Multi-piece nozzle for a laser processing system

A method of installing a nozzle bore in a body of a laser nozzle, the method comprising:

• providing the body that defines a central longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the body, the body comprising a central passage extending between the proximal end and the distal end along the central longitudinal axis;
• inserting the nozzle bore into the central passage of the body from the proximal end;
• engaging the nozzle bore to the body via respective ones of engagement regions of the nozzle bore and the central passage of the body to form an engagement interface, the engaging adapted to distally advance the nozzle bore within the central passage along the longitudinal axis;
• and
• radially and axially aligning a distal tip of the nozzle bore with the central passage of the body as the nozzle bore distally advances within the central passage, the aligning forming an alignment interface between an external circumferential surface of the nozzle bore and an internal circumferential surface of the central passage, wherein the alignment interface is located distal to the engagement interface along the longitudinal axis.

A nozzle body of a laser processing head, the nozzle body comprising:

• a central passage disposed in the nozzle body extending between a proximal end to a distal end of the nozzle body along a central longitudinal axis, the proximal end of the nozzle body configured to operably connect the nozzle body to a body of the laser processing head;
• an engagement region disposed on an internal circumferential surface of the central passage, the engagement region configured to matingly engage a complementary engagement feature formed on a nozzle bore disposed within the central passage;
• and
• an alignment guide located on an internal circumferential surface of the central passage at the distal end of the nozzle body and configured to contact and align a distal tip of the nozzle bore to the body,
• wherein the alignment guide is located distal to the engagement region.

A replaceable nozzle bore for a nozzle of a laser processing head, the nozzle bore comprising:

• a bore body configured to be disposed within a central passage of a nozzle core of the nozzle, the body defining a longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the body;
• an alignment datum formed on an external circumferential surface at the distal end of the bore body, the alignment datum configured to contact and align with a complementary alignment region of the central passage of the nozzle core;
• an engagement region configured to secure the nozzle bore to the nozzle core, the engagement region disposed on the bore body proximal to the alignment datum along the longitudinal axis, and
• a secondary alignment datum formed about the proximal end of the bore body, the secondary alignment datum configured to contact and align with a secondary complementary alignment region of the nozzle core, wherein the secondary alignment datum is proximal to the engagement region along the longitudinal axis.