Apparatus for laser processing foil material

Details Apparatus for laser processing foil material Apparatus for laser processing foil material

2000-08-11

2002-04-02

Heinrich, Samuel M. (Department: 1725)

Electric heating

Metal heating

By arc

Reexamination Certificate

active

06365869

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates, in general, to laser machining and, in particular, to an apparatus and method for processing foil material with a laser.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In laser drilling and cutting of foil-like materials, such as thin metal foils and plastic foils, the surfaces of the materials that are being processed should be flat and taut to provide a focal plane or image plane for the laser beam. Because these materials are light and flimsy, holding them properly can be difficult.
One way of holding these light and flimsy materials flat and taut is by the application of a vacuum through holes in a bed or workpiece holder on which these light and flimsy materials are laid. Typically, these workpiece holders are solid and present a planar surface onto which the foil material workpiece to be machined is laid and the foil material workpiece is held in place by the vacuum.
One common laser machining operation is drilling a blind hole in the foil material workpiece (i.e., a hole that is not a through hole that extends completely through the workpiece). For such laser machining operations, where the laser beam does not pass completely through the foil material workpiece, an arrangement that includes a bed having a planar surface on which the foil material workpiece is held is fine. If, however, a through hole or a through cut is to be formed in the foil material workpiece, the laser beam must pass completely through the foil material workpiece and can impinge on the planar surface of the workpiece holder on which the foil material workpiece is being held. When the laser beam impinges on the planar surface of the workpiece holder, small crater-like formations are developed. As a result, the surface on which the foil material workpiece is being held is no longer planar and the workpiece no longer is held flat against the workpiece holder throughout the extent of the foil material workpiece.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, apparatus for laser processing a foil material workpiece, constructed in accordance with the present invention, includes a laser unit for developing a laser beam for processing a foil material workpiece. Also included in this apparatus is a workpiece holder that is adapted to hold a foil material workpiece and is disposed in the path of the laser beam. This workpiece holder has a recess in a first face that extends into the workpiece holder and a groove in the first face between the recess and a sidewall at the periphery of the workpiece holder. The workpiece holder also has a vacuum passage extending through the workpiece holder and opening at a first end into the groove. Apparatus for laser processing a foil material workpiece, constructed in accordance with the present invention, further includes means for applying a vacuum to a second end of the vacuum passage in the workpiece holder.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4187432 (1980-02-01), Mileham
patent: 5096518 (1992-03-01), Fujikawa et al.
patent: 5883356 (1999-03-01), Bauer et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Apparatus for laser processing foil material does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Apparatus for laser processing foil material, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus for laser processing foil material will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2884087