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US 9,403,238 B2Granted
Laser cutting
AssigneeAlign Technology, Inc.
InventorJames C. Culp
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Laser cutting systems and methods are described herein. One or more systems include a laser generating component, an optical component, a fixture for holding a support with a part positioned on the support, and a control mechanism for adjusting at least one of the laser generating component, the optical component, and the fixture such that a ratio of a laser energy applied to the part and a part material thickness is maintained within a predetermined acceptable range at each point along a cut path to cut through the part while maintaining the integrity of the support. Other systems and methods are disclosed herein.
Claims39
A laser cutting system, comprising:
- a laser generating component;
- an optical component;
- a fixture for holding a support with a part positioned on the support and wherein the part and support are made from different materials that are each capable of being cut by a laser from the laser generating component and the support material is capable of mixing in with material associated with the part;
- and
- at least one control mechanism for adjusting at least one of the laser generating component, the optical component, and the fixture such that a ratio of a laser energy applied to the part is maintained within a predetermined acceptable range at each point along a cut path to cut through the part thickness such that the different materials do not mix.
2 more elements
A method of laser cutting, comprising:
- creating, via a computing device, a virtual version of a specialized mold and a specialized part formed-on the mold;
- defining, via a computing device, a virtual cut path at which a laser generating component will direct energy to cut the specialized part formed on the mold;
- determining, via a computing device, multiple part material thickness estimates for multiple points along the virtual cut path;
- and
- defining a set of adjustment instructions for adjusting at least one of the laser generating component, an optical component, and a fixture that holds the specialized mold with the part formed thereon, wherein the instructions are executed via a computing device, such that a ratio of a laser energy applied to the part and the part material thickness is maintained within a predetermined acceptable range at each point along an actual cut path to cut through the part while maintaining the integrity of the mold, and wherein the part is a dental aligner appliance.
2 more elements
A laser cutting system, comprising:
- a laser generating component for producing a laser beam;
- a fixture for holding a part to be cut by the laser beam;
- an optical component for focusing the laser beam to create a predetermined range of energy at a cut path to cut through the part while obtaining at least one of a desired edge condition or an edge characteristic;
- and
- a controller for adjusting a laser energy applied to a part material thickness by adjusting at least one of the laser generating component, the optical component, and the fixture via at least one control mechanism, wherein the controller receives data regarding the part material thickness, at multiple points along the cut path, and adjusts a ratio of the laser energy applied to the part and the part material thickness to maintain the ratio within a predetermined acceptable range at each point along the cut path.
2 more elements
A method of laser cutting, comprising:
- creating, via a computing device, a virtual version of a first specialized mold and a first specialized part formed on the first specialized mold;
- defining, via a computing device, a first virtual cut path at which a laser generating component will direct energy to cut the first specialized part;
- and
- determining, via a computing device, multiple part material thickness estimates for multiple points along the first virtual cut path;
- defining a set of adjustment instructions for adjusting at least one of the laser generating component, an optical component, and a fixture that holds the first specialized mold, wherein the instructions are executed via a computing device, such that a ratio of a laser energy applied to the first specialized part and the first specialized part material thickness is maintained within a predetermined acceptable range at each point along an actual cut path to cut through the first specialized part while maintaining the integrity of the first specialized mold, wherein the part is a dental aligner appliance;
- creating, via a computing device, a virtual version of a second specialized mold and a second specialized part formed on the second specialized mold;
- defining, via a computing device, a second virtual cut path that is different from the first virtual cut path at which a laser generating component will direct energy to cut the second specialized part;
- determining, via a computing device, multiple part material thickness estimates for multiple points along the second virtual cut path wherein the multiple part material thickness estimates for the second virtual cut path are different from the estimates for the first cut path;
- and
- defining a set of adjustment instructions for adjusting at least one of the laser generating component, an optical component, and a fixture that holds the second specialized mold, wherein the instructions are executed, via a computing device, such that a ratio of a laser energy applied to the second specialized part and the second specialized part material thickness is maintained within a predetermined acceptable range at each point along an actual cut path to cut through the second specialized part while maintaining the integrity of the second specialized mold.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.