Electric heating – Metal heating – By arc
Patent
1984-08-17
1987-08-25
Paschall, M. H.
Electric heating
Metal heating
By arc
219121LS, 219121FS, 219121LY, B23K 2600
Patent
active
046894675
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a laser machining apparatus and, more particularly, to improvements in a laser machining apparatus which works by applying both a laser beam as a main energy source for the working operation and an auxiliary energy source of plasma or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A laser machining apparatus in which a laser beam is focused by a focusing lens and performs the working operation while radiating the laser beam onto a workpiece is publicly known and is widely utilized. Further, a laser machining apparatus which works using both the laser beam and another auxiliary energy source such as a plasma jet or the like and thereby improving the working efficiency has been developed and is being used.
In the above-mentioned laser machining apparatus, although the working efficiency and working speed were remarkably improved as compared with conventional laser machining apparatus, the working efficiency and speed are still low and, particularly, in the case of cutting and working a thick workpiece or the like, it takes a long time and a high degree of working accuracy cannot be obtained.
Such a conventional laser machining apparatus using an auxiliary energy source performs the working by collecting the laser and the auxiliary energy onto the same irradiation point on a workpiece. When giving a relative movement between the workpiece and the irradiation point of the working laser beam and thereby performing the cutting work or welding work, etc., there is the problem that the heating by the auxiliary energy is not effectively utilized to the best advantage for the working by the laser beam.
In addition, in the case of working by collecting the working laser beam and the auxiliary energy onto the same irradiation point on a workpiece, the lens system for focusing the laser beam and the means for generating the auxiliary energy overlap at a certain portion, such that the arrangement of the apparatus becomes complicated and also its operation becomes troublesome.
On the other hand, although the auxiliary energy is provided to mainly heat a workpiece to a constant temperature and thereby to assist the working by the laser beam, since a portion of constant extent is heated by the irradiation of the auxiliary energy, in the case where the workpiece is relatively moving for the irradiation point of the working laser beam, a rear portion in the progressing direction of the working where the auxiliary energy is irradiated reaches a higher temperature than the front portion thereof. This is inconvenient since it results in wasted consumption of energy and causes distortion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a laser machining apparatus which can work a workpiece in a short time and can perform the working with a high degree of accuracy and with extremely high working efficiency and also high working speed by use of an auxiliary energy source as effectively as possible even in the case where a particularly thick workpiece is to be worked.
The gist of the invention is as follows. In a laser machining apparatus which allows a laser beam from a laser generator to be focused by a focusing lens and works a workpiece while radiating the laser beam thereon, a plasma generating apparatus or other auxiliary energy sources is provided, and at the same time the radiating portion of the laser beam onto the workpiece and the radiating position of the auxiliary energy are slightly shifted. Preferably, the auxiliary energy is always radiated onto the portion which precedes the irradiation point of the working laser beam in the progressing direction of the work. In the case where the workpiece is a relatively thin material, the laser beam and auxiliary energy may be respectively radiated onto opposite sides of the workpiece. With such an arrangement, there is provided a laser machining apparatus with simple arrangement and with less failure in which the auxiliary energy can be utilized effectively and the apparatus can be easily handled
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patent: 4533400 (1985-08-01), Benedict
Inoue-Japax Research Incorporated
Paschall M. H.
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