Piercing Metal Workpieces by a Laser Beam
AssigneeTRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
InventorFlorian Raichle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems are implemented for piercing a metal workpiece by means of a laser beam and a process gas The methods and systems form a hole in the workpiece using the laser beam and using an inert gas as the process gas, such that the formed hole extends only partially through the workpiece, widen the upper part of the hole into a trough that surrounds the hole on the top side of the workpiece using the laser beam and using oxygen as the process gas, and fully pierce the hole using the laser beam and using oxygen as the process gas.
Claims18
A method of piercing a workpiece using a laser beam and a process gas, the method comprising:
- forming a hole in the workpiece using the laser beam and using an inert gas as the process gas, such that the formed hole extends only partially through the workpiece;
- widening the upper part of the hole into a trough that surrounds the hole on the top side of the workpiece using the laser beam and using oxygen as the process gas;
- and then
- fully piercing the hole through the workpiece using the laser beam and using oxygen as the process gas.
A laser processing machine comprising:
- a laser beam generator;
- a movable laser machining head with a process gas nozzle from which the laser beam emerges along with the process gas;
- and
- a control system which is programmed to control the movement of the laser machining head and to control selection of the process gas to:
- form a hole extending only partially through the workpiece using the laser beam and using an inert gas as the process gas, such that the formed hole extends only partially through the workpiece,
- widen the upper part of the hole into a trough that surrounds the hole on the top side of the workpiece using the laser beam and using oxygen as the process gas, and then
- fully pierce the hole using the laser beam and using oxygen as the process gas.
A computer program product for use on a control system of a laser processing machine, the computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code stored on the computer useable medium, the computer readable program code comprising:
- program code for causing the control system to activate a laser beam and a gas nozzle to form a hole in the workpiece using the laser beam and using an inert gas as the process gas, such that the formed hole extends only partially through the workpiece;
- program code for causing the control system to activate the laser beam to widen the upper part of the hole into a trough that surrounds the hole on the top side of the workpiece using the laser beam and using oxygen as the process gas;
- and
- program code for causing the control system to activate the laser beam to fully pierce the hole using the laser beam and using oxygen as the process gas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.