Laser Plotter Sequence Control to Reduce Engraving Striation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laser plotters face issues with striation in engraving flat objects due to mechanical structure limitations, particularly with CO2 lasers, YAG lasers, and fiber lasers, leading to irregular vertical lines.
Innovation Solution
A method where a laser plotter uses multiple beam sources with software-controlled sequence adjustments to process workpieces in defined blocks with alternating directions, reducing overlaps and free spaces, and allowing for selection of quality settings to optimize engraving quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If line by line processing is used with mechanical carriage structure, then processing speed is maintained, but striation and irregular vertical lines occur in the engraved image
Solution Approach 1:
The workpiece area is divided into multiple blocks, and lines are processed in an alternating sequence between different blocks rather than sequentially within a single block. This segmentation approach prevents the mechanical carriage from repeatedly traversing the same path, thereby eliminating striation while maintaining processing efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit pre-calculates and determines an optimized processing sequence that alternates between blocks before actual engraving begins. This preliminary planning ensures that the carriage moves in a pattern that avoids mechanical play accumulation, preventing striation from the outset while maintaining high processing speed
2Manufacturing precision
If alternating block processing is used to reduce striation, then engraving quality improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The processing sequence is dynamically optimized by the control unit to alternate between blocks in a manner that minimizes carriage repositioning time. The system adapts the processing pattern to maintain high speed while achieving the quality improvement through alternating block processing
Solution Approach 2:
The alternating block processing is designed to maintain continuous useful action by minimizing idle carriage movements. The control unit ensures that the carriage remains actively engaged in engraving operations across block transitions, reducing non-productive time while achieving striation-free results
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
This approach significantly reduces striation in engraved images while maintaining processing time, allowing for high-quality engraving by controlling the heat balance and carriage adjustments, applicable with commercially available laser plotters.
Implementation Method 1
the laser light is sharply focused with a focusing lens. An extremely high-powered density is created in the focus of the laser beam, with which materials can be melted or evaporated
Implementation Method 2
the laser light is sharply focused with a focusing lens
Implementation Method 3
An extremely high-powered density is created in the focus of the laser beam, with which materials can be melted or evaporated
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, a method includes engraving, marking and/or inscribing a workpiece using a laser plotter. In said method, in a housing of the laser plotter, one, preferably more, in particular two laser sources in the form of lasers have an effect preferably alternating on the workpiece to be processed. The workpiece is laid in a defined manner on a processing table and a laser beam emitted from the beam source (4) is transmitted to at least one focusing unit via deflection elements and the laser beam is diverted toward the workpiece and focused for processing. The workpiece, in particular the position of the work piece in relation to the laser beam, is controlled by means of software running in a control unit, such that the workpiece is processed line by line by the displacement of a carriage. A sequence control adapted to the quality of the engraving in which a defined ratio of a spot variable to the line distance and an engraving controller of the lines to be processed is determined and/or carried out by the control unit and the focusing unit on the carriage is controlled corresponding to the defined parameters of the sequence control.