Laser Nozzle with Movable Element for Gas Concentration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current laser cutting nozzles face inefficiencies in gas usage, leading to cutting defects and nozzle damage due to mismatched orifice diameters and susceptibility to obstacles, which disrupt capacitive sensor operations and industrial productivity.
Innovation Solution
A two-part laser cutting nozzle design with a movable element and conductive materials, allowing for adjustable geometry and protection against obstacles, while maintaining compatibility with capacitive sensors through a separator sleeve, reduces gas consumption and enhances cutting performance on thin thicknesses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the nozzle orifice diameter is reduced to improve gas concentration in the cutting groove, then gas usage efficiency is improved, but the risk of laser beam hitting the nozzle interior increases, causing damage and deteriorating cutting quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a movable element (skirt) that can dynamically adjust its position between retracted and extended states. When extended, the skirt concentrates gas in the cutting groove; when retracted, it prevents the laser beam from hitting the nozzle interior. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between gas concentration and nozzle protection.
2Loss of energy
If a movable element is added to concentrate gas in the cutting groove, then gas usage efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable element is designed to be self-actuating through gas pressure. The assist gas pressure automatically pushes the skirt into the extended position when cutting occurs, and the elastic element returns it to the retracted position when gas pressure is released. This self-service mechanism avoids complex external control systems while achieving gas concentration.
3Reliability
If the movable element is made of conductive material to maintain capacitive sensor compatibility, then sensor operation is stabilized, but the risk of short circuiting increases when the element contacts the sheet metal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an electrically insulating coating on the movable element as an intermediary layer. This coating allows the element to contact the conductive sheet metal without creating a short circuit, while the conductive body of the movable element maintains capacitive sensor compatibility. The coating mediates between the conflicting requirements of sensor stability and short circuit prevention.
4Reliability
If the nozzle body is made in two parts to protect against obstacle shocks, then nozzle durability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle body is divided into two separate parts: a stationary part and a movable element, connected through fixtures. This segmentation allows the movable element to absorb shock from obstacles independently, protecting the main nozzle body. While segmentation increases manufacturing steps, it enables modular production and easier replacement of the movable element.
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 significantly reduces gas pressure requirements, improves cutting speed and quality, and minimizes nozzle damage, ensuring stable capacitive sensor operation and increased productivity.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic element exerting an elastic restoring force on the movable element in a direction tending to move it away from the sheet metal
Implementation Method 2
industrial laser cutting machines and associated focusing heads implement, in a manner known per se, a capacitive distance sensor system to move the head at a constant distance above the sheet metal to be cut
Implementation Method 3
the force exerted by the spring in the direction of the sheet, combined with the pressure of the cutting gas, causes the mobile element to exert a significant force on the sheet to be cut
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present application relates to a laser cutting nozzle comprising a nozzle body (1) including a first axial housing axially traversing said nozzle body (1), an inlet orifice for supplying said first axial housing with assist gas and a first outlet orifice located at a front face of said nozzle body (1), and a movable element (2) arranged in the first axial housing of the nozzle body (1), said movable element (2) including a front part (2a) forming a skirt and an axial passage (5) with a second outlet orifice (6) opening at said front part (2a) forming a skirt, the nozzle body (1) and the movable element (2) being formed of an electrically conductive material.Furthermore, the nozzle body (1) is formed of at least a first part (11) arranged around the movable element (2) and a second part (12) positioned, following the direction of flow of the assist gas in the first axial housing, above said first part (11), the nozzle body (1) further comprising first fastening means (7, 8) suitable for and designed to fix the second part (12) on the first part (11).