An optical module and a laser cladding head

Abstract

This application provides an optical module and a laser cladding head, relating to the field of welding technology. The optical module includes: a ring beam mirror group arranged sequentially along the laser transmission path for receiving laser light input from a laser input port and generating a ring laser beam; a split-beam reflector group having two split-beam reflecting surfaces that reflect and change the direction of the incident ring laser beam, splitting it into two sub-beams with a radial clearance gap between them; and a beam combining reflector group having two beam combining reflecting surfaces that reflect and change the direction of the two sub-beams, recombining them to form a ring-shaped combined laser beam; a wire feed tube is disposed through the beam combining reflector group and located within the radial clearance gap. This application simplifies the optical system, reduces energy loss during laser transmission, and improves welding performance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of welding technology, and in particular to an optical module and a laser cladding head. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, most laser cladding technologies rely on wire feeding mechanisms, which are predominantly coaxial. However, the overall size and complexity of the optical system in these mechanisms are excessive, leading to a series of challenges in practical design and use, including installation and precision issues. These challenges affect the laser energy delivered through the optical path, resulting in significant energy loss and severely limiting their application scenarios. Utility Model Content

[0003] In view of this, the purpose of this application is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide an optical module and laser cladding head that can simplify the optical system, reduce energy loss during laser transmission, and improve the welding effect.

[0004] This application provides the following technical solution:

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide an optical module, the optical module comprising a laser input port, a ring beam mirror group, a beam splitter mirror group, and a beam combiner mirror group arranged sequentially along the laser transmission path;

[0006] The ring beam mirror group is used to receive the laser input from the laser input port and generate a ring laser beam;

[0007] The split-beam reflector group has two split-beam reflecting surfaces arranged opposite to each other and intersecting each other. The two split-beam reflecting surfaces are symmetrically arranged about the splitting plane. The two split-beam reflecting surfaces of the split-beam reflector group reflect and change the direction of the incident ring laser beam and split the ring laser beam into two sub-beams. A radial clearance gap is formed between the two sub-beams.

[0008] The beam combining mirror assembly also has two beam combining reflective surfaces that face each other and intersect. The two beam combining reflective surfaces are symmetrically arranged about the split plane. The two beam combining reflective surfaces of the beam combining mirror assembly reflect and change the direction of the two sub-beams and re-combine the two sub-beams to form a ring-shaped combined laser beam. A wire feeding tube is disposed through the beam combining mirror assembly. The axis of the wire feeding tube is located in the split plane and the wire feeding tube is located in the radial clearance gap. The combined laser beam is coaxially distributed with the wire feeding tube.

[0009] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the annular beam mirror group comprises components arranged sequentially along the laser transmission path:

[0010] A collimating lens, used to collimate an input laser beam into a collimated beam;

[0011] A first pyramidal mirror and a second pyramidal mirror are arranged with their cone angles opposite each other, and the first and second pyramidal mirrors are arranged sequentially along the laser transmission path.

[0012] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the apex angle of the first pyramidal mirror is A1, and satisfies: 18°≤A1≤22°, and the conical surface of the first pyramidal mirror is provided with an anti-reflective coating.

[0013] The apex angle of the second prism mirror is A2, and satisfies: 18°≤A2≤22°. The cone surface of the second prism mirror is provided with an anti-reflective coating.

[0014] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the optical module further includes a focusing optical lens group disposed in the laser transmission path.

[0015] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the focusing optical lens group is located between the split-beam reflector group and the combining-beam reflector group.

[0016] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the focusing optical lens group is located before the split-beam reflector group or after the combining-beam reflector group along the laser transmission path.

[0017] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the light-reflecting surface that splits the light and the light-reflecting surface that combine the light are arranged in parallel on the same side of the splitting plane.

[0018] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the light-combining reflector group includes a first light-combining reflector and a second light-combining reflector, wherein one of the light-combining reflective surfaces is disposed on the first light-combining reflector and the other light-combining reflective surface is disposed on the second light-combining reflector, and the wire feeding tube is disposed between the first light-combining reflector and the second light-combining reflector.

[0019] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the optical module further includes a protective optical mirror group located after the laser transmission path, along the laser transmission path, the protective optical mirror group having a through hole, and the wire feed tube passing through the through hole.

[0020] Secondly, this application also provides a laser cladding head, which includes a wire feeding module and an optical module as described in any of the above embodiments, wherein the wire feeding module drives the welding wire to move within the wire feeding tube.

[0021] The embodiments of this application have the following advantages:

[0022] This application provides an optical module in which laser light enters through a laser input port and first passes through a ring beam mirror group, which converts the original laser beam (such as a Gaussian beam) into a ring laser beam. The ring laser beam is then transmitted to a split-beam reflector group, where two opposing and symmetrical split-beam reflectors split the ring laser beam into two independent sub-beams and change their transmission direction. A radial clearance gap is formed between the two sub-beams to ensure unobstructed passage of the wire feed tube. The split sub-beams are then reflected again by two symmetrical combining reflectors of a combining mirror group and combined back into a ring laser beam. The wire feed tube is centrally located within the combining mirror group, with its axis coinciding with the splitting plane and situated within the clearance gap, ultimately achieving coaxial distribution of the combined ring laser beam and the wire feed tube.

[0023] Therefore, by replacing the traditional complex optical path with a symmetrical design of the beam splitting / combining reflector group, the size of the optical system is significantly reduced, facilitating installation and maintenance. Furthermore, the reflector group efficiently splits and combines the laser beam, reducing scattering and absorption in the laser transmission path and improving energy utilization. Moreover, the wire feed tube is placed in a clearance gap within the splitting plane, strictly coaxial with the laser beam, avoiding filament interference and improving cladding accuracy and welding quality. In other words, the welding wire and laser are strictly coaxially output, ensuring symmetrical energy distribution during cladding, reducing wire misalignment or uneven cladding, and improving welding quality and process stability. Of course, reflective beam splitting and reflective beam combining reduce the risk of thermal deformation of the transmission lens, resulting in better system high-temperature resistance and suitability for long-term continuous operation.

[0024] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable, preferred embodiments are described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0025] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of this application and should not be regarded as a limitation of the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0026] Figure 1 This illustration shows a schematic diagram of the structure of an optical module provided by an embodiment of this application from one perspective;

[0027] Figure 2 This illustration shows a structural schematic diagram of an optical module provided by an embodiment of this application from another perspective;

[0028] Figure 3 This illustration shows a structural schematic diagram of an optical module provided by an embodiment of the present application from another perspective;

[0029] Figure 4This illustration shows a structural schematic diagram of an optical module provided by an embodiment of the present application from another perspective.

[0030] Explanation of key component symbols:

[0031] 100 - Ring beam mirror group; 110 - Laser input port; 120 - Collimating lens; 130 - First pyramidal mirror; 140 - Second pyramidal mirror;

[0032] 200 - Split-light reflecting mirror group; 210 - Split-light reflecting surface;

[0033] 300-Focusing Optical Lens Group;

[0034] 400 - Light combining mirror assembly; 410 - Wire feeding channel; 420 - Light combining reflector surface;

[0035] 500-welding wire;

[0036] 600 - Protects the optical lens group; 610 - Through hole;

[0037] 700 - Wire feeding tube. Detailed Implementation

[0038] The embodiments of this application are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this application, and should not be construed as limiting this application.

[0039] It should be noted that when an element is said to be "fixed" to another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is said to be "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. Conversely, when an element is said to be "directly" on another element, there is no intervening element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this document are for illustrative purposes only.

[0040] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0041] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0042] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used herein in the template description is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this application. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0043] In related technologies, laser cladding, also known as laser bonding or laser coating, is a novel surface modification technology. It involves adding a cladding material to the surface of a substrate and then using a high-energy-density laser beam to fuse the material together with a thin layer on the substrate surface, forming a metallurgically bonded cladding layer on the substrate surface. Semiconductor lasers and fiber lasers, with their advantages such as good fiber flexibility, high electro-optical conversion efficiency, and small size, have seen their market share in industrial laser processing become increasingly prominent. With the significant reduction in the price of medium- and high-power fiber lasers, they are also gradually gaining widespread application in fields such as laser welding and laser cladding.

[0044] Laser cladding technology mostly uses a wire feeding mechanism, which is generally a coaxial wire feeding mechanism. However, the overall size of the optical system associated with the wire feeding mechanism is too large and the structure is too complex. In actual design and use, it faces a series of problems such as installation and accuracy, which affects the laser energy delivered in the optical path and results in significant laser energy loss, greatly limiting the application scenarios.

[0045] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, in order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this application provides an optical module, which includes a laser input port 110, a ring beam mirror group 100, a beam splitter mirror group 200 and a beam combiner mirror group 400 arranged sequentially along the laser transmission path.

[0046] The ring beam mirror assembly 100 is used to receive the laser input from the laser input port 110 and generate a ring laser beam.

[0047] The split-beam reflector group 200 has two split-beam reflective surfaces 210 arranged opposite to each other and intersecting each other. The two split-beam reflective surfaces 210 are symmetrically arranged about the splitting plane. The two split-beam reflective surfaces 210 of the split-beam reflector group 200 reflect and change the direction of the incident ring laser beam and split the ring laser beam into two sub-beams. A radial clearance gap is formed between the two sub-beams.

[0048] The beam combining mirror assembly 400 also has two beam combining reflective surfaces 420 that face each other and intersect. The two beam combining reflective surfaces 420 are symmetrically arranged about the split plane. The two beam combining reflective surfaces 420 of the beam combining mirror assembly 400 reflect and change the direction of the two sub-beams and re-combine the two sub-beams to form a ring-shaped combined laser. A wire feeding tube 700 is disposed through the beam combining mirror assembly 400. The axis of the wire feeding tube 700 is located in the split plane and is located in the radial clearance gap. The combined laser is coaxially distributed with the wire feeding tube 700.

[0049] In these embodiments, a laser input port 110, a ring beam mirror group 100, a beam splitter mirror group 200, and a beam combiner mirror group 400 are sequentially arranged along the laser transmission path. This clarifies the overall composition of the optical module and its sequential arrangement along the laser transmission path.

[0050] The ring beam mirror assembly 100 is used to convert the original laser into a ring beam, leaving space for the central wire feed.

[0051] The symmetrical design of the two opposing and intersecting beam-splitting reflector surfaces 210 of the beam-splitting mirror assembly 200 ensures uniform beam splitting. After beam splitting, a "radial clearance gap" is formed, providing a channel for the wire feed tube 700. Furthermore, beam splitting is achieved through reflection, reducing energy loss.

[0052] For example, the included angle of the light-reflecting surface 210 can be selected as 150°, 155°, 158°, 160°, 165°, 170°, 175° or 178°, etc.

[0053] For example, the split-light reflector group 200 may be a split-type prism group or a reflective lens.

[0054] Similarly, the beam combining mirror assembly 400 has two beam combining reflectors 420 arranged in opposite directions and intersecting each other. The beam combining reflectors 420 are symmetrically designed to ensure the symmetry of the optical path. The sub-beams are guided again and refocused into a ring laser, maintaining beam quality and energy concentration.

[0055] For example, the included angle of the light-reflecting surface 420 can be selected as 150°, 155°, 158°, 160°, 165°, 170°, 175° or 178°, etc.

[0056] For example, the light combining mirror assembly 400 may be a split prism assembly or a reflecting lens.

[0057] The wire feed tube 700 is confined within the radial clearance gap, does not obstruct the laser, and can achieve strict coaxial output of the welding wire 500 and the laser beam, improving cladding accuracy and process stability.

[0058] For example, the light combining mirror assembly 400 is provided with a wire feeding channel 410, and the wire feeding tube 700 passes through the wire feeding channel 410, with the two being coaxially arranged.

[0059] In simple terms, the annular beam mirror assembly 100 receives the raw laser input from the laser input port 110 and shapes it into an annular laser beam, thereby forming a cavity in the central region through which the wire feed tube 700 can pass. The split beam reflector assembly 200 includes two opposing and intersecting split beam reflecting surfaces 210, which are symmetrically arranged about a virtual splitting plane. After being reflected by the split beam reflecting surfaces 210, the annular laser beam is split into two sub-beams, while a radial clearance gap is formed between them, providing space for the subsequent installation of the wire feed tube 700.

[0060] Subsequently, the two sub-beams enter the beam combining mirror assembly 400, which has two opposing and intersecting beam combining reflective surfaces 420, also symmetrically arranged about the split plane. Through these two beam combining reflective surfaces 420, the two beams are reflected again and recombined, ultimately restoring a complete ring-shaped laser beam.

[0061] A wire feeding tube 700 is installed through the light combining mirror group 400. Its axis is located in the split plane and is exactly in the radial clearance gap, so that the wire feeding tube 700 and the laser beam maintain a strict coaxial relationship, thereby realizing the synchronous output of the laser and the welding wire 500 and improving the accuracy and consistency of the cladding process.

[0062] In other words, using the optical module provided in this application, the laser enters the optical module from the laser input port 110, first passing through the annular beam mirror group 100, which converts the original laser beam (such as a Gaussian beam) into an annular laser beam. The annular laser beam is transmitted to the split beam reflector group 200, where its two opposing and symmetrical split beam reflecting surfaces 210 split the annular laser beam into two independent sub-beams and change their transmission direction. A radial clearance gap is formed between the two sub-beams to ensure that the wire feed tube 700 passes through without obstruction. The split sub-beams are reflected again by the two symmetrical combining beam reflecting surfaces 420 of the combining beam reflector group 400 and combined, restoring the combined beam to an annular laser beam. The center of the combining beam reflector group 400 passes through the wire feed tube 700, its axis coincides with the splitting plane, and it is located within the clearance gap, ultimately achieving the coaxial distribution of the annular combined laser beam and the wire feed tube 700.

[0063] Therefore, the symmetrical design of the beam splitting / combining reflector group 400 replaces the traditional complex optical path, significantly reducing the size of the optical system and facilitating installation and maintenance. Furthermore, the reflector group efficiently splits and combines the laser beam, reducing scattering and absorption in the laser transmission path and improving energy utilization. Moreover, the wire feed tube 700 is placed in a clearance gap within the splitting plane, strictly coaxial with the laser beam, avoiding filament interference and improving cladding accuracy and welding quality. In other words, the welding wire 500 is strictly coaxial with the laser output, ensuring symmetrical energy distribution during cladding, reducing wire 500 offset or uneven cladding, and improving welding quality and process stability. Of course, the reflective beam splitting and reflective beam combining reduce the risk of thermal deformation of the transmission lens, resulting in better system high-temperature resistance and suitability for long-term continuous operation.

[0064] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the annular beam mirror group 100 includes a collimating lens 120, a first pyramidal mirror 130 and a second pyramidal mirror 140 arranged sequentially along the laser transmission path. The collimating lens 120 is used to collimate the input laser beam into a collimated beam.

[0065] The first pyramidal mirror 130 and the second pyramidal mirror 140 are arranged with their cone angles opposite each other, and the first pyramidal mirror 130 and the second pyramidal mirror 140 are arranged sequentially along the laser transmission direction.

[0066] In these embodiments, the specific configuration of the annular beam mirror group 100 is further refined, including a collimating lens 120 and a first pyramidal mirror 130 and a second pyramidal mirror 140. This provides a more detailed physical implementation path for laser beam shaping.

[0067] Collimating lens 120 is used to collimate the raw laser beam entering from laser input port 110, converting it into a collimated beam (i.e., a near-parallel beam). This process is crucial for the precise control of the subsequent beam, as an uncollimated laser beam exhibits divergence, affecting the final focusing effect and energy density.

[0068] For example, the laser source is a laser, which serves as the initial light source and is configured to generate a Gaussian beam. For example, the laser can be a fiber laser or a semiconductor laser, etc.

[0069] For example, in this embodiment, the number of collimating lenses 120 is one, wherein the collimating lens 120 can be a convex lens, a biconvex lens, or a compound lens, etc. However, in other embodiments, the number of collimating lenses 120 can also be two, three, four, or five, etc.

[0070] The first pyramidal mirror 130 and the second pyramidal mirror 140 work together to convert the laser beam into a ring beam. The cone angle of the first pyramidal mirror 130 is set at a specific angle relative to the laser transmission direction. As the first pyramidal mirror that the laser beam contacts, it begins to change the propagation path of the beam, preparing for the formation of a ring beam.

[0071] The second pyramidal mirror 140 is located after the first pyramidal mirror 130 and is arranged along the direction of laser transmission. Its cone angle is opposite to that of the first pyramidal mirror 130, meaning that the vertices of the two pyramidal mirrors are opposite each other. Working in conjunction with the first pyramidal mirror 130, it further adjusts the beam path through a reflection mechanism, guiding the originally linearly propagating collimated beam into a ring beam rotating around the central axis. This design allows laser energy to be concentrated in the ring region, while leaving space in the center for the wire feed tube 700 to pass through, ensuring that the welding wire 500 and the laser beam can be output coaxially.

[0072] For example, in this embodiment, the first pyramidal mirror 130 and the second pyramidal mirror 140 are coaxially arranged.

[0073] For ease of understanding, the workflow is as follows:

[0074] Laser input: The laser first enters the system through laser input port 110.

[0075] Collimation process: The original laser beam is adjusted into a collimated beam through the collimating lens 120 to ensure the accuracy of subsequent processing.

[0076] Pyramidal lens assembly: The collimated beam passes through the first prism 130 and the second prism 140 in succession. The relative cone angles of the two make the beam gradually transform into a ring distribution, while the central part remains hollow to facilitate wire feeding operation.

[0077] Splitting and combining: Subsequently, the formed ring laser beam is split by the splitting mirror group 200 as described previously, and finally re-converged into a ring laser beam by the combining mirror group 400, achieving coaxial arrangement with the wire feeding tube 700.

[0078] Clearly, by combining the collimating lens 120 and the prism, the shape of the laser beam can be controlled very precisely, ensuring the quality of the ring beam. Compared to traditional complex optical systems, this design reduces the number of unnecessary components, making the entire optical system more compact and easier to maintain. Furthermore, the optimized optical path design reduces energy loss and improves the utilization rate of laser energy, thereby enhancing the welding or cladding effect.

[0079] In some embodiments, the apex angle of the first pyramidal mirror 130 is A1, and satisfies: 18°≤A1≤22°, and the conical surface of the first pyramidal mirror 130 is provided with an anti-reflective coating.

[0080] The apex angle of the second pyramidal mirror 140 is A2, and satisfies: 18°≤A2≤22°. The conical surface of the second pyramidal mirror 140 is equipped with an anti-reflective coating.

[0081] In these embodiments, a specific configuration of a first prism mirror 130 and a second prism mirror 140 is provided.

[0082] The apex angle A1 of the first prism mirror 130 is set to be between 18° and 22°. This angle range is chosen to ensure that the collimated beam can undergo total internal reflection on the outer conical surface of the first prism mirror 130, thereby effectively forming an annular light spot.

[0083] A total reflection film is disposed on the conical surface of the first prism mirror 130 to enhance the total reflection effect of the light beam on the outer conical surface and ensure that the light can be efficiently converted into the desired ring pattern.

[0084] The apex angle A2 of the second pyramidal mirror 140 is also set between 18° and 22°, matching the first pyramidal mirror 130. This ensures that the annular light spot formed by the first pyramidal mirror 130 can be accurately refracted and corrected, thereby forming a hollow annular beam.

[0085] The inner cone surface of the second prism mirror 140 is equipped with an anti-reflection coating to reduce the loss of the beam due to refraction during the correction process and improve the quality and efficiency of the final output beam.

[0086] For example, the antireflective coating may be a single-layer MgF2 coating, a multi-layer broadband antireflective coating, an ion beam sputtering (IBS) coating, or a gradient refractive index coating, etc.

[0087] Clearly, by precisely controlling the apex angle of the prism and applying an appropriate anti-reflective coating to its surface, the laser beam conversion process is optimized, transforming the initial collimated beam into a high-quality hollow ring beam. This not only helps improve the efficiency of subsequent beam splitting and combining processes but also effectively reduces energy loss and enhances the performance of the entire optical system.

[0088] like Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the optical module further includes a focusing optical lens group 300, which is disposed in the laser transmission path.

[0089] In these embodiments, the addition of a focusing optical lens group 300 further expands the functionality of the optical module, enabling it not only to shape, split, and combine the laser beam, but also to focus the final output laser. This step is crucial for improving the energy density during laser cladding or welding, thus contributing to improved processing quality and efficiency.

[0090] That is, a focusing optical lens group 300 is also set in the laser transmission path, which is used to focus the recombined ring laser beam. The focusing optical lens group 300 may include one or more lenses or other focusing elements, and adjust the focal length of the laser beam according to actual needs so that the focused laser beam just covers the welding wire 500, ensuring the best cladding or welding effect on the surface of the target material.

[0091] Clearly, through the combined action of the collimating lens 120, the prism lens combination, and the focusing optical lens group 300, precise control over the shape and focus of the laser beam is achieved. The optimized optical path reduces energy loss and improves the utilization rate of laser energy. The application of the focusing optical lens group 300 increases the energy density of the laser.

[0092] For example, the focusing optical lens group 300 includes a focusing optical lens, which can be a biconvex focusing lens, a single lens, or a compound lens, etc. Of course, the number of focusing optical lenses can also be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, etc.

[0093] like Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the focusing optical lens group 300 is located between the split-beam reflector group 200 and the combining-beam reflector group 400.

[0094] In these embodiments, the focusing optical lens group 300 is positioned between the split-beam reflector group 200 and the combining-beam reflector group 400. This layout adjustment optimizes the laser beam processing flow, allowing the split laser beams to be precisely focused before re-combining. This design helps ensure that each sub-beam achieves ideal energy density and spot size before being combined, thereby improving the quality of the final output ring-shaped combined laser beam.

[0095] The two sub-beams after beam splitting are then transmitted to the focusing optical mirror group 300. At this time, the focusing optical mirror group 300 is located between the beam splitting mirror group 200 and the beam combining mirror group 400, and its function is to perform independent focusing processing on each sub-beam.

[0096] By adjusting the energy density and spot size of each sub-beam, optimal energy distribution and focusing are ensured when the beams are recombined.

[0097] Furthermore, since the focusing optical lens group 300 is located between the split-beam reflector group 200 and the combining-beam reflector group 400, it is outside the moving path of the welding wire 500, so there is no need to make holes in the focusing optical lens group 300, reducing the processing difficulty.

[0098] Of course, in other embodiments, the focusing optical lens group 300 is located before the beam splitting mirror group 200 or after the beam combining mirror group 400 along the laser transmission path. That is to say, any arrangement that can achieve beam focusing is acceptable, and the choice can be made according to the actual installation scenario.

[0099] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments, the light-reflecting surface 210 and the light-combining surface 420, located on the same side of the splitting plane, are arranged in parallel.

[0100] In these embodiments, the split-beam reflector 210 located on the same side of the splitting plane is arranged parallel to the corresponding combining-beam reflector 420, which helps to simplify the optical path design and ensure the consistency of the laser beam during the splitting and combining processes.

[0101] Since the beam splitting reflector 210 and beam combining reflector 420, located on the same side of the splitting plane, are arranged in parallel, this ensures that the sub-beams follow a consistent optical path during the process from beam splitting to beam combining, thereby improving the quality and stability of the combined laser.

[0102] Two beam-combining reflectors are intersecting at 420° and share a common edge line. This means that the two reflectors used for beam combining intersect at a certain angle, share a common edge line, and the common edge line coincides with a preset plane. This design helps to precisely control the incident angle and position of the two sub-beams, ensuring that they can be accurately guided and combined into a single laser beam.

[0103] Two beam-splitting reflectors 210 are arranged intersectingly and share a common edge line. Similarly, the two beam-splitting reflectors 210 used for beam splitting also intersect at a certain angle and share a common edge line. This helps to accurately split the ring laser beam into two sub-beams while ensuring a radial clearance between the two sub-beams, providing an interference-free path for the welding wire 500.

[0104] Clearly, the parallel arrangement of the splitting reflector 210 and the combining reflector 420 simplifies the optical system, reducing complexity and potential sources of error. It ensures the consistency of the laser beam during splitting and combining, facilitating higher-precision laser processing. By precisely controlling the path of each sub-beam, a more uniform energy distribution is achieved, making it suitable for applications requiring high precision and uniform energy.

[0105] In some embodiments, the light combining mirror assembly 400 includes a first light combining mirror and a second light combining mirror, wherein one light combining reflector 420 is disposed on the first light combining mirror, the other light combining reflector 420 is disposed on the second light combining mirror, and the wire feeding tube 700 is disposed between the first light combining mirror and the second light combining mirror.

[0106] In these embodiments, the structural details of the beam combining mirror assembly 400 are further clarified, especially that the two beam combining reflective surfaces 420 are respectively disposed on the first beam combining mirror and the second beam combining mirror, and the wire feed tube 700 is located between the two. This design not only enhances the modularity and maintainability of the optical system, but also optimizes the spatial layout of the wire feed channel 410.

[0107] In other words, the two mirrors are arranged symmetrically about the split plane, with their reflecting surfaces tilted towards each other. They are used to receive the two sub-beams after being split by the split mirror group 200, and guide them back to the same optical axis direction for beam combining, forming the final ring-shaped combined laser.

[0108] In addition, the wire feed tube 700 is disposed between the first beam combining mirror and the second beam combining mirror, with its axis located in the split plane and in the radial clearance gap formed by the two sub-beams, so that the welding wire 500 can pass through without obstruction and maintain a strict coaxial distribution with the output ring laser beam.

[0109] Clearly, this method allows for more flexible adjustment of the angle and position of each reflector, thereby optimizing the beam combining effect and reducing the processing difficulty of integrated production. Furthermore, it eliminates the need to create holes in the beam combining reflector assembly 400 to form the wire feeding channel 410, further reducing processing difficulty.

[0110] In some embodiments, the beam splitter mirror group 200 and the corresponding beam incident direction are both set at a 45° angle; the beam combining mirror group 400 and the corresponding beam incident direction are both set at a 45° angle.

[0111] The included angle between the two light-splitting reflective surfaces 210 is 170°, and the included angle between the two light-combining reflective surfaces 420 is 170°.

[0112] In these embodiments, a specific geometric configuration is provided for the beam splitting mirror assembly 200 and the beam combining reflector assembly. The beam splitting mirror assembly 200 is positioned at a 45° angle to the beam incident direction: this 45° angle design allows the ring laser beam to be incident on the beam splitting reflector surface 210 at an optimal angle, ensuring efficient and uniform beam splitting. The 45° angle also helps reduce laser energy loss during reflection, while avoiding a decrease in reflection efficiency due to excessively large or small angles.

[0113] The angle between the two split-beam reflectors 210 is set to 170°, allowing the split-beam reflector to split the incident ring laser beam into two sub-beams, forming a radial clearance gap between them. The 170° angle ensures the stability of the beam splitting and provides sufficient space for the subsequent passage of the welding wire 500.

[0114] The beam combining mirror assembly 400 is positioned at a 45° angle to the beam incident direction: similar to the configuration of the beam splitter mirror assembly 200, the beam combining mirror assembly 400 also adopts a 45° angle configuration. This angle ensures that the two sub-beams can be incident on the beam combining reflector 420 along the optimal path, thereby achieving efficient beam combining operation.

[0115] The angle between the beam combining reflectors 420 is also set at 170°, which echoes the design of the beam splitting reflector 210. The 170° angle allows the two sub-beams to maintain symmetry during the merging process, ultimately forming a high-quality coaxial combined laser beam.

[0116] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the optical module also includes a protective optical mirror group 600. Along the laser transmission path, the protective optical mirror group 600 is located after the light combining mirror group 400. The protective optical mirror group 600 is provided with a through hole 610, and the wire feeding tube 700 passes through the through hole 610.

[0117] In these embodiments, the main function of the protective optical lens group 600 is to prevent external environmental contamination or interference to the optical system, such as dust, metal spatter, and other factors that affect the quality of laser output. Simultaneously, by providing a through hole 610 in the protective optical lens group 600, the wire feed tube 700 can continue to extend along the optical axis to the processing area, ensuring the continuity of wire feeding without affecting the normal output of the laser beam.

[0118] The protective optical assembly 600 itself is transparent, meaning that laser light is allowed to pass through without significantly affecting its propagation path or energy density. This is typically achieved by selecting suitable transparent materials, such as high-quality glass or specific types of crystals, which should have high transmittance, low absorptivity, and good mechanical strength and heat resistance.

[0119] For example, the protective optical lens group 600 may be made of quartz glass, sapphire, or calcium fluoride, etc.

[0120] In some embodiments, this application also provides a laser cladding head, which includes a wire feeding module and an optical module as described in any of the above embodiments, wherein the wire feeding module drives the welding wire 500 to move within the wire feeding tube 700.

[0121] Since the aforementioned optical module has the aforementioned technical effects, the laser cladding head including the optical module should have the same technical effects, which will not be elaborated here.

[0122] Furthermore, the 500 welding wire structure does not require bending and allows for straight wire feeding, increasing the ease of wire feeding and reducing the risk of breakage of the 500 welding wire.

[0123] In all examples shown and described herein, any specific values ​​should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not as limitations; therefore, other examples of exemplary embodiments may have different values.

[0124] It should be noted that similar labels and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

[0125] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of this application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these modifications and improvements all fall within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. An optical module, characterized by comprising: The optical module includes a laser input port, a ring beam mirror group, a beam splitter mirror group, and a beam combiner mirror group arranged sequentially along the laser transmission path. The ring beam mirror group is used to receive the laser input from the laser input port and generate a ring laser beam; The split-beam reflector group has two split-beam reflecting surfaces arranged opposite to each other and intersecting each other. The two split-beam reflecting surfaces are symmetrically arranged about the splitting plane. The two split-beam reflecting surfaces of the split-beam reflector group reflect and change the direction of the incident ring laser beam and split the ring laser beam into two sub-beams. A radial clearance gap is formed between the two sub-beams. The beam combining mirror assembly also has two beam combining reflective surfaces that face each other and intersect. The two beam combining reflective surfaces are symmetrically arranged about the split plane. The two beam combining reflective surfaces of the beam combining mirror assembly reflect and change the direction of the two sub-beams and re-combine the two sub-beams to form a ring-shaped combined laser beam. A wire feeding tube is disposed through the beam combining mirror assembly. The axis of the wire feeding tube is located in the split plane and the wire feeding tube is located in the radial clearance gap. The combined laser beam is coaxially distributed with the wire feeding tube.

2. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein The annular beam mirror group comprises the following components arranged sequentially along the laser transmission path: A collimating lens, used to collimate an input laser beam into a collimated beam; A first pyramidal mirror and a second pyramidal mirror are arranged with their cone angles opposite each other, and the first and second pyramidal mirrors are arranged sequentially along the laser transmission path.

3. The optical module according to claim 2, wherein The apex angle of the first pyramidal mirror is A1, and satisfies: 18°≤A1≤22°, and the cone surface of the first pyramidal mirror is provided with an anti-reflective coating; The apex angle of the second prism mirror is A2, and satisfies: 18°≤A2≤22°. The cone surface of the second prism mirror is provided with an anti-reflective coating.

4. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein The optical module also includes a focusing optical lens group, which is disposed in the laser transmission path.

5. The optical module according to claim 4, wherein The focusing optical lens group is located between the split-beam reflector group and the combining-beam reflector group.

6. The optical module according to claim 4, wherein Along the laser transmission path, the focusing optical mirror group is located either before the split-beam reflector group or after the combining-beam reflector group.

7. The optical module of claim 1, wherein The light-reflecting surface that splits the light and the light-reflecting surface that combine the light are located on the same side of the splitting plane and are arranged in parallel.

8. The optical module according to claim 1 or 5, wherein The light-combining reflector assembly includes a first light-combining reflector and a second light-combining reflector, wherein one of the light-combining reflector surfaces is disposed on the first light-combining reflector and the other light-combining reflector surface is disposed on the second light-combining reflector, and the wire feeding tube is disposed between the first light-combining reflector and the second light-combining reflector.

9. The optical module of claim 1, wherein The optical module also includes a protective optical mirror group. Along the laser transmission path, the protective optical mirror group is located after the light combining mirror group. The protective optical mirror group is provided with a through hole, and the wire feeding tube passes through the through hole.

10. A laser cladding processing head, characterized by, The laser cladding head includes a wire feeding module and an optical module as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the wire feeding module drives the welding wire to move within the wire feeding tube.

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