Fiber laser
By introducing a measuring laser generation device in the fiber laser to generate and couple low-power measuring lasers, the problem that existing fiber lasers cannot output low-power lasers is solved, and the automated testing of 3D printing equipment is realized, and the laser is ensured. Homology characteristics.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202421249816.3
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-06-03
- Publication Date
- 2025-02-14
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-06-03
AI Technical Summary
Existing fiber lasers cannot output low-power lasers in 3D printing equipment, resulting in the inability to implement automated testing, and guiding the difference in wavelength between red light and laser leads to chromatic aberration problems.
A fiber laser including a tuning laser generation device is designed, which generates a low-power tuning laser, and is coupled to the exit light path of the first pump source to achieve low-power tuning light output and independently control.
It realizes the operation at extremely low light output power during the 3D printing equipment debugging stage, and can perform galvanomic scanning coordinate accuracy test, galvanomic splicing accuracy test, dynamic scanning performance test, etc., and the laser has homologous characteristics when tuning laser and processing. .
Smart Images
Figure CN222483962U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The utility model belongs to the field of 3D printing and relates to a fiber laser. Background Art
[0002] Fiber lasers, as the core component of SLM technology in the metal 3D printing industry, play a decisive role in the forming effect of parts. SLM technology is a technical route based on the laser galvanometer scanning system. Since the SLM forming process has high requirements on the accuracy of the galvanometer system, the galvanometer needs to be calibrated before each part forming. The fiber lasers used for forming often require hundreds of watts or even thousands of watts. Even with the minimum stable power output, the focal power density transmitted to the working plane will be too large. Position sensors such as PSD cannot withstand such high power and thus cannot be measured automatically. On the other hand, although existing lasers usually include a guide red light, due to the difference in red light and laser wavelength, there is color difference after passing through the optical system. Therefore, the guide red light cannot represent the characteristics of the laser. Utility Model Content
[0003] In order to solve the above technical problems existing in the background technology, the utility model provides a fiber laser which is convenient for debugging 3D printing equipment.
[0004] In order to achieve the above purpose, the utility model adopts the following technical solutions:
[0005] A fiber laser comprises a first pump source, a fully reflective fiber grating, a gain fiber and a semi-reflective fiber grating, wherein the fully reflective fiber grating, the gain fiber and the semi-reflective fiber grating are arranged in sequence from front to back on the output light path of the first pump source; the characteristic is that the fiber laser also comprises a tuning laser generating device, the tuning laser generating device generates a tuning laser, and the tuning laser is coupled to the output light path of the first pump source.
[0006] The output power of the above-mentioned adjustment laser generating device is not equivalent to the output power of the first pump source.
[0007] The output power of the above-mentioned adjustment laser generating device is significantly lower than the output power of the first pump source.
[0008] The above-mentioned laser generating device for adjusting and testing is a front-end structure or a rear-end structure.
[0009] When the above-mentioned debugging laser generating device is a front-end structure, the debugging laser generating device includes a second pump source; the second pump source generates the debugging laser; and the second pump source is coupled with the first pump source.
[0010] When the above-mentioned tuning laser generating device is a post-mounted structure, the tuning laser generating device includes a tuning laser generator and a beam combining device; the fully reflective fiber grating, the gain fiber, the semi-reflective fiber grating and the beam combining device are arranged in sequence from front to back on the output light path of the first pump source; the tuning laser generator generates a tuning laser, and the tuning laser is coupled to the light path after passing through the semi-reflective fiber grating through the beam combining device.
[0011] The wavelength of the above-mentioned adjustment laser is the same as the wavelength of the laser emitted by the first pump source.
[0012] The above-mentioned debugging laser generator is a photodiode or a laser.
[0013] The above-mentioned light beam combining device is a beam combining mirror or a coupler.
[0014] The advantages of the utility model are:
[0015] The utility model provides a fiber laser, which is the same as the prior art in that it includes a first pump source, a fully reflective fiber grating, a gain fiber and a semi-reflective fiber grating, wherein the fully reflective fiber grating, the gain fiber and the semi-reflective fiber grating are sequentially arranged on the output optical path of the first pump source from front to back; different from the prior art, the fiber laser provided by the utility model also includes a test laser generating device, which generates a test laser, and the test laser is coupled to the output optical path of the first pump source. The utility model aims at the scenario where conventional fiber lasers cannot output low-power lasers for automated testing, and proposes a test laser coupled in the optical path of the existing fiber laser. The output power of the test laser is less than the output power of the first pump source, so that low-power light can be emitted and controlled independently, so that the fiber laser provided by the utility model can operate at an extremely low light output power during the test stage of the 3D printing equipment, and the low-power laser output for testing has the same source characteristics as the high-power laser during processing, and has the same spatial characteristics. The 3D printing equipment can be used to perform galvanometer scanning coordinate accuracy test, galvanometer splicing accuracy test, dynamic scanning performance test, switch laser and galvanometer coordination test, galvanometer mark and jump characteristic test, etc. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of the fiber laser (embodiment 1) provided by the utility model;
[0017] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of the optical fiber laser (Example 2) provided by the utility model;
[0018] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of the fiber laser (Example 3) provided by the utility model;
[0019] in:
[0020] 1-seed source; 2-pump source; 3-first coupler; 4-fully reflective fiber grating; 5-gain fiber; 6-semi-reflective fiber grating; 7-second pump source; 8-beam combiner; 9-second coupler; 10-photodiode. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The utility model provides a fiber laser, which is the same as a conventional fiber laser in that it includes a first pump source, a fully reflective fiber grating, a gain fiber and a semi-reflective fiber grating, and the fully reflective fiber grating, the gain fiber and the semi-reflective fiber grating are arranged in sequence from front to back on the output optical path of the first pump source; as the biggest feature of the utility model, different from the conventional fiber laser, the fiber laser provided by the utility model also includes a test laser generating device, the test laser generating device generates a test laser, and the test laser is coupled to the output optical path of the first pump source. In a conventional fiber laser, the first coupler 3 and the seed source 1 at its front end and the pump source 2 constitute the excitation source of the three elements of the laser, providing energy for the generation of the laser. The seed source 1 provides an initial laser signal to induce the generation of stimulated radiation. In some systems, the pump source 2 may also include the seed source 1. The resonant cavity is usually composed of a group of optical components with reflective characteristics and semi-reflective and semi-transmissive characteristics. In the fiber laser, it is generally played by a pair of fiber gratings (including a fully reflective fiber grating 4 and a semi-reflective fiber grating 6). In the middle of the resonant cavity is the working material of the laser. The working material of this laser is an optical fiber doped with rare earth ions, that is, a gain fiber 5. These three main components and the remaining control system, cooling system and packaging constitute this laser.
[0022] The output power of the debugging laser generating device is not equivalent to the output power of the first pump source. Exemplarily, the output power of the debugging laser generating device is significantly lower than the output power of the first pump source.
[0023] The laser generator provided by the utility model is a front-mounted structure or a rear-mounted structure, and its forms are respectively as follows: Figure 1 , Figure 2 as well as Figure 3 shown.
[0024] Example 1
[0025] See also Figure 1 When the debugging laser generating device is a front-end structure, the debugging laser generating device includes a second pump source; the second pump source generates the debugging laser; and the second pump source is coupled with the first pump source.
[0026] The three elements of a laser include a first pump source, a resonant cavity, and a working substance. Compared with conventional fiber lasers, the utility model proposes to add a second low-power pump source 7 outside the existing pump source or pump source array. The second pump source 7 has the same light emission characteristics as the large pump source, but has a small power resolution. The large and small pump sources are coupled to the same resonant cavity through the first coupler 3. When working, the second pump source 7 is turned off, and the large pump source array works normally to complete the generation and emission of the working laser; when the system is adjusted, the large pump source array is turned off, and the second pump source 7 is turned on at low power to complete the generation and emission of the adjustment laser. Since the two reuse the same resonant cavity and working substance, the generated laser is homologous and has the same properties, such as wavelength, polarization state, spatial size, transmission direction, etc. The lasers generated in the two states differ only in output power. Therefore, in the back-end scanning characteristics, the low-power adjustment laser can fully represent the state of the high-power working laser. The control system of the laser has two independent control systems for the pump source, which are controlled and switched separately when used. Since the fiber laser will have power attenuation after long-term use, the second pump source 7 can also be used for compensation when making power corrections later. The laser generated by the additional second pump source 7 has the same source characteristics as the working laser, and the same spatial characteristics, and can be used for various measurements of the laser scanning system, such as galvanometer system calibration, splicing calibration, scanning path measurement, process parameter marking verification, switch light measurement, etc. The additional second pump source 7 can not only serve as a test laser, but also can be used for compensation when the laser has long-term attenuation. The test laser generating device adopted by the utility model is to add a low-power second pump source 7 inside the existing fiber laser, with an independent control unit, which can be switched with the original pump source module and enter the main system through optical coupling without affecting the original system characteristics. At the same time, the laser generated by the additional pump source has extremely low power, which can meet the needs of various automated tests.
[0027] Example 2
[0028] See also Figure 2, the test laser generator is a post-type structure I, the test laser generator includes a test laser generator and a beam combiner 8; the fully reflective fiber grating 4, the gain fiber 5, the semi-reflective fiber grating 6 and the beam combiner 8 are arranged in sequence from front to back on the output optical path of the first pump source; the test laser generator generates a test laser, and the test laser is coupled to the optical path after the semi-reflective fiber grating through the beam combiner 8; the wavelength of the test laser is the same as the wavelength of the laser emitted by the first pump source. Exemplarily, the test laser generator is a photodiode 10 or a low-power laser. In short, the post-type test laser generator is a branch laser coupled to the rear end of the main laser generation. This branch laser uses a photodiode or other low-power laser, and is coupled to the main optical path by adding a beam combiner. When the beam combiner is used, the branch laser is mostly consistent with the wavelength of the main laser. Although it is not the same source as the main optical path, it can be coaxially output with the main optical path in space.
[0029] Example 3
[0030] See also Figure 3 , the adjustment laser generating device is a post-type structure II, and the structure of the post-type structure II is basically the same as that of the post-type structure I, except that the adjustment laser generating device includes an adjustment laser generator and a second coupler 9; the fully reflective fiber grating, the gain fiber, the semi-reflective fiber grating and the second coupler 9 are arranged in sequence from front to back on the output optical path of the first pump source; the adjustment laser generator adjusts the adjustment laser, and the adjustment laser is coupled to the optical path after the semi-reflective fiber grating through the second coupler 9; the wavelength of the adjustment laser is the same as the wavelength of the laser emitted by the first pump source. Exemplarily, the adjustment laser generator is a photodiode 10 or a laser. In short, the post-type adjustment laser generating device is to couple a branch laser into the rear end of the main laser generation, and can also be coupled to the main optical path by a coupler. When the coupler is used, the branch laser is mostly consistent with the wavelength of the main laser, and the branch laser has the same spatial position output compared with the main optical path.
[0031] Of course, the utility model provides a method of coupling the adjustment laser into the output light path of the first pump source by adding or coupling, thereby forming a solution for adjustment of 3D printing equipment, calibration of the galvanometer system, and process parameter marking verification, which is not only applicable to fiber laser systems, but also to other types of lasers.
Claims
1. A fiber laser, comprising a first pump source, a fully reflective fiber grating, a gain fiber and a semi-reflective fiber grating, wherein the fully reflective fiber grating, the gain fiber and the semi-reflective fiber grating are arranged in sequence from front to back on the output light path of the first pump source; characterized in that: The optical fiber laser further comprises a test laser generating device, wherein the test laser generating device generates a test laser, and the test laser is coupled to an output optical path of the first pump source.
2. The fiber laser according to claim 1, characterized in that: The output power of the adjustment laser generating device is not equivalent to the output power of the first pump source.
3. The fiber laser according to claim 2, characterized in that: The output power of the debugging laser generating device is significantly lower than the output power of the first pump source.
4. The optical fiber laser according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that: The adjustment and testing laser generating device is a front-mounted structure or a rear-mounted structure.
5. The optical fiber laser according to claim 4, characterized in that: When the debugging laser generating device is a front-end structure, the debugging laser generating device includes a second pump source; the second pump source generates the debugging laser; and the second pump source is coupled to the first pump source.
6. The optical fiber laser according to claim 4, characterized in that: When the test laser generating device is a post-mounted structure, the test laser generating device comprises a test laser generator and a beam combining device; the fully reflective fiber grating, the gain fiber, the semi-reflective fiber grating and the beam combining device are arranged in sequence from front to back on the output optical path of the first pump source; the test laser generator generates the test laser, and the test laser is coupled to the optical path after the semi-reflective fiber grating through the beam combining device.
7. The optical fiber laser according to claim 6, characterized in that: The wavelength of the debugging laser is the same as the wavelength of the laser emitted by the first pump source.
8. The optical fiber laser according to claim 7, characterized in that: The debugging laser generator is a photodiode or a laser.
9. The optical fiber laser according to claim 8, characterized in that: The light beam combining device is a beam combining mirror or a coupler.