Swirling Nozzle Unit for Laser Machining in Light-Blocking Liquid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laser machining devices face issues with light-blocking liquid intrusion into the machining area, leading to reduced machining quality and increased complexity in preventing laser light leakage.
Innovation Solution
A nozzle unit with an inner nozzle, gas outlet port, and swirler is used to generate a swirling gas flow that effectively removes light-blocking liquid from the machining area, preventing its intrusion and improving machining quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cover is provided to prevent laser light scattering and leakage, then laser light safety is improved, but the device size and structural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces light-blocking liquid as an intermediary substance between the workpiece and the surrounding environment. This liquid absorbs and blocks scattered laser light, preventing it from leaking outside the machining area. The liquid serves as a flexible mediator that eliminates the need for rigid covers while maintaining laser safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a gas blowing system (pneumatic method) to dynamically control the light-blocking liquid level. Gas is blown through a nozzle to suppress liquid rise during machining, creating a gas barrier that prevents liquid intrusion into the machining area while allowing laser light to pass through the gas atmosphere without scattering.
2Device complexity
If light-blocking liquid is used to prevent laser light leakage, then device structure is simplified, but machining quality deteriorates due to liquid intrusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the balance between gas blowing force and liquid level to control the interface between gas and liquid phases. By controlling gas flow rate and timing, the system dynamically prevents liquid intrusion into the machining area while maintaining liquid coverage for laser light blocking. This dynamic control ensures high machining quality without sacrificing structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates different local environments: the machining area is maintained as a gas-filled zone with high optical transparency for precise laser machining, while the surrounding area remains filled with light-blocking liquid for laser safety. This local differentiation of media properties (gas vs. liquid) allows simultaneous achievement of machining quality and safety.
3Manufacturing precision
If gas is blown to remove light-blocking liquid from the workpiece surface, then machining quality is improved, but light-blocking liquid may intrude into the machining range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies gas pressure as a counteracting force against the liquid's tendency to intrude into the machining area. The gas blowing creates a pressure barrier that balances and counterweights the liquid's intrusion force, preventing liquid from entering the machining zone while still allowing effective removal of liquid from the workpiece surface in the machining area.
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 swirling gas flow effectively suppresses light-blocking liquid intrusion, enhancing machining quality and simplifying the device structure by preventing laser light leakage.
Implementation Method 1
The swirler causes the gas to swirl. A swirling flow of the gas is generated by the swirler and the swirling flow is blown onto the surface of the workpiece. The swirling flow diffuses in a tangential direction at the instant that the swirling flow comes out of the nozzle.
Implementation Method 2
The light-blocking liquid is an aqueous solution that includes, for example, an addition agent such as carbon that absorbs light.
Data Source
AI summary
A laser machining device uses laser light to machine a workpiece disposed in a light-blocking liquid having light-blocking properties. A nozzle unit for the laser machining device includes an inner nozzle through which the laser light passes, a gas outlet port that blows a gas toward the workpiece in order to remove the light-blocking liquid from between the inner nozzle and the workpiece, and a swirler that causes the gas to swirl.