Optical Processing Head Elliptical Spot Thermal Stress Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical machining apparatuses require a secondary laser for pre-heating and post-heating, leading to increased size and complexity, which hinders downsizing and improves processing accuracy.

Innovation Solution

The use of a cylindrical lens to generate an elliptical optical spot with a moving direction alignment, eliminating the need for a secondary laser by integrating pre-heating and post-heating functions into the optical processing head, allowing for downsizing while maintaining high processing accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a secondary laser is added for pre-heating and post-heating, then processing accuracy is improved by reducing thermal stress, but device size and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing accuracyVSAvoiddevice size
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the pre-heating and post-heating functions into the main laser beam by using optical elements (cylindrical lenses and mirrors) to create an elongated optical spot that extends beyond the processing region. This eliminates the need for separate secondary lasers while maintaining the thermal stress reduction benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The main laser beam is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it performs the primary processing task and also provides pre-heating and post-heating through its extended optical spot. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity by eliminating dedicated secondary heating lasers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If a secondary laser is added for pre-heating and post-heating, then processing accuracy is improved by reducing thermal stress, but the number of components increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing accuracyVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines pre-heating and post-heating functions into the main laser system using optical elements, reducing the total number of components by eliminating secondary lasers while maintaining processing accuracy through thermal stress reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 the downsizing of the apparatus while enhancing processing accuracy by reducing thermal stress and deformation, and allows for flexible heat distribution and adjustment of pre-heating and post-heating regions.

Implementation Method 1

The use of a cylindrical lens to generate an elliptical optical spot

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

a secondary laser for pre-heating is arranged to suppress the thermal stress at the time of machining

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight absorption and thermal conversion: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 3

suppress the thermal stress at the time of machining and improve the shaping accuracy

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal stress reduction: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentEP3088165B1Optical processing head, optical processing device, and optical processing method
Publication Date: 2019.08.28 TECH RES ASSOC FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MFG
  • EP3088165B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3088165B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3088165B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An optical processing head capable of downsizing an apparatus while increasing the shaping accuracy of optical processing is disclosed. The optical processing head performs processing while moving, in a predetermined moving direction on a processing surface, an optical spot formed by condensing light emitted by a light source. The optical processing head includes an optical element that condenses light emitted by the light source to generate the optical spot of a shape elongated in the moving direction of the optical spot. Part of the optical spot is set as a processing region, the front side and/or rear side of the processing region in the moving direction is set as a pre-heating region and/or post-heating region, and a processing target object before and/or after processing in the region is heated.