Dross Conveyance Plate Thickness Layout for Thermal Deflection Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transportation plates for dross in laser beam machines experience significant thermal deformation and compressive plastic strain, leading to hindered smooth movement and potential damage.

Innovation Solution

Designing transportation plates with a protection component to reduce thermal deformation and compressive plastic strain by minimizing deflection through simulation and experimental data, using a model plate as a reference to achieve a smaller deflection amount.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional transportation plate is used in a laser beam machine, then the plate can transport dross, but the plate experiences significant thermal deformation and compressive plastic strain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransportation plate durabilityVSAvoidthermal deformation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The transportation plate is designed with non-uniform thickness, where the thickness varies in the laser beam irradiation direction. Specifically, the plate has a first thickness in a first region and a second thickness in a second region, with the second thickness being greater than the first thickness. This local variation in thickness compensates for the thermal deformation caused by laser irradiation, reducing the overall deflection of the plate while maintaining its ability to transport dross.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the transportation plate is made thicker to reduce deflection, then thermal deformation decreases, but the plate weight and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeflection amountVSAvoidtransportation plate weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of uniformly increasing the plate thickness throughout, the invention applies increased thickness only in specific regions (the second region with greater thickness) where it is most needed to counteract thermal deformation. This localized thickening approach reduces deflection effectively while minimizing the additional weight compared to a uniformly thick plate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention addresses the deflection problem by introducing a dimensional variation in the thickness parameter along the laser beam irradiation direction. Rather than simply making the plate thicker everywhere (one-dimensional solution), the thickness is varied continuously or in steps along the length of the plate, creating a gradient structure that optimizes stiffness where needed while minimizing overall mass.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

The method reduces thermal deformation and compressive plastic strain in transportation plates, ensuring smooth operation and increased durability.

Implementation Method 1

a basic deflection amount, in a case where a model plate is defined as a basic model of the transportation plate that transports the dross generated by irradiation of a laser beam on a workpiece from a laser beam machine apparatus and the basic deflection amount is defined as an amount of deflection of the model plate, the deflection occurring due to irradiation of a first laser beam on the model plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal deformation: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentEP4711071A1Method for designing conveyance plate for dross conveyance and method for manufacturing dross conveyance conveyor
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 YAMAZAKI MAZAK KK
  • EP4711071A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4711071A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4711071A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for designing a transportation plate for transporting dross includes the steps of: acquiring a basic deflection amount, in a case where a model plate is defined as a basic model of the transportation plate that transports the dross generated by irradiation of a laser beam on a workpiece from a laser beam machine apparatus and the basic deflection amount is defined as an amount of deflection of the model plate, the deflection occurring due to irradiation of a first laser beam on the model plate; and designing the transportation plate based on the model plate for a first deflection amount to be smaller than the basic deflection amount, in a case where the first deflection amount is defined as an amount of deflection of the transportation plate, the deflection occurring due to the irradiation of the first laser beam on the transportation plate under a substantially identical condition to a condition for the irradiation of the first laser beam on the model plate.