Laser Machining Optics With Integrated Transponder Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laser material processing machines face challenges in monitoring the condition and history of optical elements, such as lenses, which can become dirty or wear out, leading to potential damage from incorrect installation or usage in high-performance applications.
Innovation Solution
A transponder is integrated into the optical element, allowing for reading and writing of information about its material number, serial number, and usage history, enabling the detection of wear and correct installation without disrupting the optical path, and can be arranged on the peripheral surface for efficient data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a transponder is integrated into the optical element for storing information, then information retrieval about the optical element's material number, serial number, and usage history becomes possible, but the optical element's structure becomes more complex and the risk of interfering with the optical path increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transponder is positioned on the peripheral surface of the optical element, utilizing the radial dimension rather than the optical path dimension. This spatial repositioning allows data storage functionality to be added without interfering with the laser beam's axial path through the optical element.
Solution Approach 2:
A read/write device serves as an intermediary between the transponder and the control system. This intermediary enables information retrieval through wireless communication without requiring physical access to the transponder or disruption of the optical element's installation, thus maintaining system simplicity while enabling information access.
2Ease of operation
If the transponder is positioned on the optical element for easy data access, then information can be read and written efficiently, but the transponder may interfere with the optical properties of the optical element
Solution Approach 1:
The optical element is designed with differentiated functional zones: a central optically active area that interacts with the laser beam and a peripheral area that hosts the transponder. This local differentiation ensures that the transponder's presence does not compromise the optical quality of the critical beam-path region while still enabling data access functionality.
3Loss of information
If the transponder covers part of the optically usable area, then data transmission can be achieved, but the optically usable area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of positioning the transponder in the axial direction where it would block the laser beam, the transponder is placed on the peripheral surface in the radial direction. This dimensional change allows full utilization of the optically usable area while maintaining data transmission capability through wireless communication.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to an optical element (2) intended for installing in a laser material machining tool and having first surface that is optically unused and/or not captured by the laser beam during operation of the laser machining tool, wherein a transponder (7) is arranged in the region of the surface and comprises readable information with respect to the optical element (2).