Flow-Directing Shroud for Clean Laser Ablation Optics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laser ablation processes contaminate optical surfaces due to particles, vapors, and gases, leading to potential damage and costly downtime, while existing protection methods either fail to prevent contamination or introduce 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 close to the part surface creates a crash hazard and risks part damage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention moves the gas delivery mechanism from a position adjacent to the substrate surface (two-dimensional plane near the part) to a position above the substrate (three-dimensional space above the part). This dimensional change allows the gas flow to still protect the optics and improve laser performance while eliminating the crash hazard associated with hardware mounted close to the moving substrate.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If high pressure gas flow is directed across the optic surface to prevent contamination, then optics are protected from effluent, but the gas flow may interfere with the laser beam path
Solution Approach 1:
The shroud structure provides localized gas flow protection specifically at the optic surface where contamination occurs, while leaving the central laser beam path clear. The gas flow is confined to the regions where it is needed (around the optics) rather than being applied broadly across the entire beam path, thus protecting optics without interfering with laser energy transmission.
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 laser optics, reducing the risk of damage and downtime by maintaining a clean environment for the laser process.
Implementation Method 1
purge-gas jet positioned to direct high velocity purge gas across a optic surface
Implementation Method 2
constraining the purge gas within a body of a flow-directing structure to create positive pressure inside the body
Implementation Method 3
directing high velocity purge gas away from the optic surface and toward a substrate surface being ablated
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3~4
AI summary
Laser ablation systems (10) comprise a flow-directing structure (30) that comprises a body (32) that is configured to be operatively attached to a laser assembly (12) relative to purge-gas jet (20) and an optical assembly (18). The internal volume (34) and the outlet (38) of the flow-directing structure (30) are configured to direct high velocity air (22) away from an optic surface (24) of the laser assembly (12) and toward a substrate surface (16) being ablated by the laser ablation system (10). Laser ablation methods comprise emitting (102) a laser beam (14) through an optic surface (24) of an optical assembly (18) of a laser assembly (12), directing (104) high velocity purge gas (22) toward the optic surface (24), constraining (106) the purge gas (22) within a body (32) of a flow-directing structure (30) to create positive pressure inside the body (32), exhausting (108) a column of the purge gas (22) out of the body (32) toward the substrate surface (16), removing (110) a plasma plume (54) from a path of the laser beam (14), and dissipating (112) fumes (56) and effluent (58).