Liquid Jet Guided Laser Machining With Overlap-Controlled Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Liquid jet guided laser beam machining faces challenges in achieving a balance between high processing speed and good treatment quality, as existing strategies often result in either fast but imprecise cuts or slow but precise cuts, due to the unique properties of the liquid jet which differ from dry laser and high-speed water jet processing.
Innovation Solution
The process involves producing a liquid jet, impinging it on a reference surface to create a footprint, displacing the jet to form a trace with overlapping paths, and irradiating the workpiece with a laser beam to ablate material, with specific overlap areas defined by associated length-sections, allowing for both high quality edges and fast processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the liquid jet guided laser beam moves at constant speed along the cutting path, then processing speed is high, but treatment quality deteriorates due to overlapping irradiation in certain areas
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting path is divided into multiple segments with different laser irradiation parameters. The method segments the continuous cutting process into zones where the laser beam is applied differently - some areas receive full irradiation while others receive reduced or no irradiation, allowing optimization of both speed and quality in different regions
Solution Approach 2:
Different quality requirements are addressed by applying different laser irradiation strategies to different areas of the workpiece. Critical areas requiring high precision receive optimized irradiation with appropriate overlap control, while non-critical areas maintain high processing speed with standard irradiation parameters
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple passes are made over the same area to improve edge quality, then treatment quality improves, but processing time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making multiple complete passes over the entire cutting path, the method applies partial overlapping irradiation only in specific areas where edge quality is critical. The laser beam overlaps with itself in controlled amounts (e.g., 10-30% overlap) only in regions requiring enhanced quality, while other areas are processed with minimal or no overlap to maintain high speed
3Quantity of substance
If the liquid jet guided laser beam is used for deep cuts, then material removal capability is sufficient, but redeposition of ablated material occurs in the fresh kerf
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid jet is applied to the cutting area before and during laser irradiation to prepare the surface and maintain kerf cleanliness. The liquid jet removes ablated material and prevents redeposition by flushing the fresh kerf, ensuring that subsequent laser passes work on a clean surface and achieve better edge quality
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 enables machining of high quality edges at relatively high speeds by optimizing the overlap areas and length-sections, as demonstrated by comparisons showing improved kerf quality compared to prior art processes.
Implementation Method 1
shaping a workpiece by ablating material, by a liquid jet guided laser beam
Data Source
Figure 1~3b
Figure 4a~4c
Figure 4d~4e
AI summary
The invention concerns a device (3) and a process for treating a workpiece (1), preferably for shaping a workpiece (1) by ablating material, by a liquid jet guided laser beam (4). The liquid jet guided laser machining device (3) comprises, among other parts, a device for monitoring the amount of ablated material and/or the remaining thickness of the workpiece (1).