Energy Beam Focus Control for High-Speed Grain-Oriented Steel Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Increasing the production line speed for non-heat-resistant magnetic domain refining of grain-oriented electrical steel sheets leads to a decrease in thermal strain introduction, affecting iron loss improvement, and existing methods to increase energy beam output face equipment failure or increased costs.

Innovation Solution

Adjusting energy beam focus setting values according to production line speed and processing interval times to maintain thermal strain introduction, using at least two focus setting values that depend on scan speed, scan range, and number of irradiations per unit time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the production line speed is increased to improve productivity, then productivity is improved, but the amount of thermal strain introduced decreases and iron loss improvement effect deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction line speedVSAvoidthermal strain introduction amount
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The focus setting value of the energy beam is made dynamic and adjustable according to the production line speed. As the line speed increases, the focus setting value is changed to compensate for the reduced thermal strain introduction time, thereby maintaining effective magnetic domain refining across different productivity levels

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The focus setting value parameter is changed in response to production line speed variations. By adjusting this parameter, the energy beam's focal characteristics are modified to ensure adequate thermal strain is introduced even at higher speeds, resolving the contradiction between productivity and processing effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If the output power of energy beam is increased to maintain thermal strain introduction at high speed, then thermal strain introduction is maintained, but equipment failure risk increases for lasers or production cost increases for electron beams

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal strain introduction amountVSAvoidequipment failure risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of increasing output power, the focus setting value parameter is changed to optimize energy distribution. This parameter adjustment allows maintaining effective thermal strain introduction at high speeds while operating within safe power limits, avoiding equipment failure risks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The solution replaces the mechanical approach of simply increasing power output with a optical/focus-based approach. By adjusting the focus setting value, the system achieves the same thermal effect through improved energy concentration rather than brute force power increase, thereby maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Stabilizes iron loss improvement effects and enhances production efficiency by suppressing the decrease in thermal strain introduction during high-speed operations.

Implementation Method 1

introducing thermal strain by irradiating the electrical steel sheet after secondary recrystallization with a high-energy beam such as a laser, electron beam, or plasma flame

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal strain: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

irradiating with a high-energy beam such as a laser, electron beam, or plasma flame

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnergy beam irradiation: Laser

Data Source

PatentEP4616991A1Surface processing method for metal material, surface processing method for metal sheet, and production method for grain-oriented electromagnetic steel sheet
Publication Date: 2025.09.17 JFE STEEL CORP
  • EP4616991A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4616991A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4616991A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Provided is a means to suppress a decrease in the amount of thermal strain when production line speed is increased, and to both improve production efficiency and stabilize an iron loss improvement effect during operation. The means is a method of surface processing a metal material or a metal sheet including irradiating the surface of the metal material or the metal sheet with an energy beam under at least two focus settings.