Laser Optic Shroud Using Purge Gas to Clear Ablation Plumes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laser ablation processes contaminate optical surfaces due to particles, vapors, and gases, leading to potential damage and significant downtime, while existing protection methods either introduce contamination or pose safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A flow-directing structure is coupled to a laser assembly to direct high-velocity purge gas away from the optic surface and toward the substrate, creating a positive pressure environment that prevents contamination and shields the optics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a linear air knife is mounted immediately adjacent to the substrate surface to blow fumes and effluent out of the beam path, then laser process performance is improved, but hardware is placed close to the part surface creating a crash hazard and risking part damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the gas delivery mechanism from a position adjacent to the substrate surface (2D plane near the part) to a position above the substrate, using the vertical dimension (Z-axis) to deliver purge gas. This elevated positioning eliminates the crash hazard while maintaining effluent removal effectiveness through downward-directed gas flow.
2Device complexity
If no protection is used, then the system is simple, but optical surfaces are contaminated and damaged requiring expensive replacement and causing significant downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary protection by continuously directing purge gas across the optic surface before contamination can occur. This preventive approach eliminates the need for reactive optics replacement, reducing downtime while maintaining reasonable system complexity through a single integrated shroud structure.
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 effectively prevents contamination of optical surfaces, reducing the risk of damage and downtime by maintaining a clean environment for the laser ablation process.
Implementation Method 1
constraining the purge gas within a body of a flow-directing structure to create positive pressure inside the body
Implementation Method 2
direct high velocity purge gas across a optic surface of the optical assembly
Implementation Method 3
Laser ablation may be used as an industrial process to remove surface material
Data Source
AI summary
Laser ablation systems comprise a flow-directing structure that comprises a body that is configured to be operatively attached to a laser assembly relative to purge-gas jet and an optical assembly. The internal volume and the outlet of the flow-directing structure are configured to direct high velocity air away from an optic surface of the laser assembly and toward a substrate surface being ablated by the laser ablation system. Laser ablation methods comprise emitting a laser beam through a optic surface of an optical assembly of a laser assembly, directing high velocity purge gas toward the optic surface, constraining the purge gas within a body of a flow-directing structure to create positive pressure inside the body, exhausting a column of the purge gas out of the body toward the substrate surface, removing a plasma plume from a path of the laser beam, and dissipating fumes and effluent.