Laser Marking Head Beam Vibration for Thick Sheet Metal Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser processing methods require significant time and labor to create wide, thick marking-off lines on sheet metal surfaces and can cause discoloration due to repeated irradiation, and increasing laser beam output to compensate for reduced energy density when drawing thick lines poses safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A laser processing machine with a moving mechanism and beam vibration mechanism that advances the irradiation position of the laser beam and vibrates the beam spot on the sheet metal surface to create a thick marking-off line without defocusing the laser beam, using a processing head with a converging lens and a Galvano scanner unit to control the vibration range and trajectory of the beam spot.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If repeated drawing of thin marking-off lines is performed to create thick marking-off lines, then thick marking-off lines can be formed, but processing time and labor increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beam vibration to move the laser beam in the thickness direction of the workpiece. By vibrating the beam within a predetermined range, the laser irradiates a wider area perpendicular to the moving direction, forming thick marking-off lines in a single pass rather than through repeated thin line drawing, thus resolving the contradiction between line thickness and processing time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic vibration control of the laser beam trajectory. The beam vibration mechanism dynamically adjusts the beam position in the thickness direction during irradiation, enabling the formation of thick marking-off lines through controlled dynamic motion rather than static repeated passes, improving productivity while maintaining the desired shape
2Shape
If repeated irradiation is performed to form thick marking-off lines, then thick marking-off lines can be formed, but discoloration occurs due to oxidation effect
Solution Approach 1:
Beam vibration enables single-pass thick line formation by expanding the irradiation width through perpendicular oscillation. This eliminates repeated irradiation cycles that cause cumulative thermal effects and oxidation-induced discoloration, while still achieving the desired thick line shape through dynamic beam positioning
Solution Approach 2:
The vibration mechanism enables continuous single-pass irradiation that forms thick marking-off lines without interruption or repeated passes. This continuous action prevents the intermittent heating and cooling cycles that lead to oxidation and discoloration, maintaining surface quality while achieving the required line thickness
3Shape
If laser beam output is increased to compensate for reduced energy density when drawing thick marking-off lines, then thick marking-off lines can be formed, but beam intensity of reflected light increases causing safety concerns
Solution Approach 1:
Beam vibration forms thick marking-off lines by expanding the irradiation area through perpendicular oscillation rather than increasing beam diameter or power. This maintains concentrated energy density for effective marking while distributing the thermal load, preventing excessive reflected light intensity and associated safety hazards
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the irradiation pattern by introducing beam vibration in the thickness direction, transforming the marking mechanism from wide-beam low-power to focused-beam oscillating irradiation. This parameter change maintains energy density for effective marking while achieving thick lines through motion control, avoiding the safety issues of high-power wide-beam irradiation
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 marking-off lines on sheet metal surfaces without reducing energy density or causing discoloration, improving processing efficiency and safety by maintaining the laser beam's focal point alignment.
Implementation Method 1
a converging lens provided in the processing head and configured to converge the laser beam to form a beam spot on a surface of a sheet metal
Implementation Method 2
a beam vibration mechanism configured to vibrate, within the opening, the laser beam emitted from the opening and vibrate the beam spot on the surface of the sheet metal
Implementation Method 3
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
Data Source
AI summary
A laser processing machine includes: a processing head that emits a laser beam from an opening; carriages that move the position of the processing head; a Galvano scanner unit that vibrates the laser beam emitted from the opening to vibrate the beam spot on the surface of the sheet metal; and a numerical control (NC) device. The NC device marks a marking-off line on the sheet metal by reading a processing program for marking the marking-off line on the surface of the sheet metal and information on the vibration range of the laser beam corresponding to a set thickness of the marking-off line, and controlling the carriages to advance the irradiation position of the laser beam in a predetermined direction while controlling the Galvano scanner unit to vibrate the beam spot on the surface of the sheet metal at the read vibration range.