Laser Welding Gas Flow Redirection for Stable Irradiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In laser welding devices, the air blow used to prevent spatters from reaching the mirror and lens can be disrupted by structural objects, causing the air flow direction to reverse and leading to poor welding due to excessive air supply at the laser irradiation position.
Innovation Solution
A laser welding device configuration that includes a guide plate to change the air flow direction away from the laser irradiation position after it has crossed the optical path, combined with a fume entrapment restraining plate to prevent fumes and spatters from re-entering the optical path, ensuring a stable machining environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If air is fed in a direction crossing the optical path to sweep away spatters, then spatters are removed from the optical path, but the air flow may hit structural objects and reverse direction, causing excessive air supply at the laser irradiation position
Solution Approach 1:
The guide plate extends in the flow direction of the gas and changes the flow direction into a direction away from the laser irradiation position, adding a spatial dimension to control the gas flow path and prevent it from reaching the workpiece
Solution Approach 2:
The guide plate acts as an intermediary component between the gas flow and the workpiece, intercepting and redirecting the gas flow to prevent harmful effects at the laser irradiation position
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 configuration effectively prevents air from flowing into the laser irradiation position, maintaining a stable welding environment and preventing poor welding, while maintaining a high flow rate for spatter removal and entrapping fumes away from the optical path.
Implementation Method 1
a jet nozzle configured to jet gas in a direction crossing an optical path L of a laser beam emitted from a laser scanner body
Implementation Method 2
a guide plate disposed on the downstream side in the flow direction of the gas from the optical path L, so that a flow direction of the gas that has crossed the optical path L is changed into a direction away from a laser irradiation position Wo on the workpiece W toward a downstream side in the flow direction of the gas
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A laser welding device (1) includes: a laser scanner body (6) configured to emit a laser beam to a workpiece (W); a jet nozzle (72a, 72b, 72c, 72d) configured to jet gas so as to cause the gas to cross an optical path (L) of the laser beam emitted from the laser scanner body (6); and a guide plate (73b) disposed on the downstream side in the flow direction of the gas, from the optical path (L) of the laser beam emitted from the laser scanner body (6). The guide plate (73b) is configured to change the flow direction of the gas that has crossed the optical path (L) of the laser beam into a direction away from a laser irradiation position (Wo) on the workpiece (W) toward the downstream side in the flow direction of the gas.