Laser Engraving via Constant-Speed Scanning and Shutter Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for engraving printing plates for intaglio printing are time-consuming due to braking and acceleration processes and waiting times associated with the mirror system's mass-delayed reaction, which affects the quality and efficiency of the process.
Innovation Solution
The method involves moving the laser beam in essentially parallel lines over the engraving field at a constant speed, eliminating braking and acceleration processes, and using a shutter element to regulate the laser's impact, allowing for continuous operation and reduced waiting times, thereby ensuring high-quality engraving.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the laser beam is moved over the printing plate by means of movable mirrors with braking and acceleration processes, then the engraving can be performed with good quality, but the engraving time becomes very long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies continuous laser operation without switching the laser on and off during jumps, maintaining continuous useful action. The laser beam operates continuously while the shutter element controls material removal, eliminating wait times and enabling high-speed engraving without compromising quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the material removal function from the laser beam itself and assigns it to the shutter element. The shutter element selectively blocks or transmits the continuous laser beam, separating the functions of energy delivery and material interaction, which enables continuous operation without braking and acceleration
2Manufacturing precision
If the laser is switched off during jumps to avoid material removal, then material removal is prevented, but waiting times occur due to mass-delayed reaction of the mirror system
Solution Approach 1:
The laser operates continuously without being switched off during jumps, eliminating waiting times caused by mirror system inertia. The shutter element controls material removal timing while the laser beam remains active, ensuring no time is lost to laser switch-on delays
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter element acts as an intermediary between the continuous laser beam and the printing plate. It selectively blocks or transmits the laser beam during jumps, controlling material removal without requiring the laser itself to be switched off, thus eliminating wait times
3Manufacturing precision
If the laser output power is varied during engraving, then engraving quality can be adjusted, but the engraving process becomes slower due to frequent power changes
Solution Approach 1:
The laser output power is maintained constant throughout the engraving process, eliminating time losses associated with power adjustments. The shutter element controls the effective laser impact on the material, achieving quality variation without power changes
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter element serves as a mediator that controls material removal by blocking or transmitting the constant-power laser beam. This allows precise control of engraving depth and pattern without varying the laser output power, maintaining high engraving speed
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 approach significantly reduces engraving time while maintaining high quality, as the laser can operate continuously with constant output power, avoiding undesired switch-on effects and enabling precise control over the engraving process.
Implementation Method 1
a laser beam is guided over a printing plate to be engraved... in which the material of the printing plate is removed by the laser beam
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The method involves moving mirror system (3) such that the laser beam (4) of the laser (2) is moved during the removal of a first layer in parallel to first lines on an engraving field. The moving speed of the laser beam is approximately maintained in constant state in each first line after an initial acceleration region to a range end delay. The impingement of the laser beam on an engraving area (6) is regulated in response to a to-be-engraved template, by shutter elements (7).