Actively Cooled Lens Mount Assembly for Contamination Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing laser processing head configurations are not well-suited for harsh working conditions and high-power laser energy, leading to contamination issues that damage optics and undermine performance.

Innovation Solution

A modular laser processing head design with recessed wells in the modules to collect particulate material and a mount system that includes a lens with a recessed well for particulate collection, along with a seal to prevent contamination, and thermal conductivity for high-power lenses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing lens mounting configurations (lens tubes, screw rings, clamped mounts) are used in high-power laser processing heads, then the lenses can be held in place, but particulate material is generated during assembly and contamination can damage the optics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelaser performanceVSAvoidcontamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The recessed well, which initially appears to be a simple geometric feature, is strategically positioned to capture harmful particulate material generated during assembly. By converting the harmful effect of particle generation into a contained location, the well prevents particles from contaminating optical surfaces while maintaining the benefits of existing mounting configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The recessed well is pre-positioned in the lens tube or mounting structure to prevent contamination before it can occur. This preliminary protective measure ensures that even if particulate material is generated during assembly, it will be captured by the well rather than depositing on critical optical surfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Ease of manufacture

If lenses are mounted using traditional methods in high-power laser heads, then assembly is straightforward, but the lenses are vulnerable to damage from contamination and harsh working conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidoptics protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the mounting structure with a protective feature by integrating the recessed well directly into the lens tube or mounting component. This combination maintains the simplicity of traditional assembly methods while adding contamination protection, allowing the same assembly procedures to be used while simultaneously improving optics protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The recessed well acts as an intermediary protective element between the external environment (where contamination occurs during assembly) and the critical optical surfaces. It serves as a buffer zone that captures particles before they can reach and damage the lenses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Power

If high-power laser energy is transmitted through the processing head, then material processing capability is enhanced, but thermal management becomes critical to prevent damage to components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelaser powerVSAvoidthermal management

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The recessed well creates a localized region with different thermal characteristics compared to the surrounding structure. This geometric feature can facilitate localized heat dissipation or thermal management in critical areas where high-power laser energy is transmitted, allowing different parts of the component to have optimized thermal properties

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12172230B2Mechanical mount for stationary, actively-cooled lenses in high power laser material processing head

Publication Date: 2024.12.24 II VI DELAWARE INC

AI summary

A high-power laser processing head has precisely centered stationary lenses. The assembly of the lenses in the head can reduce contamination. The lens is affixed (soldered) in a ring-shaped highly precise mount, which ensures a high thermal conductivity of the joining interface. The mount and lens can be cleaned as a unit and inserted in a precisely manufactured receptacle of a housing module. A seal can provide sealing between an inner surface in the receptacles and a base surfaces of the mount. The modules has a groove around the diameter of the receptacle to catch any particles generated when inserting the lens mounts into the receptacle. The assembly is clamped into place by the next housing module. The lens is directly cooled by the module's body to mitigate contamination on the lens surface. During repairs, both lens and mount can be exchanged as a unit.