Movable Gas Nozzle Deep Laser Marking for Coated Metals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laser marking methods for deep marking of metallic materials are limited by the inability to use a scan head laser due to the requirement of a coaxial gas flux, which restricts movement and production speed, making deep markings invisible after coating or superficial finishes.
Innovation Solution
A laser resonator apparatus with a fixed scan head and nozzle that allows movement of the laser beam using a system of mirrors, enabling deep marking by controlling the movement of the nozzle in one direction while maintaining high-speed operation, utilizing a gas flux to remove molten material and create grooves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a gas flux coaxial with the laser beam is used for deep marking, then deep grooves can be formed by removing molten material, but the scan head laser cannot be used and production speed is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a movable nozzle that can move in the direction of the laser beam (y-direction), while the scan head mirrors handle movement in the perpendicular direction (x-direction). This dimensional separation allows the gas flux to remain effectively coaxial with the laser beam for deep groove formation, while the scan head can still operate at high speeds by moving the beam laterally across the workpiece.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically follow and maintain alignment with the moving laser beam. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to combine the deep marking capability of coaxial gas flux with the high-speed scanning capability of the scan head laser.
2Productivity
If a scan head laser is used for high-speed marking, then production speed increases, but deep marking capability is lost due to inability to maintain coaxial gas flux
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the scanning function (handled by scan head mirrors moving the beam in x-direction) from the depth control function (handled by movable nozzle following the beam in y-direction). This allows high-speed scanning to be maintained while deep grooves are formed through the coordinated movement of the nozzle in the perpendicular dimension.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable nozzle acts as an intermediary between the scan head laser and the workpiece, enabling the laser beam to move rapidly across the surface while the nozzle follows along, maintaining the necessary gas flux alignment for deep material removal without restricting the scan head's high-speed operation.
3Manufacturing precision
If the nozzle moves in both directions to follow the laser beam, then deep marking is possible, but the complexity of the apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the movement control into two independent segments: the scan head mirrors handle x-direction scanning, while the movable nozzle handles y-direction following. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in one dimension, reducing the overall complexity compared to a system where the nozzle must independently handle both directional movements.
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
Enables cost-effective and high-speed deep marking capable of producing grooves up to 100 mm in breadth and 500 mm in length, with depths between 0.1 mm and 1.2 mm, ensuring marking visibility under coatings, outperforming conventional methods like mechanical marking.
Implementation Method 1
laser resonator for creating a groove deep enough to guarantee reading of the marking
Implementation Method 2
materials used in the present invention are metallic materials, i.e. metals or metal alloys
Implementation Method 3
the use of a gas flux coaxial with the laser beam makes it impossible the use of a scan head laser. In this way the material, once molten, is removed by the gas flux and a more or less deep groove is formed
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention is directed to an apparatus for deep marking of solid materials, which apparatus comprises: a scan head laser; a nozzle for the emission of a gas, wherein the nozzle has rectangular section, wherein the longer side of the rectangle entirely covers the breath of the marking along y axis; an engine connected with the nozzle, which engine is capable of moving the nozzle along the x axis synchronously with the movement of the laser beam. In a preferred embodiment, the distance d between laser beam and nozzle is comprised between 1 mm and 50 mm, and the nozzle is inclined with respect to the plane of the solid material of an angle a comprised between 10° and 70. The invention also concerns a process for deep marking a material, with the use of the above defined apparatus. The marking obtained on the material has a breath comprised between 5 mm and 100 mm and a length comprised between 10 mm and 500 mm, and a depth comprised between 0.1 mm and 1.2 mm. Preferably, the material is a metallic material.