A laser quenching processing device for small special-shaped metal parts

Abstract

This invention belongs to the technical field of laser quenching equipment, specifically a laser quenching processing device for small, irregularly shaped metal parts. Addressing the problem that current laser quenching equipment cannot perform laser quenching on localized areas of the inner wall of a workpiece, the following solution is proposed: The device includes a frame comprising a main unit and side supports. A fixed top plate is mounted on the top of the side supports, and three first electric push rods are mounted on the bottom of the fixed top plate. A laser head is mounted on the bottom of the three first electric push rods. A refraction mechanism is mounted in the middle of the side supports, and a workpiece locking mechanism is provided on the top of the main unit. The refraction mechanism of this invention allows the laser to be precisely guided to all surfaces of the small, irregularly shaped metal part, especially hidden areas such as corners, grooves, and inner sides, through reflection from a mirror. This achieves comprehensive, blind-spot-free laser quenching, resulting in uniform hardness, significantly improved wear resistance, and fatigue resistance of the workpiece surface after quenching.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of laser quenching equipment technology, and in particular to a laser quenching processing equipment for small irregularly shaped metal parts. Background Technology

[0002] With the trend of modern manufacturing towards precision and miniaturization, the application of small and irregularly shaped metal parts is becoming increasingly widespread, especially in high-end fields such as aerospace, precision instruments, and electronic equipment. The requirements for the surface performance of small and irregularly shaped metal parts are constantly increasing. As an advanced metal surface heat treatment technology, laser hardening has gradually replaced traditional flame hardening, induction hardening and other processes, becoming the preferred technology for surface strengthening of small metal parts due to its advantages such as fast hardening speed, small deformation, energy saving and environmental protection, uniform hardened layer and the ability to achieve local hardening.

[0003] For example, Chinese patent document CN114438293B discloses a laser quenching device for a lead screw raceway, including a laser, a water-cooled box, a control box, a control panel, a marble bed, and a headstock, a tailstock, a cross-linear module, and a quenching head system mounted on the marble bed. The headstock and tailstock hold the workpiece to be tested. The headstock is equipped with a dial and a fork, and the dial drives the fork to rotate the lead screw. The cross-linear module can drive the quenching headstock to translate in two directions. The quenching head system is equipped with a rotary motor that can drive its laser quenching head to rotate. The above-disclosed technology has the following problems: When performing laser quenching on a workpiece, due to the complexity of the workpiece structure, such as the inner wall of an internal hole or a corner structure, it is difficult for the laser beam to directly irradiate the location inside the hole. Existing technologies do not easily solve this problem. Therefore, there is an urgent need for laser quenching processing equipment for small irregularly shaped metal parts to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the technical problem that current laser hardening equipment cannot perform laser hardening on localized areas of the inner wall of a workpiece, this invention proposes a laser hardening processing device for small irregularly shaped metal parts.

[0005] The present invention proposes a laser quenching processing equipment for small irregularly shaped metal parts, comprising an equipment frame, the equipment frame including a main unit and a side support, a fixed top plate installed at the top of the side support, three first electric push rods installed at the bottom of the fixed top plate, a laser head installed at the bottom of the three first electric push rods, a refraction mechanism installed in the middle of the side support, and a workpiece locking mechanism provided at the top of the main unit.

[0006] Preferably, the refraction mechanism includes a swing arm connecting seat mounted on the side wall of the side bracket, a swing arm mounted on the swing arm connecting seat, a vertically arranged second electric push rod fixed to the bottom of the swing arm, and a refraction box fixed to the bottom of the second electric push rod.

[0007] Preferably, the top of the refraction box has a cavity, and a first refraction structure and a second refraction structure are respectively provided at both ends of the top cavity of the refraction box. The first refraction structure is installed by a pushing component, which includes a third electric push rod fixed inside the refraction box.

[0008] Preferably, the first refractive structure includes a first refractive stage, a slider is mounted on the side wall of the first refractive stage, and the slider is fixed to one end of the third electric push rod.

[0009] Preferably, the second refraction structure includes a second refraction stage, a fixing block is installed on the side wall of the second refraction stage, the bottom of the fixing block is fixed to the refraction box, the first and second refraction stages are both deflected by servo motors, the servo motors are respectively installed inside the slider and the fixing block, and the top of the first and second refraction stages are provided with reflective mirrors.

[0010] Preferably, the workpiece locking mechanism includes workpiece locking columns mounted on a main unit array. The top of the main unit has a workpiece locking column groove, and the workpiece locking column is slidably fitted into the workpiece locking column groove. The bottom of the workpiece locking column groove has an air guide channel.

[0011] Preferably, the top of the main unit is provided with a locking plate groove, and a locking plate is slidably installed in the locking plate groove. A fourth electric push rod is fixed on the side wall of the locking plate groove of the main unit, and one end of the fourth electric push rod is fixed to the locking plate to push the locking plate to move.

[0012] Preferably, a locking assembly is provided between the locking plate and the workpiece locking post; Locking assembly: includes a locking plate arc groove on the locking plate and a workpiece locking post friction part on the workpiece locking post. The locking plate arc groove and the workpiece locking post friction part on the workpiece locking post make extrusion contact to lock the workpiece locking post.

[0013] Preferably, the workpiece locking post has a hollow internal structure, and vertically arrayed rubber airbags are arranged around the circumference of the workpiece locking post.

[0014] Preferably, the air guide channels are interconnected, and the top of the air guide channel is interconnected with the hollow structure inside the workpiece locking post.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: 1. This laser quenching equipment for small, irregularly shaped metal parts achieves precise adjustment of the laser irradiation angle and propagation path through a refraction mechanism. This effectively eliminates the quenching blind spots for small, irregularly shaped metal parts and solves the problems of inconvenient laser irradiation angle adjustment and uneven quenching in existing equipment. The flexible deflection of the first and second refraction stages of the refraction mechanism, along with multi-dimensional adjustment, allows the laser to be precisely guided to all surfaces of the small, irregularly shaped metal parts through reflection from the mirrors, especially hidden areas such as corners, grooves, and inner sides. This achieves comprehensive, blind-spot-free laser quenching. The mirrors use high-reflectivity optical lenses to reduce laser energy loss, ensure quenching effect, and significantly improve quenching quality. This results in uniform surface hardness, significantly improved wear resistance and fatigue resistance of the workpiece, meeting the surface performance requirements of small, irregularly shaped metal parts in high-end applications.

[0016] 2. This laser hardening equipment for small irregularly shaped metal parts achieves precise positioning and stable clamping of small irregularly shaped metal parts through an optimized workpiece locking mechanism. The workpiece locking mechanism adopts an array of sliding workpiece locking columns, which can flexibly adjust the distance between adjacent locking columns according to the size and shape of the workpiece, adapting to small irregularly shaped metal parts of different specifications. The workpiece locking columns are equipped with a hollow structure and rubber air bladders. By inflating the rubber air bladders, flexible clamping of the workpiece is achieved, avoiding workpiece deformation and surface damage caused by rigid clamping. At the same time, the rubber air bladders can fit tightly against the irregular surface, ensuring clamping stability. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a laser quenching processing equipment for small irregularly shaped metal parts proposed in this invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the refraction mechanism structure of a laser quenching processing equipment for small irregularly shaped metal parts proposed in this invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the refractive box structure of a laser quenching processing equipment for small irregularly shaped metal parts proposed in this invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the workpiece locking mechanism of a laser hardening processing equipment for small irregularly shaped metal parts proposed in this invention; Figure 5 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the workpiece locking post of a laser hardening processing equipment for small irregularly shaped metal parts proposed in this invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the refraction mechanism of a laser hardening processing equipment for small irregularly shaped metal parts proposed in this invention. Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the locking plate structure of a laser quenching processing equipment for small irregularly shaped metal parts proposed in this invention.

[0018] In the picture: 100. Equipment frame; 101. Main unit; 102. Side support; 103. Fixed top plate; 104. First electric push rod; 105. Laser head; 200. Refraction mechanism; 201. Swing arm connecting seat; 202. Swing arm; 203. Second electric push rod; 204. Refraction box; 205. Third electric push rod; 206. Slider; 207. First refraction stage; 208. Second refraction stage; 209. Fixing block; 300. Workpiece locking mechanism; 301. Workpiece locking pin; 302. Fourth electric push rod; 303. Workpiece locking pin slide groove; 304. Locking plate slide groove; 305. Locking plate; 306. Rubber airbag; 307. Air blasting groove; 308. Locking assembly; 308a. Locking plate arc groove; 308b. Workpiece locking pin friction part; 309. Air guide cavity. Detailed Implementation

[0019] Reference Figure 1 A laser quenching processing equipment for small irregularly shaped metal parts includes an equipment frame 100. The equipment frame 100 serves as the installation foundation for the entire equipment, providing stable support for each component, ensuring structural stability during processing, and preventing the quenching accuracy from being affected by equipment vibration. The equipment frame 100 includes a main platform 101 and a side support 102. A fixed top plate 103 is installed at the top of the side support 102. The side support 102 is vertically fixed to one side edge of the main platform 101. The side support 102 and the main platform 101 are fixed by welding. The weld is reinforced with a reinforcing plate to ensure connection strength and prevent loosening during long-term use.

[0020] Reference Figure 1 Three first electric push rods 104 are installed at the bottom of the fixed top plate 103, and laser heads 105 are installed at the bottom of the three first electric push rods 104. The three first electric push rods 104 are evenly distributed in a ring at the bottom of the fixed top plate 103. The top of each of the three first electric push rods 104 is fixedly connected to the fixed top plate 103 through a flange, and the laser head 105 is installed at the bottom. The top and bottom of the three first electric push rods 104 are hinged. The three first electric push rods 104 move synchronously, which can drive the laser head 105 to move up and down, thereby adjusting the distance between the laser head 105 and the workpiece. This adapts to the processing needs of small irregular metal parts of different sizes, while ensuring the stability of the laser head 105's lifting and lowering, avoiding the laser head 105 tilting and causing laser irradiation deviation, and also realizing the adjustment of the deflection angle of the laser head 105.

[0021] The laser head 105 contains a laser generator and a spot shaping mechanism. The laser generator is a fiber laser with an adjustable output power range of 500W-2000W, which can flexibly adjust the laser power according to the material of the workpiece and the quenching requirements. Fiber lasers have the advantages of small size, high efficiency, good stability, and high laser beam quality, making them suitable for installation and use in small equipment. The spot shaping mechanism includes a convex lens group and an aperture. The convex lens group is used to focus and shape the laser beam, transforming a circular laser beam into a rectangular spot. The spot energy is changed from a near-Gaussian distribution to a flat-top distribution, ensuring uniform laser energy distribution and avoiding uneven quenching layer caused by excessively high energy at the center and insufficient energy at the edges. The aperture is used to adjust the spot size, which can be adjusted between 0.5mm and 5mm to meet the processing needs of small, irregularly shaped metal parts of different sizes.

[0022] Reference Figure 1 A refraction mechanism 200 is installed in the middle of the side support 102, and a workpiece locking mechanism 300 is provided on the top of the main unit 101.

[0023] Reference Figures 1-3 , Figure 6 Furthermore, the refraction mechanism 200 includes a swing arm connecting seat 201 mounted on the side wall of the side bracket 102. A swing arm 202 is mounted on the swing arm connecting seat 201. A vertically arranged second electric push rod 203 is fixed to the bottom of the swing arm 202. A refraction box 204 is fixed to the bottom of the second electric push rod 203. The second electric push rod 203 can drive the refraction box 204 to move up and down, adjusting the height of the refraction box 204 so that it can adapt to workpieces of different heights and laser irradiation requirements at different positions. This ensures that the laser can be accurately guided to the surface of the workpiece requiring laser quenching through the refraction mechanism 200. The laser path for laser quenching is referenced... Figure 6 The diagram is shown in the image.

[0024] Reference Figures 1-3 Furthermore, the top of the refraction box 204 has a cavity with a rectangular structure for installing the first refraction structure and the second refraction structure. The first refraction structure and the second refraction structure are respectively located at both ends of the top cavity of the refraction box 204. The first refraction structure is installed by a pushing component, which includes a third electric push rod 205 fixed inside the refraction box 204. This push component is used to move the first refraction structure horizontally within the cavity, adjusting the distance between the first and second refraction structures, thereby adjusting the refraction angle and propagation path of the laser to adapt to the surface quenching requirements of workpieces with different shapes and positions. The first and second refraction structures are symmetrically distributed at both ends of the cavity to ensure that the laser can be reflected by the first and second refraction structures in sequence, achieving precise adjustment of the propagation direction.

[0025] Reference Figures 1-3 Furthermore, the first refractive structure includes a first refractive stage 207, with a slider 206 mounted on its side wall. The slider 206 is fixed to one end of a third electric push rod 205. The second refractive structure includes a second refractive stage 208, with a fixing block 209 mounted on its side wall. The bottom of the fixing block 209 is fixed to the refractive housing 204. Both the first and second refractive stages 207 and 208 are deflected by servo motors. The servo motors are respectively installed inside the slider 206 and the fixing block 209. The output shafts of the servo motors are connected to the first and second refractive stages 207 and 208, respectively. The servo motor is fixedly connected to the first and second refractive mirror stages 207 and 208, which can flexibly deflect around the output shaft with a deflection angle range of 0-90°. This allows for adjustment of the angle of the reflective mirrors, enabling multi-angle adjustment of the laser propagation direction. This design can precisely adapt to the complex curved surfaces and hidden parts of small, irregularly shaped metal parts, eliminating quenching blind spots. The tops of both the first and second refractive mirror stages 207 and 208 are equipped with reflective mirrors. These mirrors use high-reflectivity optical lenses with a reflectivity of no less than 98%, ensuring laser reflection efficiency and reducing laser energy loss. At the same time, the surface of the reflective mirrors is treated with anti-scratch and anti-oxidation measures to extend their service life.

[0026] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 7 Furthermore, the workpiece locking mechanism 300 includes workpiece locking pins 301 arrayed on the main unit 101. The purpose of the workpiece locking pins 301 is to quickly fix the workpiece and prevent it from tilting or shifting, thereby improving the workpiece clamping stability.

[0027] Reference Figure 7 The top of the main unit 101 is provided with a workpiece locking column slide groove 303. The workpiece locking column 301 is slidably sleeved in the workpiece locking column slide groove 303. The workpiece locking column slide groove 303 has a long strip structure, which matches the number of workpiece locking columns 301. The workpiece locking column 301 can slide flexibly along the workpiece locking column slide groove 303, adapting to small irregular metal parts of different sizes and shapes, and improving the versatility of the equipment.

[0028] according to Figure 7 The bottom of the workpiece locking column slide groove 303 is provided with an air guide channel 309, which has a mesh structure and runs through the bottom of the entire main unit 101 to provide a gas channel for the workpiece locking column 301 to be inflated.

[0029] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 4 , Figure 7Furthermore, a locking plate groove 304 is provided on the top of the main unit 101, and a locking plate 305 is slidably installed in the locking plate groove 304. A fourth electric push rod 302 is fixed on the side wall of the locking plate groove 304 on the main unit 101, and one end of the fourth electric push rod 302 is fixed to the locking plate 305. It is used to push the locking plate 305 to move. The movement of the locking plate 305 realizes the locking and unlocking of the workpiece locking column 301, ensuring that the workpiece locking column 301 can remain stable and not slip when clamping the workpiece.

[0030] Reference Figure 7 Furthermore, a locking assembly 308 is provided between the locking plate 305 and the workpiece locking post 301. The locking assembly 308 includes a locking plate arc groove 308a provided on the locking plate 305 and a workpiece locking post friction part 308b provided on the workpiece locking post 301. The locking plate arc groove 308a and the workpiece locking post friction part 308b on the workpiece locking post 301 are pressed into contact to lock the workpiece locking post 301. The workpiece locking post friction part 308b adopts an anti-slip texture structure.

[0031] Reference Figure 5 , Figure 7 Furthermore, the workpiece locking post 301 has a hollow internal structure, and vertically arrayed rubber airbags 306 are arranged around the circumference of the workpiece locking post 301. When air is inflated into the hollow structure of the workpiece locking post 301, the rubber airbags 306 will expand and fit tightly against the surface of the small irregular metal part, thereby achieving flexible clamping of the workpiece and avoiding damage to the workpiece caused by rigid clamping. At the same time, it can adapt to irregular surfaces of different shapes, ensuring the stability and fit of clamping.

[0032] Reference Figure 5 , Figure 7 Furthermore, the air guide channels 309 are interconnected, and the top of the air guide channel 309 is connected to the hollow structure inside the workpiece locking post 301. One end of the air guide channel 309 is connected to an air pump for filling and releasing air inside the air guide channel 309.

[0033] When using this invention: After the equipment is started, the laser-quenched workpiece is first fixed. The operator turns on the air pump, at which time the fourth electric push rod 302 is in the retracted state. The air pump inflates the air guide cavity 309 at the bottom, causing all the workpiece locking pins 301 at the top to rise. The operator places the workpiece to be processed on the top of the workpiece locking pins 301 and applies downward pressure to press the workpiece down. The workpiece locking pins 301 at the bottom of the workpiece are compressed and retracted into the workpiece locking pin slide groove 303. Then, the fourth electric push rod 302 is extended, and the locking plate 305 fixes the position of all the workpiece locking pins 301. The workpiece is locked inside the multiple workpiece locking pins 301. Subsequently, the air pump increases the inflation pressure, causing the rubber air bladders 306 at the circumference of the workpiece locking pins 301 to bulge and expand, contacting and squeezing the surface of the workpiece to clamp and fix the workpiece. This avoids both loosening and displacement of the workpiece and prevents deformation or surface damage caused by rigid clamping. Laser quenching operation: The fiber laser inside the laser head 105 is activated, outputting a laser beam with a preset power. The laser beam is first processed by the spot shaping mechanism. According to the quenching requirements of the workpiece, the spot size is adjusted to ensure uniform laser energy distribution and avoid uneven quenching layer depth. For the flat front part of the workpiece, the three first electric push rods 104 move synchronously to adjust the lifting height and angle of the laser head 105, maintaining a preset distance between the laser head 105 and the workpiece surface. The laser beam directly irradiates the workpiece surface to achieve frontal quenching. For the corners, grooves, inner sides, and other hidden parts of the workpiece, the refraction mechanism 200 is activated to achieve precise guidance of the laser beam. The first electric push rod 202 rotates around the swing arm connecting seat 201 to adjust the horizontal position of the refraction box 204; the second electric push rod 203 drives the refraction box 204 to move up and down to adjust the refraction height; the third electric push rod 205 pushes the first refraction stage 207 to move horizontally to adjust the distance between the first refraction stage 207 and the second refraction stage 208; the servo motors inside the slider 206 and the fixed block 209 respectively drive the first refraction stage 207 and the second refraction stage 208 to deflect, adjusting the angle of the reflecting mirror, so that the laser beam is accurately guided to the hidden part of the workpiece after being reflected by the two reflecting mirrors in sequence, eliminating the blind zone of laser quenching.

[0034] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention, based on the technical solution and inventive concept of the present invention, should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A laser quenching apparatus for small profiled metal pieces, comprising an apparatus frame (100), characterized in that, Equipment frame (100): includes main unit (101) and side support (102). A fixed top plate (103) is installed at the top of the side support (102). Three first electric push rods (104) are installed at the bottom of the fixed top plate (103). A laser head (105) is installed at the bottom of the three first electric push rods (104). A refraction mechanism (200) is installed in the middle of the side support (102). A workpiece locking mechanism (300) is provided at the top of the main unit (101). Refraction mechanism (200): includes a swing arm connecting seat (201) mounted on the side wall of a side bracket (102), a swing arm (202) mounted on the swing arm connecting seat (201), a vertically arranged second electric push rod (203) fixed at the bottom of the swing arm (202), a refraction box (204) fixed at the bottom of the second electric push rod (203), a cavity opened at the top of the refraction box (204), and a first refraction structure and a second refraction structure respectively provided at both ends of the top cavity of the refraction box (204). The first refraction structure is installed by a pushing component, which includes a third electric push rod (205) fixed inside the refraction box (204). The first refraction structure includes a first refraction stage ( 207), the first refractive stage (207), a slider (206) is installed on the side wall of the first refractive stage (207), and the slider (206) is fixed to one end of the third electric push rod (205). The second refractive structure includes a second refractive stage (208), a fixing block (209) is installed on the side wall of the second refractive stage (208), and the bottom of the fixing block (209) is fixed to the refractive box (204). The first refractive stage (207) and the second refractive stage (208) are both deflected by a servo motor. The servo motor is installed inside the slider (206) and the fixing block (209) respectively. The top of the first refractive stage (207) and the second refractive stage (208) are both provided with a reflective mirror surface.

2. The laser hardening equipment for small irregularly shaped metal parts according to claim 1, characterized in that, Workpiece locking mechanism (300): includes workpiece locking pins (301) mounted on a main unit (101) array. The top of the main unit (101) is provided with a workpiece locking pin groove (303). The workpiece locking pins (301) are slidably sleeved in the workpiece locking pin groove (303). The bottom of the workpiece locking pin groove (303) is provided with an air guide cavity (309).

3. The laser hardening equipment for small irregularly shaped metal parts according to claim 2, characterized in that, The top of the main unit (101) is provided with a locking plate groove (304), and a locking plate (305) is slidably installed in the locking plate groove (304). A fourth electric push rod (302) is fixed on the side wall of the locking plate groove (304) of the main unit (101), and one end of the fourth electric push rod (302) is fixed to the locking plate (305) for pushing the locking plate (305) to move.

4. The laser hardening equipment for small irregularly shaped metal parts according to claim 3, characterized in that, A locking assembly (308) is provided between the locking plate (305) and the workpiece locking post (301). Locking assembly (308): includes a locking plate arc groove (308a) provided on the locking plate (305) and a workpiece locking post friction part (308b) provided on the workpiece locking post (301). The locking plate arc groove (308a) and the workpiece locking post friction part (308b) on the workpiece locking post (301) are pressed into contact to lock the workpiece locking post (301).

5. The laser quenching equipment for small irregularly shaped metal parts according to claim 2, characterized in that, The workpiece locking post (301) has a hollow structure inside, and the workpiece locking post (301) is provided with vertically arrayed rubber airbags (306) at the circumference.

6. The laser hardening equipment for small irregularly shaped metal parts according to claim 5, characterized in that, The air guide channels (309) are interconnected, and the top of the air guide channel (309) is interconnected with the hollow structure inside the workpiece locking post (301).

Images