Double Laser Nozzle Alignment With Conical Flow Interface
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laser cutting systems face challenges in aligning double nozzles due to multiple interface surfaces, leading to misalignment issues, complex installation, and significant machine downtime, especially during field replacements.
Innovation Solution
The design minimizes interface surfaces by reconfiguring the alignment between the inner and outer nozzle portions, using a conical interference interface and additional fluid flow paths, allowing for improved alignment and simplified installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If multiple interface surfaces are used to connect inner and outer nozzle portions, then structural integrity is improved, but alignment precision deteriorates due to accumulated misalignment at each interface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the inner and outer nozzle portions into a single integrated nozzle body, eliminating the multiple interface surfaces that caused misalignment. This single-piece construction maintains structural integrity while ensuring precise alignment between the laser beam path and fluid flow paths, as there are no separate interfaces to accumulate alignment errors.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional multi-interface nozzle design is used, then ease of manufacture is improved through modular assembly, but installation complexity increases due to alignment verification requirements
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the nozzle into a single integrated component, the patent eliminates the need for complex alignment verification procedures during installation. While modular assembly becomes simpler with fewer parts, the primary benefit is the drastic reduction in installation complexity related to alignment, as the single-piece design inherently guarantees proper alignment without requiring verification steps.
3Adaptability or versatility
If frequent nozzle replacement is performed, then adaptability is improved for different cutting tasks, but machine downtime increases due to complex installation and alignment verification
Solution Approach 1:
The single-piece nozzle design enables rapid replacement without alignment verification, dramatically reducing machine downtime. Operators can quickly swap nozzles for different cutting tasks without requiring technical expertise for alignment, maintaining adaptability while minimizing the time loss associated with frequent replacements.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple interface surfaces are used in double nozzle configuration, then functional versatility is improved for creating separate gas flows, but reliability deteriorates due to misalignment between laser beam and gas jet
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple flow paths within a single nozzle body, maintaining the functional versatility of creating separate gas flows (central process gas and outer shielding gas) while eliminating the alignment reliability issues caused by multiple interfaces. The single-piece construction ensures that all flow paths are precisely aligned with the laser beam from the manufacturing process, eliminating field alignment errors.
Data Source
AI summary
A double nozzle for a laser processing head includes an inner body portion having an interior surface defining a bore for passing a laser beam, a first interface surface near a distal end of the inner body portion, the first interface surface including a plurality of channels, and an exterior surface near a proximal end of the inner body portion and shaped to engage the laser processing head. Each channel includes interior and exterior linear edges in a cross-section that passes though a central longitudinal axis of the double nozzle. The double nozzle also includes an outer body portion connected to the inner body portion. The outer body portion defines a jet surface, which together with the plurality of channels defines a corresponding plurality of auxiliary fluid flow paths about the bore and between the inner body portion and the outer body portion.