Laser Cutting Nozzle Positioning for Composite Machining Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
During high-speed laser machining of fiber reinforced composite materials, decomposition products adhere to the workpiece due to their higher temperature than the matrix, leading to a decline in machining quality.
Innovation Solution
A laser machining apparatus with a nozzle that squirts gas toward the machining point, a rotation mechanism to rotate the nozzle or workpiece about the laser beam's optical axis, and a controller to position the nozzle on the machined product side during cutting, ensuring decomposition products are blown away from the machined product.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If laser power is increased to increase machining speed, then productivity is improved, but decomposition products adhere to the workpiece causing manufacturing precision to deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of positioning the nozzle in front of the workpiece (conventional approach), the patent positions it on the machined product side, using the opposite positioning strategy to achieve better results for composite material machining
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different positioning strategies for different material types: for single-material workpieces, the nozzle is positioned in front, while for composite materials, it is positioned on the machined product side to account for the different thermal properties of matrix and reinforcing fibers
2Manufacturing precision
If gas is squirted to blow away decomposition products, then manufacturing precision is improved, but for composite materials the decomposition products still adhere due to temperature differences between matrix and fibers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional nozzle positioning by placing it on the machined product side rather than in front of the workpiece, which changes the gas flow direction and effectiveness for removing decomposition products
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positioning parameter of the nozzle relative to the workpiece and machined product, which fundamentally alters the gas flow dynamics and its interaction with decomposition products during composite material machining
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 configuration improves machining quality by preventing decomposition product adhesion to the workpiece, allowing for high-speed and high-quality cutting of fiber reinforced composite materials.
Implementation Method 1
a laser beam to irradiate a workpiece W
Implementation Method 2
decomposition products produced during the machining
Implementation Method 3
a nozzle 15 to squirt gas toward a machining point
Data Source
AI summary
A laser machining apparatus that separates a workpiece into a machined product and a remnant material by cutting using irradiation with a laser beam includes: a nozzle that squirts gas at a machining point; a rotation mechanism that causes the nozzle or the workpiece to rotate about an optical axis; and a controller that performs control of the rotation mechanism. This control causes the nozzle, which squirts the gas at the machining point, to be at the machined product side during the cutting.