Laser Beam Oscillation for Kerf Widening in Sheet Metal Cutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laser processing machines using fiber or DDL oscillators often result in products with narrow kerf widths, leading to failure in conveyance due to the products being caught in base materials during handling by conveyance apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
The laser processing machine employs a galvano scanner unit to oscillate the laser beam, allowing for controlled kerf width adjustment through various oscillation patterns, such as parallel, perpendicular, circular, 8-shaped, and C-shaped patterns, to widen the kerf width specifically in areas prone to catching, thereby facilitating successful conveyance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a fiber laser oscillator or DDL oscillator is used instead of a CO2 laser oscillator, then the laser processing machine becomes smaller and lower cost, but the kerf width becomes very narrow causing products to be caught in base material during conveyance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the kerf width non-uniform along the cutting path. Specifically, the kerf width is enlarged at specific locations (such as corners, bends, or areas prone to catching) while maintaining narrow kerf width in straight sections. This is achieved by dynamically adjusting laser beam parameters (power, focus position, oscillation amplitude) at different positions along the cutting path, allowing the system to optimize for both cost-effective fiber/DDL lasers and reliable product conveyance at critical locations.
2Reliability
If the kerf width is widened to prevent products from being caught during conveyance, then conveyance reliability improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by widening the kerf width only at specific critical locations where products are prone to catching during conveyance, rather than widening the entire kerf along the whole cutting path. The system identifies problem areas (such as corners, tight bends, or areas with narrow product margins) and applies enlarged kerf width only in those regions, while maintaining fast, narrow kerf cutting in straight sections, thus balancing conveyance reliability with processing efficiency.
3Reliability
If the laser beam oscillation amplitude is increased to widen kerf width, then conveyance reliability improves, but the complexity of the beam control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the beam oscillation parameters (amplitude, frequency, pattern) dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The system can change oscillation amplitude and pattern in real-time based on the cutting location, material properties, and product geometry. This allows simple oscillation patterns for straight cuts and more complex patterns only when and where needed, optimizing both conveyance reliability and control system simplicity.
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
This solution reduces the failure of product conveyance by widening the kerf width in critical areas, ensuring products cut from sheet metal can be effectively conveyed without getting caught in base materials, while minimizing the overall processing time increase.
Implementation Method 1
a laser processing machine and a laser processing method for processing a sheet metal with a laser beam
Implementation Method 2
The laser processing machine employs a galvano scanner unit to oscillate the laser beam, allowing for controlled kerf width adjustment through various oscillation patterns
Data Source
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AI summary
The laser processing machine includes a beam oscillation mechanism that oscillates a beam spot on a surface of a sheet metal. The control device controls the beam oscillation mechanism so as to oscillate the beam spot with an oscillation component in a direction orthogonal to a cutting direction of the sheet metal in a non-holding region, in which a holding portion of the conveyance apparatus for conveying a product is not held, when cutting the product from the sheet metal by irradiating the sheet metal with the laser beam. The non-holding region is at least a part of a periphery of a protrusion portion of the product, or at least a part of a periphery of a recess forming region in which a recess of the product is formed.