Cutting amorphous metal by crystallization with a laser or electron beam
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsTheodore R. Haller, Marshall G. Jones, Gerald B. Kliman, Russell E. Tompkins
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Abstract
A rapid method of cutting thin amorphous metal sheet material is to use a focused heat source such as a laser beam or electron beam to heat local regions of the material above the crystallization temperature and form brittle crystalline lines along which the material fractures when it is mechanically deformed as by passage through a set of rollers. The material is not melted and does not form burrs. A higher packing factor is possible for motor and transformer laminations.
Claims13
A method of cutting thin amorphous metal sheet material comprising the steps of:
- temporarily non-contact heating local regions of said amorphous metal sheet above its crystallization temperature without melting the material to form crystalline lines within the amorphous metal which has a non-crystalline structure;
- and
- mechanically deforming said amorphous metal sheet to produce fractures along said crystalline lines and separate a burrless lamination with the desired shape.
A method of cutting thin amorphous metal ribbon material comprising the steps of:
- moving a focused heat source and said amorphous metal ribbon relative to one another to heat local regions of the non-crystalline amorphous metal material above its crystallization temperature without melting the material to form crystalline lines within the non-crystalline amorphous metal;
- and
- mechanically deforming said ribbon to fracture the material along said crystalline lines and separate an amorphous metal lamination with the desired shape which does not have burrs along the fractured edges.
A method of cutting thin amorphous metal ribbon material comprising the steps of:
- moving an electron beam and said amorphous metal ribbon relative to one another so that electrons penetrate at least partly through the thickness of the amorphous metal material and heat local regions of the material above its crystallization temperature without producing melting and result in the formation of crystalline lines;
- and
- mechanically deforming said ribbon to fracture the material along said crystalline lines and separate an amorphous metal lamination with the desired shape which does not have burrs along the fractured edges.
A method of continuously forming laminations from a ribbon of amorphous metal material comprising the steps of:
- passing the amorphous metal ribbons at high speeds under an optically deflected focused laser beam to form a desired outline of crystallization lines within the amorphous metal which has a non-crystalline structure;
- and
- mechanically deforming said ribbon to fracture the material along said crystalline lines and separate burrless amorphous metal laminations.
A method of continuously forming laminations from a ribbon of amorphous metal material comprising the steps of:
- passing the amorphous metal ribbon at high speeds under a magnetically deflected focused electron beam to form a desired outline of crystallization lines within the amorphous metal which has a non-crystalline structure;
- and
- mechanically deforming said ribbon to fracture the material along said crystalline lines and separate burrless amorphous metal laminations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.