# US 10,307,864 B2 · Methods and systems to keep a work piece surface free from liquid accumulation while performing liquid-jet guided laser based material processing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,864 B2 - Document ID: US10307864B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/535,341 - Filed: 2014-11-07 - Published: 2015-06-18 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-13 - Assignees: Avonisys AG - Applicants: Avonisys AG - Inventors: Jens Guenter Gaebelein; Jeroen Hribar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307864B2 ## CPC - B23K 26/146: the fluid stream containing a liquid - B22D 19/0072: {for making objects with integrated channels} - B23K 26/0608: {in the same heat affected zone [HAZ] (B23K26/0613, B23K26/0619 take precedence)} - B23K 26/0622: by shaping pulses - B23K 26/0648: {comprising lenses} - B23K 26/142: for the removal of by-products - B23K 26/1462: {Nozzles; Features related to nozzles} - B23K 26/1464: {Supply to, or discharge from, nozzles of media, e.g. gas, powder, wire} - B23K 26/1482: {Detachable nozzles, e.g. exchangeable or provided with breakaway lines} - B23K 26/38: by boring or cutting - B23K 26/389: {of fluid openings, e.g. nozzles, jets} - B23P 17/02: Single metal-working processes; Machines or apparatus therefor - B29C 33/10: with incorporated venting means - B29C 33/3842: {Manufacturing moulds, e.g. shaping the mould surface by machining} - B29D 30/0606: {Vulcanising moulds not integral with vulcanising presses (for solid tyres B29D30/02)} - B29D 30/0629: {with radially movable sectors} - B23K 26/36: Removing material (B23K26/55, B23K26/57 take precedence) - B23K 2103/16: Composite materials - B23P 19/047: {for flexible profiles, e.g. sealing or decorating strips in grooves or on other profiles by devices moving along the flexible profile (hand tools therefor B25B27/0092)} - B29D 2030/0613: {Means, e.g. sipes or blade-like elements, for forming narrow recesses in the tyres, e.g. cuts or incisions for winter tyres} - B29D 2030/0617: {Venting devices, e.g. vent plugs or inserts} - B29D 2030/062: {Means for sealing the tyre against the mould in the bead areas} - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing - Y10T 29/49721: with disassembling - Y10T 29/49995: Shaping one-piece blank by removing material - Y10T 29/49996: Successive distinct removal operations - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM - B22D: CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES (shaping of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29C; metallurgical processing, selection of substances to be added to metal C21, C22) - B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A gas flow can be provided together with a liquid jet guided laser beam to remove accumulated liquid on the processing surface. The gas flow can have minimum interference with the liquid jet guided laser beam, while functions to blow away liquid generated by the liquid jet. Keeping the surface free from accumulated liquid can improve the efficiency of the liquid jet guided laser processing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A liquid jet guided laser system comprising a laser for emitting a laser beam; a nozzle module, wherein the nozzle module is configured to be connected to a liquid supply line for forming a liquid jet; an optical element for coupling the laser beam into the liquid jet; an air jet module, wherein the air jet module is coupled to the nozzle module, wherein the air jet module comprises an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein the inner wall forms a first conduit for accepting the liquid jet to pass through, wherein the inner wall and outer wall form a second conduit completely surrounding the first conduit, wherein the outer wall comprises a gas inlet for connecting to a gas supply line for forming a gas flow through the second conduit, wherein the gas flow passing through the air jet module surrounds the liquid jet, wherein the air jet and the liquid jet are configured to be guided toward a workpiece, wherein the inner wall is configured so that the gas flow is diverged from the liquid jet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A system as in claim 1 wherein the diverged angle is less than 30 degrees. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A system as in claim 1 wherein the inner wall comprises at least a hole to provide fluid communication between the first conduit and the second conduit for vacuum compensation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A system as in claim 1 wherein one end of the inner wall is tapered outward away from the liquid jet at an exit opening of the nozzle module. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A system as in claim 1 wherein one end of the outer wall is tapered outward away from the liquid jet at an exit opening of the nozzle module. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A system as in claim 1 wherein the inner wall is longer than the outer wall. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A system as in claim 1 wherein the inner wall comprises an inlet for accepting an assist gas flow. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A system as in claim 1 wherein the gas supply line comprises a compressed gas with a pressure less than 10 bar. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A system as in claim 1 wherein the gas supply line comprises a compressed gas with a maximum pressure of 10 bar. ### Claim 10 A liquid jet guided laser system comprising a laser for emitting a laser beam; a nozzle for forming a liquid jet from a liquid supply; an optical element for coupling the laser beam into the liquid jet; an air jet holder, wherein the air jet holder is coupled to the nozzle, wherein the air jet holder comprises a gas inlet for connecting to a gas supply line to form a gas flow, an air jet nozzle, wherein the air jet nozzle is disposed inside the air jet holder, wherein the air jet nozzle is configured to allow the liquid jet to pass through, wherein the air jet nozzle is configured to physically separate the gas flow from the liquid jet, and wherein the air jet nozzle comprises a fluid communication path between the gas flow and the liquid jet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A system as in claim 10 wherein the air jet nozzle is configured so that the gas flow is substantially parallel with the liquid jet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A system as in claim 10 wherein the air jet nozzle is configured so that the gas flow is diverged from the liquid jet. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) A system as in claim 10 wherein the air jet nozzle comprises at least one hole to provide fluid communication. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) A system as in claim 10 wherein the gas supply line comprises a compressed gas with a pressure less than 10 bar. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A system as in claim 1, further comprising: wherein the gas flow passing through the air jet module completely surrounding the liquid jet forms a concentric flow, and wherein the concentric flow is radially symmetrical from the liquid jet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A system as in claim 1, further comprising: wherein the air jet operates at a predetermined pressure and a negative angle when a workpiece surface is positioned at a predetermined distance, and wherein the air jet operates at a higher pressure and a positive angle when the workpiece surface is positioned farther than the predetermined distance. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A system as in claim 1, further comprising: a separator configured to separate the liquid jet and the air jet at least a beginning portion of the liquid jet and the air jet. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) A system as in claim 10, further comprising: wherein a bottom portion of the air jet nozzle is tapered outward away from the liquid jet. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) A system as in claim 10, further comprising: wherein a bottom portion of the air jet holder is tapered outward to guide liquid droplets away from the liquid jet. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A system as in claim 1 wherein the inner wall is configured so that the gas flow is instead substantially parallel with the liquid jet.