Laser Processing Nozzle with Elastic Sealing and Cross-Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laser drilling methods face issues such as enlarged hole diameters due to assist gas deformation, prolonged drilling times for thick workpieces, and contamination of optical systems by splashed melted material.
Innovation Solution
A nozzle design featuring a nozzle tip body with a charge port and exhaust port, an elastic member, and an airflow generator that generates a helical airflow, creating negative pressure to efficiently remove melted material and prevent contamination, while maintaining precise hole drilling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If assist gas is blown to the laser light received area to remove melted material and accelerate combustion, then the melted material is removed and combustion is accelerated, but the peripheral region is deformed or removed by thermal conduction and the hole diameter becomes larger than intended
Solution Approach 1:
The gas flow is segmented into multiple paths: a main axial flow for removing melted material, and radial flows introduced at specific positions to control the gas dynamics. This segmentation allows the gas to perform multiple functions - removing debris while controlling thermal conduction to the periphery, thus maintaining hole diameter precision
Solution Approach 2:
The assist gas acts as an intermediary medium that is introduced in a controlled manner through specific ports. By mediating the interaction between the laser beam and workpiece, the gas removes melted material through the charge port while the exhaust port manages the gas flow to prevent peripheral deformation, achieving both efficient removal and precision
2Adaptability or versatility
If laser processing is used to drill thick workpieces, then the workpiece can be processed, but the melted material becomes difficult to remove and drilling takes much time
Solution Approach 1:
The gas flow is configured to act preliminarily on the melted material before it can solidify or adhere to the workpiece. The charge port introduces gas that continuously removes melted material during the drilling process, preventing buildup and maintaining high drilling speed even in thick workpieces
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses pneumatic principles by introducing assist gas through the charge port and exhausting it through the exhaust port. This pneumatic system creates a controlled gas flow that efficiently removes melted material from the drilling zone, enabling fast drilling of thick workpieces without material accumulation
3Productivity
If the laser received area is heated suddenly to drill the workpiece, then drilling can be performed, but the melted material splashes to the laser irradiating direction and contaminates the optical system
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of trying to prevent splashing directly, the invention inverts the approach by using gas flow to actively direct and remove melted material. The assist gas introduced through the charge port creates a flow that counteracts the splash direction, pushing melted material away from the optical system toward the exhaust port
Solution Approach 2:
The assist gas serves as an intermediary that mediates between the melted material and the optical system. By introducing gas through the charge port and exhausting through the exhaust port, the system creates a protective gas barrier that prevents melted material from reaching and contaminating the optical components
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
The solution enables reliable drilling of small holes in thick workpieces with reduced drilling time and prevents optical system contamination by effectively removing melted material through negative pressure and airflow mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
supply gas to the inside of the nozzle tip body along a gas flow path extending from the charge port to the exhaust port in a form of crossing across the laser beam in the nozzle tip body, to generate a negative pressure in the vicinity of an opening part of the tip end of the nozzle tip body
Implementation Method 2
an elastic member that is provided in a tip end of the nozzle tip body and contacts with the workpiece
Implementation Method 3
the nozzle tip body is provided with an airflow generator that generates a helical rising airflow in the inside of the nozzle tip body
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a nozzle for laser processing head capable of reliably drilling a small hole when drilling of the workpiece is performed by using a laser machine. A nozzle includes: a nozzle tip body that irradiates a workpiece with a laser beam; a charge port formed in the nozzle tip body; an exhaust port formed in the nozzle tip body so as to oppose to the charge port; and an elastic member that is provided in a tip end of the nozzle tip body and contacts with the workpiece while elastically extending and contracting in the axial center direction of the nozzle tip body. The nozzle supplies gas to the inside of the nozzle tip body along a gas flow path extending from the charge port to the exhaust port in a form of crossing across the laser beam in the nozzle tip body, to generate a negative pressure in the vicinity of an opening part of a tip end of the nozzle tip body. The elastic member contacts with the workpiece and improves the degree of enclosure of the nozzle tip body by the workpiece. Thereby, higher negative pressure than the negative pressure is generated.