Laser Engraving Galvo Head Cooling for Micrometer Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tunable lasers for laser engraving lack stability and micrometer accuracy due to external temperature fluctuations, internal heat loads, and vibrations, especially when used for producing security features on identification documents.
Innovation Solution
A laser system with a galvo head and beam dump that incorporates a local cooling system to stabilize the galvo head and beam dump, ensuring minimal intensity fluctuations and maintaining high accuracy over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a beam dump is used to control laser power, then the laser power range is tunable, but the beam dump heats up and worsens micrometer accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local cooling specifically to the beam dump component rather than cooling the entire laser system. This targeted approach removes heat from the beam dump locally where it is generated, preventing the heating that would otherwise degrade micrometer accuracy while maintaining the power tuning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful heat generated by the beam dump into a manageable parameter by implementing a cooling system. The cooling system transforms the thermal problem into a controlled thermal management solution, allowing the beam dump to continue absorbing excess laser power while maintaining system precision.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the laser operates under varying temperature conditions, then the laser can be used in different environments, but thermal drift occurs and reduces stability
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is applied locally to critical components (beam dump and galvo head) rather than the entire system. This selective cooling maintains stability in the precision-critical areas while allowing the overall system to adapt to environmental temperature variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system dynamically manages thermal conditions during laser operation. By actively removing heat from critical components during operation, the system maintains stability despite external temperature fluctuations, enabling reliable performance across different environmental conditions.
3Productivity
If the galvo head operates at high scanning speeds, then laser engraving productivity increases, but vibrations increase and reduce precision
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system targets the galvo head specifically, applying local cooling to the component responsible for beam scanning. This reduces thermal effects in the galvo head that could cause expansion or deformation, thereby maintaining precision even at high scanning speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system operates continuously or periodically to remove heat generated during high-speed scanning. This periodic thermal management prevents cumulative heating that would otherwise cause drift or precision loss during sustained high-speed operation.
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 cooling system effectively reduces thermal stress and vibrations, enabling the laser to maintain high micrometer accuracy and stability, even under varying temperature and operational conditions, thus enhancing the precision of security features on identification documents.
Implementation Method 1
there is provided according to the present invention a cooling system, for example in the form of a cooling circuit which is adapted to cool locally at least a portion of the galvo head and a portion of the beam dump
Implementation Method 2
In this air cooling system, the cooling air may be blown locally to at least a portion of the galvo head and additionally to a portion of the beam dump
Implementation Method 3
there may be provided a cooling circuit including for example a piping which guides a cooling liquid, at least through a portion of the galvo mounting and a portion of the beam dump
Implementation Method 4
The respective cooling liquid may be circulated via a circulation pump
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The present invention provides a laser for laser engraving. The laser has housing (1), a galvo head (2) for manipulating a laser beam (5) in order to execute laser engraving with the laser beam (5), and a beam dump (14) for dumping a part of the laser beam (5) in order to control the power of the laser. Further a cooling system is provided which is adapted to cool locally at least a portion of the galvo head (2) and at least a portion of the beam dump (14). Further, it is provided a method of assembling a laser for laser engraving.