Laser Machining Optics With Movable Mirror for Perpendicular Cuts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machining devices using laser beams struggle to achieve precise perpendicularity of lateral sides in holes or cuts due to complex and bulky optical systems, which are costly and difficult to maintain, especially in low-tolerance precision applications like clock making.
Innovation Solution
A machining device with a simplified optical system comprising a movable mirror and retro reflection system, allowing the outgoing light beam to remain parallel to a given direction, enabling control of spatial offset between incoming and outgoing light beams, and focusing on a target with improved precision and reduced complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a complex optical system with multiple mirrors and compensating systems is used to achieve precise perpendicularity of lateral sides, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases and maintenance difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the compensating optical system from the traditional complex optical arrangement. By using a single movable mirror with controlled trajectory, the invention removes the need for multiple compensating mirrors and complex driving mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision through the simplified optical path.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using multiple fixed mirrors with complex compensating mechanisms to achieve perpendicularity, the invention inverts the approach by using a single movable mirror whose normal depicts a controlled trajectory. This inversion simplifies the optical system from multiple components to one critical movable element, reducing complexity while achieving the same precision goal.
2Manufacturing precision
If a complex optical system with compensating mechanisms is used to control lateral offset, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of repair worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the compensating optical system and its associated complex driving mechanisms from the design. By controlling the trajectory of a single mirror's normal, the invention eliminates multiple optical components that would require alignment and maintenance, thereby improving ease of repair while preserving lateral offset control precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The single movable mirror system with controlled trajectory inherently maintains the required optical alignment through its defined motion path. The system self-regulates the lateral offset control without requiring external compensating mechanisms, reducing maintenance needs as there are fewer components that can drift or require realignment.
3Manufacturing precision
If a traversing optical system with multiple mirrors is used to achieve spatial offset, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple mirrors and compensating systems into a single movable mirror with a controlled trajectory. By combining the spatial offset control and perpendicularity achievement into one element's motion, the invention reduces the number of optical components from multiple mirrors to one, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The single movable mirror performs multiple functions: it creates the spatial offset, controls the lateral offset, and ensures perpendicularity of lateral sides. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate compensating systems and multiple mirrors, reducing device complexity while achieving comprehensive precision control.
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 device achieves better quality holes and cuts with reduced size, weight, and maintenance costs, as it uses simpler driving means and eliminates the need for compensating optical systems, allowing for precise control of conicities and angles in machining processes.
Implementation Method 1
a retro reflection system positioned with respect to said movable mirror for obtaining from said first reflected light beam a second incident light beam on said mirror
Implementation Method 2
focusing means for focusing said outgoing light beam on a target
Implementation Method 3
a light source; an optical system for obtaining from an incoming light beam an outgoing light beam
Data Source
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AI summary
Machining device (100) comprising: a light source (33); an optical system (2) for obtaining a spatially offset outgoing light beam (7) remaining parallel to a given position upstream focusing means (9), said optical system (2) comprising: a movable mirror (19) such that its normal is able to depict a trajectory in a three- dimensional space, said optical system (2) being configured such that said first incident light beam (4) and said normal to the movable mirror (19) are separated by an angle (15) comprised between 0° and 15° for all possible positions and orientations of said movable mirror (19); driving means (6) for moving said movable mirror (19); a retro reflection system (21) able to provide a second incident light beam (8) parallel to a first reflected light beam (23) on said movable mirror (19); focusing means (9) for focusing outgoing light beam (7) on a target (10).