Laser Beam Swinging for Wide Sheet Metal Marking Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for marking thick lines on sheet metal surfaces using laser beams are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and can cause discoloration due to oxidation, while defocusing the beam reduces energy density and increases reflected light intensity, complicating the process.
Innovation Solution
A laser processing machine and method that advances the laser beam's irradiation position while swinging the beam spot with a predetermined amplitude, allowing for the marking of wide lines without defocusing the focal point, using a Galvano scanner unit to control the beam's trajectory and assist gas to prevent molten metal adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If repeated drawing of thin marking-off lines is performed to create thick lines, then thick marking-off lines can be formed, but significant time and labor are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanical vibration to the laser beam through a beam vibration mechanism that oscillates the laser beam in a direction perpendicular to the advancing direction. This vibration causes the beam spot to swing with a predetermined amplitude on the workpiece surface, allowing a single pass to create a thick marking-off line equivalent to multiple passes without time loss. The vibration frequency and amplitude are controlled to achieve the desired line thickness efficiently.
2Shape
If the processing head is moved away from the workpiece to increase beam thickness, then a thick marking-off line can be marked, but energy density is reduced and reflected light intensity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the processing head away to thicken the beam, the patent vibrates the laser beam itself while maintaining the processing head at the optimal focal distance. This approach achieves thick marking-off lines through the oscillation pattern of the beam spot rather than through defocusing, thereby maintaining high energy density and avoiding increased reflected light intensity that would compromise safety and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic vibration to the otherwise static laser beam delivery system. By making the beam trajectory dynamic through oscillation rather than maintaining a static defocused position, the system achieves variable effective beam width without sacrificing the focused energy density required for safe and reliable processing.
3Shape
If repeated irradiation is performed to create thick lines, then thick marking-off lines can be formed, but discoloration due to oxidation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The beam vibration mechanism allows the laser to create thick marking-off lines in a single continuous pass rather than through repeated irradiation. This single-pass approach with oscillating beam motion minimizes thermal accumulation and oxidation exposure on the workpiece surface, preventing discoloration while still achieving the desired line thickness.
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
Enables efficient marking of wide, thick lines on sheet metal surfaces without discoloration or energy loss, ensuring safety and precision in the laser processing.
Implementation Method 1
only a high beam intensity portion of the laser beam with which the workpiece surface is irradiated is absorbed by the workpiece surface, and a fine linear marking-off line is marked
Implementation Method 2
swinging the trajectory of the beam spot formed on the surface of the sheet metal with a predetermined amplitude
Data Source
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AI summary
A laser processing machine 100 includes: a processing head 35 that emits a laser beam from an opening 36a; a converging lens 34 that converges the laser beam to form a beam spot on the surface of a sheet metal W; carriages 22, 23 that move the position of the processing head 35; a Galvano scanner unit 32 that vibrates the laser beam emitted from the opening 36a to vibrate the beam spot on the surface of the sheet metal W; and a numerical control (NC) device 50. The NC device 50 marks a marking-off line on the sheet metal W by reading, from a processing program database 60, a processing program for marking the marking-off line on the surface of the sheet metal W and information on the vibration range of the laser beam corresponding to a set thickness of the marking-off line, and controlling the carriages 22, 23 to advance the irradiation position of the laser beam in a predetermined direction while controlling the Galvano scanner unit 32 to vibrate the beam spot on the surface of the sheet metal W at the read vibration range.