Multi-piece nozzle for a laser processing system with a replaceable nozzle bore

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

• a bore body configured to be non-attachably disposed within a central passage of a body of the nozzle, the bore body defining a longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the bore body;
• an alignment region formed on an external circumferential surface of the bore body, the alignment region configured to contact and align with a complementary alignment region of the central passage of the nozzle body;
• and
• a central conduit disposed within the bore body extending between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein an inner circumferential surface of the central conduit of the nozzle bore is plated with a first metal and a remaining portion of the nozzle bore comprises a second metal, the first metal having a higher reflectivity than the second metal.

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

• a bore nut body configured to be disposed within a central passage of a body of the nozzle, the bore nut body defining a longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the bore nut body;
• an engagement region formed on an external circumferential surface of the bore nut body, the engagement region configured to operably couple to a complementary engagement region of the central passage of the nozzle body;
• a central conduit disposed within the bore nut body extending between the proximal end and the distal end;
• and
• a distal end face of the bore nut body configured to axially contact and locate a replaceable nozzle bore in the nozzle body such that the bore nut body is positioned proximally relative to the replaceable nozzle bore within the central passage of the nozzle body.

A method of assembling a laser nozzle, the method comprising:

• providing a 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 a nozzle bore into the central passage of the body from the proximal end;
• disposing a bore nut into the central passage of the body from the proximal end, wherein a distal end face of the bore nut is configured axially contact and complement a proximal end of the nozzle bore to locate the nozzle bore within the body;
• engaging the bore nut to the body via respective ones of engagement regions of the bore nut 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 the nozzle bore with the central passage of the body as the nozzle bore and the bore nut distally advance 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.