Laser Beam C-Shaped Vibration for Cleaner Sheet Metal Cutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laser machining apparatuses for cutting stainless steel sheet metal suffer from poor surface roughness and excessive dross adhesion, resulting in low cut surface quality.
Innovation Solution
A laser machining apparatus and method that incorporates a machining head with a beam vibrating mechanism to vibrate the laser beam in a C-shaped pattern, causing beam spots to overlap and improve the cutting process, thereby enhancing the quality of the cut surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a laser beam with wavelength of approximately 1 μm (fiber laser or DDL oscillator) is used to cut sheet metal, then the beam waist becomes small and kerf width becomes narrow, but the surface roughness of the cut surface becomes poor and dross adhesion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanical vibration to the laser beam through a beam vibrating mechanism that vibrates the laser beam in both the cutting advancing direction and the orthogonal direction. This vibration causes the beam spot to trace a C-shaped pattern on the workpiece surface, which prevents excessive heat concentration and improves cut surface quality by reducing dross adhesion and surface roughness.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam vibrating mechanism performs periodic vibration of the laser beam in a C-shaped pattern. The vibration frequency and pattern are controlled to create periodic movement of the beam spot, which allows for controlled overlap of beam spots and periodic heat input, thereby improving cut surface quality while maintaining cutting efficiency.
2Volume of moving object
If the focus point of the laser beam is located above or below the top surface of the sheet metal (defocused state), then sheet metal with plate thickness of 3 mm or more can be cut by widening the kerf width, but the surface roughness of the cut surface becomes poor and dross adhesion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beam vibrating mechanism vibrates the laser beam in a C-shaped pattern that includes movement in both the cutting advancing direction and the orthogonal direction. This vibration pattern creates controlled beam spot displacement and overlap, which improves heat distribution and reduces dross adhesion, thereby improving cut surface quality even when cutting thicker materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic vibration to the otherwise static focused laser beam. The beam vibrating mechanism dynamically adjusts the beam spot position in a C-shaped pattern, creating time-varying heat input that prevents excessive heat concentration and improves cut surface quality while maintaining the ability to cut through thicker materials.
3Manufacturing precision
If a C-shaped vibration pattern is applied to the laser beam, then cut surface quality is improved and dross adhesion is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to the beam vibrating mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The beam vibrating mechanism is designed to vibrate the laser beam in a C-shaped pattern through coordinated vibration in two directions. This mechanical vibration system, while adding some complexity, provides significant improvement in cut surface quality and dross reduction, making it a worthwhile trade-off for high-quality cutting applications.
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 C-shaped vibration pattern allows for improved cut surface quality by controlling the overlap rate of beam spots, reducing dross adhesion and enhancing the cutting efficiency of stainless steel sheet metal.
Implementation Method 1
a beam vibrating mechanism configured to vibrate the laser beam in both a parallel direction with a cutting advancing direction of the sheet metal and an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the cutting advancing direction
Implementation Method 2
a laser machining apparatus including a machining head configured to emit a laser beam for cutting sheet metal of stainless steel
Implementation Method 3
irradiating the sheet metal with the laser beam
Data Source
AI summary
A control device controls a beam vibrating mechanism to vibrate a laser beam in a C-shaped vibration pattern in which a beam spot is moved from a first irradiation position at a front end in a cutting advancing direction to a second irradiation position at a rear side and displaced in an orthogonal direction to the cutting advancing direction, and is moved from the second irradiation position to a third irradiation position at a front end and displaced in the orthogonal direction to the cutting advancing direction, and movement from the first irradiation position to the third irradiation position via the second irradiation position, and movement from the third irradiation position to the first irradiation position via the second irradiation position are repeated. The control device performs control to cut the sheet metal by causing beam spots in the first to third irradiation positions to overlap one another.