Laser Cutting of Thick Composites With Depth-Adaptive Beam Oscillation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser cutting methods for composite materials, particularly for thick plates, suffer from prolonged processing times and deteriorated cut surface quality due to heat spread and separate cutting processes for reinforced fibers and resins, leading to inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A laser cutting method and device that cuts composite materials by oscillating a laser in an intersecting direction relative to the cutting line, reducing oscillation width as depth increases, and using a single laser to perform multiple cuts efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a primary laser beam orbits and moves along the longitudinal direction to cut reinforced fiber, then the reinforced fiber can be properly cut, but the processing time is lengthened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cutting of reinforced fiber and base material into a single laser irradiation process. The laser beam simultaneously cuts both the reinforced fiber and the resin matrix without requiring separate primary and secondary irradiation steps, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining cut quality
Solution Approach 2:
The laser beam performs continuous cutting action through the composite material thickness in one pass. The method eliminates interruptions between cutting different material layers, maintaining continuous laser irradiation and motion throughout the cutting process to improve efficiency
2Manufacturing precision
If the same primary and secondary irradiation steps are performed on thick plate composite material, then both reinforced fiber and base material can be cut, but the irradiation time is lengthened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple irradiation steps into a single laser cutting operation. The laser beam with appropriate parameters can cut through the entire composite material structure (both fiber and matrix) in one continuous pass, eliminating the need for sequential primary and secondary irradiation steps
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts laser parameters (power, speed, focal position) to optimize the cutting process for thick composite plates. By changing these parameters, the laser can effectively cut through the entire material thickness without requiring multiple separate irradiation passes, thereby reducing total irradiation time
3Length of stationary object
If laser irradiation depth increases, then deeper cutting is achieved, but heat generated spreads in width direction and deteriorates cut surface shape and quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies localized quality control by adjusting laser focal position and parameters at different depth zones. The laser cutting process is optimized for each depth region, with focal position adjustments ensuring concentrated energy delivery at each level to prevent heat spread and maintain cut surface quality throughout the material thickness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic focal position adjustment during the cutting process. The focal point of the laser beam is dynamically changed as the cutting depth increases, ensuring that the laser energy remains concentrated at the current cutting front rather than spreading laterally, thereby maintaining cut surface quality at all depths
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
Improves cutting efficiency and quality of thick composite materials by reducing processing time and heat impact, allowing for precise, single-pass cutting of composite materials without leaving residues.
Implementation Method 1
performing a cutting process by irradiating a cutting area of the composite material containing a reinforced fiber as a base material with a primary laser beam capable of cutting the reinforced fiber
Implementation Method 2
heat generated by laser irradiation enters the position, and spreads in a width direction
Data Source
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AI summary
In this laser cutting method and laser cutting device with which a base material is cut by irradiating, with laser, a surface of a base material formed of a composite material, an irradiation step for swinging the laser in a tolerance direction crossing the length direction of a cutting line while moving the laser relative to the base material along the length direction of the cutting line for cutting the base material is repeatedly performed on the cutting line, thereby cutting the base material, and in the irradiation step, a swing width in the width direction of the laser is decreased as the depth in the depth direction from the surface of the base material toward the rear surface increases.