Liquid-Assisted Laser Texturing of Moving Steel Strip Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for texturing steel strips, such as temper rolling, face limitations including frequent texture renewal, production losses due to roll changes, and inability to apply different textures on varying locations, and result in a dirty surface from ablated material residue.
Innovation Solution
Laser texturing method using a single or multiple laser beams to ablate the steel strip surface, with a liquid supplied to suspend and remove ablated material, ensuring a clean surface and allowing for high-speed, high-throughput processing with controlled liquid film thickness and guidance to maintain surface cleanliness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If laser texturing is used to apply texture to moving steel strip, then texture application speed and productivity are improved, but ablated material residue contaminates the strip surface
Solution Approach 1:
A liquid intermediary medium is introduced between the laser beam and the steel strip surface. The liquid absorbs the ablated material particles, preventing them from contaminating the strip surface. This mediator enables high-speed laser texturing while maintaining surface cleanliness, resolving the contradiction between productivity and surface contamination.
2Ease of manufacture
If temper rolling is used to transfer texture to steel strip, then texture application is achieved, but texture roll wears out and requires frequent renewal
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical contact-based temper rolling system is replaced with a non-contact laser texturing system. The laser beam directly textures the moving steel strip without requiring physical contact or texture rolls. This substitution eliminates wear and tear on texture rolls, indefinitely extending the duration of texture application capability while maintaining ease of manufacture.
3Adaptability or versatility
If texture transfer roll is changed to apply different textures, then texture variety is achieved, but production time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The static texture pattern on a physical roll is replaced with a dynamic, programmable laser beam system. Different textures can be applied by changing laser parameters (pulse duration, frequency, scanning pattern) without any physical changes to the equipment. This dynamic control system enables instant texture switching, eliminating the time loss associated with roll changes while maintaining high texture variety and adaptability.
4Manufacturing precision
If ablation method is used to apply texture, then precise texture control is achieved, but strip surface becomes dirty from ablated material
Solution Approach 1:
A liquid intermediary is introduced into the laser ablation process to capture and remove ablated material particles from the strip surface. The liquid flows over the textured area, suspending and transporting the ablated particles away from the surface. This maintains the precision of laser texturing while preventing surface contamination, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and surface cleanliness.
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 method provides a clean, efficiently textured steel strip surface with reduced production losses and cost, enabling easy application of various textures on moving steel strips, suitable for industrial use.
Implementation Method 1
a texture is applied to a surface of a moving steel strip by ablation by means of a single laser beam or a plurality of laser beams
Implementation Method 2
a liquid is supplied on the moving steel strip to suspend ablated material
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method and arrangement for the texturing of a moving steel strip (3) wherein a texture is applied to a surface of a moving steel strip (3) by ablation by means of a single laser beam or a plurality of laser beams directed at the surface of the moving steel strip (3) and wherein a liquid (2) is supplied on the moving steel strip (3) over a surface area on the moving steel strip (3) that covers the working area of the single laser beam or the plurality of laser beams on the moving steel strip (3).