiece (1), processing is achieved on the surface of the workpiece (1).

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