Laser Machine Laminar Air Flow Design for Emission Capture and Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laser machining of workpieces generates harmful emissions, including carcinogenic, mutagenic, and odorous substances, which can contaminate the environment and cause mechanical and electrical damage, posing risks to personnel and equipment.
Innovation Solution
A laser machine design featuring a housing with a workpiece support that allows for a laminar air supply to capture emissions at the point of formation and direct them as exhaust air away from the working space, utilizing a supply air channel with specific cross-sectional geometry to maintain turbulence-free flow and minimize exposure to harmful substances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a housing is provided to prevent propagation of harmful emissions, then emissions are contained within the housing, but personnel may still be exposed to emissions during work inside the housing between machining operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a pre-established laminar air flow system that creates a protective air curtain before personnel enter the housing. Supply air channels positioned above the workpiece support generate a controlled laminar flow that precedes and accompanies personnel movement, maintaining emissions containment even during access operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces laminar supply air as an intermediary protective layer between personnel and harmful emissions. This controlled air flow acts as a mediator that allows personnel to access the housing interior while maintaining a safety barrier, solving both the containment and access safety requirements.
2Reliability
If solid particles are removed from the processing location, then mechanical damage and electrical system damage are prevented, but the complexity of the emission removal system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pneumatic principles by using laminar supply air flow to transport solid particles away from the processing location. The supply air channels create a controlled airflow that carries emissions through the permeable workpiece support to collection points, preventing equipment damage without requiring complex mechanical removal systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the flow regime parameter from turbulent to laminar flow in the supply air channels. This parameter change optimizes particle transport efficiency while maintaining system simplicity, as laminar flow provides predictable, controlled particle removal without the complexity of active particle separation mechanisms.
3Productivity
If a laminar supply air flow is used to capture emissions, then emissions are effectively captured at the point of generation, but the supply air channel design becomes more complex with partial cross sections and walls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the supply air channel into multiple partial cross sections separated by partial cross sectional walls. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for laminar flow characteristics and enables the channel to cover the entire workpiece support surface, maximizing emission capture efficiency while maintaining manageable structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by configuring different sections of the supply air channel with specific geometries optimized for their local function. The partial cross sectional walls are positioned and dimensioned to create appropriate flow conditions at each location, ensuring effective laminar flow and emission capture across the entire workpiece support area.
4Productivity
If the workpiece support is made permeable to air, then supply air can be directed through it for emission capture, but the structural integrity and load-bearing capacity may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a permeable workpiece support structure that allows supply air to pass through while maintaining sufficient structural integrity. The permeability is designed to provide adequate air flow for emission capture through the laminar supply air system, while the support structure retains the necessary strength to bear workpiece loads.
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
Effectively captures and removes machining-related emissions, reducing the risk of contamination and damage, while maintaining a safe working environment by directing emissions away from personnel and equipment, with optional integration of treatment units for further filtration.
Implementation Method 1
In order to produce optimal laminar flow conditions for the removal of emissions, special technical precautions are taken individually or in combination with one another at the laser machine
Implementation Method 2
To generate the supply and the exhaust air flow, for example, a negative pressure generated by means of a conventional vacuum pump can be applied to the working space in the interior of the housing of the laser machining device according to the invention
Implementation Method 3
The workpiece support defines a support main plane and being permeable to air perpendicularly to the support main plane
Data Source
AI summary
A laser machine for machining workpieces has a workpiece support that forms a support main plane and is permeable to air perpendicularly to the support main plane. Supply air is directed to an upper side of the workpiece support. Air that is contaminated due to machining is discharged as exhaust air from the upper side of the workpiece support through the workpiece support to the bottom side of the workpiece support. In order to generate a laminar supply air flow which is perpendicular to the upper side of the workpiece support, the flow cross section of the supply air channel is divided into partial cross sections by partial cross sectional walls.