Method and plant for laser cutting with dual-flow and double-focus cutting head
AssigneeL'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
InventorChristophe Bertez
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Method and plant for cutting or welding by a laser beam with dual-flow and double-focus cutting head. The plant includes a laser generator to generate at least one main laser beam (10), a first optical element (1) enabling the main laser beam (10) to be divided into at least two subsidiary laser beams (11, 12), a first outlet nozzle (4) through which one (11) of the subsidiary laser beams passes, and a second outlet nozzle (3) through which the other (12) of the subsidiary laser beams passes, the first and second outlet nozzles (4, 3) being approximately coaxial one with the other. In this way, it is possible to focus the central beam (11) onto a focusing point (PF) by a first focusing element (1), such as a lens, and the other beam (12) onto an annular focusing zone (ZAF).
Claims18
Apparatus for cutting or welding by laser beam comprising:
- at least one laser generator to generate at least one main laser beam;
- a first optical means enabling said main laser beam to be divided into at least two subsidiary laser beams;
- at least one first outlet nozzle through which at least one of said subsidiary laser beams passes;
- at least a second outlet nozzle through which at least the other of said subsidiary laser beams passes;
- said first and second outlet nozzles being approximately coaxial one with the other.
Method of cutting or welding at least one metal workpiece, which comprises:
- (a) generating at least one main laser beam;
- (b) dividing said main laser beam into at least a first subsidiary laser beam and a second subsidiary laser beam;
- (c) focusing the first subsidiary laser beam onto a focusing point with a first focusing element;
- (d) focusing the second subsidiary laser beam onto an annular focusing zone distinct from the focusing point;
- wherein the cutting or welding takes place by melting at least part of at least one workpiece with the subsidiary laser beams.
Method of cutting or welding at least one metal workpiece, which comprises:
- (a) generating at least one main laser beam;
- (b) dividing said main laser beam into at least a first subsidiary laser beam and a second subsidiary laser beam;
- (c) guiding the first subsidiary laser beam through a first outlet nozzle, and focusing said first subsidiary laser beam onto a focusing point with a first focusing element;
- (d) guiding the second subsidiary laser beam through a second outlet nozzle arranged approximately coaxially with the first outlet nozzle, and focusing said second subsidiary laser beam onto an annular focusing zone;
- wherein the cutting or welding takes place by melting at least part of at least one workpiece with the subsidiary laser beams.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.