KR100740037B1 - Apparatus for controlling aperture of laser generator - Google Patents

Abstract

An aperture controlling apparatus of a laser generator is provided to exactly obtain a laser beam with a predetermined diameter by continuously changing a diameter of a circular aperture. An aperture controlling apparatus of a laser generator includes a first member(321), a second member(322), a first groove(325-1), and a second groove(325-2). The first member(321) and the second member(322) have a first curve(323) and a second curve(324) which are formed in at least a part of a peripheral portion, respectively. The first groove(325-1) and the second groove(325-2) are formed in the first curve(323) and the second curve(324) to have a first semicircular section and a second semicircular section, respectively. The first member(321) and the second member(322) are disposed to have a common contacting plane of the first curve(323) and the second curve(324).

Description

Aperture Control Device for Laser Oscillator {APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING APERTURE OF LASER GENERATOR}

1 is a view schematically showing an example of the aperture according to the prior art used in the laser oscillator.

2 is a view schematically showing another example of the aperture according to the prior art used in the laser oscillator.

3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a laser oscillator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4A is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of an aperture control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4B is a view showing the back of the first member.

4C is a view illustrating a state in which the first curved surface is unfolded.

5 is a view showing a circular opening formed by combining a first semicircular cross section and a second semicircular cross section according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a view showing a circular opening formed by combining a third semicircular cross section and a fourth semicircular cross section according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to an aperture control device for use in a laser oscillator, and more particularly to an aperture control device that can control the size of the laser beam output from the laser oscillator.

In the process of irradiating a laser beam to a specific site and processing, the shape and energy distribution of the laser beam irradiated to the processing site may be considered the most important factors. The laser beam does not flow uniformly in all regions of the cross section of the laser beam. In other words, the energy flow in the cross section of the laser beam is concentrated in the center according to the Gaussian distribution.

When processing a workpiece using a laser beam, it may be necessary to irradiate only a portion of a laser beam having a power higher than or equal to a certain level of the entire cross section of the laser beam. To this end, an aperture may be installed and used between the laser beam generating device and the processing surface to remove a portion having a weak power and irradiate only a laser beam having a predetermined level or more output. In addition, the aperture of the laser device is widely used to control the size, shape and power of the laser beam.

1 is a view schematically showing an example of the aperture according to the prior art used in the laser oscillator.

The aperture 100 of FIG. 1 includes a housing 110, a spring 120, an adjustment screw 130, and a beam through tube 140.

The aperture 100 is configured by installing the beam passage tube 140 inside the housing 110, and fixing it by using the spring 120 and the adjusting screw 130. The diameter of the beam passage tube 140 has a value corresponding to the diameter of the laser beam to be output. The spring 120 and the adjusting screw 130 serves to fix the beam through tube 150 is located on the axis of travel of the laser beam. The aperture 100 determines the size of the resonant laser beam by adjusting the diameter of the beam passage tube 140.

Therefore, in the case where the diameter of the beam through tube 140 needs to be changed, the housing 110 must be opened, and then the beam through tube 140 which is fixed by releasing the adjusting screw 130 must be replaced. In other words, when the aperture 100 needs to change the diameter of the laser beam, it is inconvenient to go through the opening of the housing 110, the replacement of the beam passing tube 140, and the closing of the housing 110. there was.

In addition, the replacement of the beam pass-through tube 140 as described above has to be made in a state where the laser oscillation is stopped, there is a problem that excessive work time is required.

In addition, according to the diameter of the laser beam required, there is a problem in that the production cost increases because the beam pass-through tube 140 having a diameter corresponding thereto is additionally produced.

2 is a view schematically showing another example of the aperture 200 according to the prior art used in the laser oscillator.

The aperture 200 of FIG. 2 is formed in the form of a rotating plate, and forms a laser beam passing tube 220 having a plurality of diameters in the rotating plate 210. Thereafter, the aperture 200 is disposed on the laser beam passage path, and the driving unit (not shown) rotates the rotating plate 210 to select the laser beam passage tube 220 having a desired diameter. The size, shape and power of the laser beam passing through the laser beam passage tube 220 of the selected diameter are controlled by the aperture 200.

The conventional aperture 200 is limited to the number of beam through-tubes 220 that can be formed in one rotating plate 210, in advance to the beam through-tubes of the corresponding diameter according to the desired diameter of the laser beam There was a problem that must be produced.

Therefore, when there is no beam pass-through tube of the desired diameter, it is necessary to additionally manufacture the rotating plate, thereby increasing the production cost of the apparatus, and also causing the problem of stopping the laser oscillation for the replacement of the rotating plate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and a technical object of the present invention is to provide an aperture control device that can easily and variously change the diameter of a laser beam without replacing a part.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an aperture control device having a simple structure that can change the diameter of the laser beam in various ways without stopping the laser oscillation.

As an technical means for achieving the above object, the aperture control device used in the laser oscillator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first curved surface and a second curved surface formed on at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface, respectively A first groove and a second groove formed on the first member and the second member and the first curved surface and the second curved surface to have a first semicircular cross section and a second semicircular cross section, respectively; Is disposed such that the first curved surface and the second curved surface have a common contact plane, the first semicircular cross section and the second semicircular cross section form a circular opening, and the first member and the second member rotate as the first member The diameters of the circular opening formed by the first semicircular cross section and the second semicircular cross section change.

The diameters of the first semi-circular cross section and the second semi-circular cross section may vary continuously or may vary stepwise.

It is preferable that the said 1st member and the 2nd member are a circular pillar form or a semi-circle pillar form.

Preferably, the aperture control device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a driving unit for rotating the first member and the second member, and the driving unit may simultaneously rotate the first member and the second member. One of the first member and the second member may be rotated, and the other member may be rotated by the frictional force.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art may easily implement the present invention. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. In the drawings, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted for simplicity of explanation, and like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the specification.

Throughout the specification, when a part is "connected" to another part, this includes not only "directly connected" but also "electrically connected" with another element in between. . In addition, when a part is said to "include" a certain component, this means that it may further include other components, without excluding other components unless otherwise stated.

3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a laser oscillator 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the laser oscillator 300 generally includes a front mirror 310, an aperture control device 320, a resonance cavity 330, and a rear mirror 340. It includes.

A resonance region 330 is provided between the front mirror 310 and the rear mirror 340, and a laser medium is provided in the resonance region 330. In addition, a pumping unit (not shown) for exciting the laser medium is arranged adjacent to the laser medium.

The laser medium includes, for example, Nd: YAG, Nd: YVO ₄ or CO ₂ , and the pumping part may include a lamp pumping part and a laser pumping part.

The rear mirror 340 preferably uses a total reflection mirror having a reflectance of 100%, and the front mirror 310 preferably uses a mirror having a reflectance of less than 100% that allows some laser beams to pass and reflects the other part. .

The laser beam actually used for laser processing is output from the front mirror 310, and the output laser beam is used after being optically controlled according to the use.

The aperture control device 320 adjusts the diameter of the laser beam output from the resonance region 330.

As already explained, the energy is not uniform in all areas of the cross section of the laser beam and is concentrated in the center according to the Gaussian distribution, so when processing the workpiece using the laser beam, a certain level of power in the entire cross section of the laser beam is obtained. It may be necessary to irradiate only a certain portion of the laser beam having a.

Therefore, the aperture control device 320 is installed so that only a portion of the entire cross section of the laser beam is irradiated to the processing portion of the workpiece. The aperture control device 320 selects a laser beam flux within the required intensity range around the core by removing a skirt portion around the laser beam having a weak intensity in the Gaussian distribution. do.

4A is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of an aperture control device 320 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the aperture control device 320 includes a first member 321 and a second member 322, and the first member 321 and the second member 322 each have an outer circumferential surface. At least a portion has a first curved surface 323 and a second curved surface 324.

In FIG. 4A, the first member 321 and the second member 322 are illustrated as having a semicircular column shape, but are not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the first member 321 and the second member 322 may be in the form of a circular column, an elliptical column, a fan column, or the like. have.

The first member 321 and the second member 322 are disposed to have a common contact surface between the first curved surface 323 and the second curved surface 324.

First and second grooves 325-1 and 325-2 are formed in the first curved surface 323 and the second curved surface 324, respectively.

4B is a view illustrating the rear surface of the first member 321.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the first recess 325-1 is formed to have the first semicircular cross section 326-1, and the diameter of the first semicircular cross section 326-1 is changed. Like the first groove 325-1, the second groove 325-2 is formed to have a second semicircular cross section 326-2, and the diameter of the second semicircular cross section 326-2 is changed.

4C is a view illustrating a state in which the first curved surface 323 is expanded.

As shown in FIG. 4C, the first recess 325-1 formed in the first curved surface 323 is formed such that the diameter of the cross section 326-1 is changed. Similarly, the second groove 325-2 formed in the second curved surface 324 is also formed such that the diameter of the end face 326-2 changes.

When the first curved surface 323 and the second curved surface 324 are in contact with each other, the first semi-circular cross section 326-1 of the first groove 325-1 and the second semi-circular cross section of the second groove 325-2 The combination of 326-2 forms a circular opening.

In order to form a circular opening, when the first curved surface 323 and the second curved surface 324 contact each other, the respective diameters of the first semicircular cross section 326-1 and the second semicircular cross section 326-2 to be combined Should be the same.

As the driving unit (not shown) rotates the first member 321 and the second member 322, the diameter of the first semi-circular cross section 326-1 and the diameter of the second semi-circular cross section 326-2 are combined. As a result, the diameter of the circular opening 327 is changed.

FIG. 5 illustrates a circular opening 327 formed by combining the first semicircular cross section 326-1 and the second semicircular cross section 326-2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The first groove 325-1 and the second groove 325-2 of the first embodiment are formed such that the diameters of the cross sections thereof continuously change. The first groove 325-1 and the second groove 325-2 extending toward the front of the circular opening 327 formed by combining the first semicircular cross section 326-1 and the second semicircular cross section 326-2. Is indicated by a straight line, and the first groove 325-1 and the second groove 325-2 extending to the rear of the circular opening 327 are indicated by dotted lines.

When the driving unit (not shown) rotates the first member 321 and the second member 322 in front of the circular opening 327 shown in FIG. 5, the diameter of the circular opening 327 will be continuously increased, and the circular Rotating back of the opening 327 will reduce the diameter of the circular opening 327 continuously.

The circular opening 327 formed by the combination of the first semicircular cross section 326-1 and the second semicircular cross section 326-2 is preferably disposed coaxially with the advancing direction of the laser beam.

Although the driving unit (not shown) has been described so far as rotating the first member 321 and the second member 322 together, only one of the first member 321 and the second member 322 is rotated, The other member can also be rotated by friction.

In other words, by connecting the first member 321 and the second member 322 with a cog wheel or the like and rotating only one member, the other member can be rotated together.

Since the aperture control device 320 according to the first embodiment of the present invention can change the diameter of the circular opening 327 continuously, there is an advantage that it is possible to accurately implement a laser beam having any diameter.

In addition, when the diameter of the laser beam needs to be changed, the aperture control device does not need to be replaced, which shortens the processing time, and also eliminates the need to manufacture additional abutments corresponding to the diameter of the laser beam. This is an inexpensive advantage.

FIG. 6 illustrates a circular opening 327 formed by combining a third semicircular cross section 326-3 and a fourth semicircular cross section 326-4 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The third groove 325-3 formed in the first curved surface 323 and the fourth groove 325-4 formed in the second curved surface 324 of the second embodiment are formed such that the diameter of the cross section changes in a step shape. do. In the second embodiment, the third recess 325-3 and the fourth recess 325-4 are formed in a step shape when the first curved surface 323 and the second curved surface 324 rotate in contact with each other. In order to change the diameter of the circular opening 327 formed by the combination of the 3rd semi-circular cross section 326-3 and the 4th semi-circular cross section 326-4 in step shape.

The third groove 325-3 and the fourth groove 325-4 extending toward the front of the circular opening 327 formed by combining the third semicircular cross section 326-3 and the fourth semicircular cross section 326-4. Is indicated by a straight line, and the third groove 325-3 and the fourth groove 325-4 extending to the rear of the circular opening 327 are indicated by dotted lines. Rotating the first member 321 and the second member 322 forward of the circular opening 327 shown in FIG. 6 will increase the diameter of the circular opening 327 stepwise, Rotating backwards will reduce the diameter of the circular opening 327 stepwise.

Preferably, the circular opening 327 formed by the combination of the third semicircular cross section 326-3 and the fourth semicircular cross section 326-4 is disposed coaxially with the advancing direction of the laser beam.

As in the first embodiment, a driving unit (not shown) may rotate the first member 321 and the second member 322 simultaneously, and any of the first member 321 and the second member 322 may be rotated together. Only one rotates, and the other member may be rotated by the frictional force.

Since the aperture control device 320 according to the second embodiment of the present invention can change the diameter of the circular opening 327 in a stepped manner, the driving unit (not shown) is provided with the first member 321 and the second member. Even if the operation of rotating and stopping 322 is relatively less accurate, there is an advantage in that a laser beam having a desired diameter can be realized.

As the oscillated laser beam passes through the aperture control device 320, a skirt portion around the laser beam is removed by the circular opening 327, so that the laser beam within the required intensity range around the core is removed. laser beam flux can be used for laser processing.

 The aperture control apparatus 320 according to the second embodiment determines a plurality of diameters of a laser beam to be used for laser processing in advance, and according to the determined plurality of laser beam diameters, the first curved surface 323 and the second curved surface ( By forming the grooves in step 324 in step shape, the laser beam size is adjusted using a plurality of predetermined circular openings 327 unlike the first embodiment.

So far, only the opening 327 has been described as being formed in a circular shape, but openings having other shapes may be used according to the user's use.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of the following claims rather than the detailed description, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and the equivalent concept are included in the scope of the present invention. Should be interpreted.

As described above, according to the aperture control apparatus according to the present invention, since the diameter of the circular opening can be continuously changed, it is possible to accurately implement a laser beam having an arbitrary diameter.

In addition, since the diameter of the circular opening can be changed even in a step shape, there is an advantage that a laser beam having a desired diameter can be realized even when the control operation of the driving unit is not relatively accurate.

In addition, when the diameter of the laser beam needs to be changed, the aperture control device does not need to be replaced, which reduces the processing time, and also requires no additional apertures corresponding to the diameter of the laser beam. This is an inexpensive advantage.

Claims (8)

In the aperture control device used in the laser oscillator, The aperture control device may include a first member and a second member each having a first curved surface and a second curved surface formed on at least a portion of an outer circumferential surface thereof. A first groove and a second groove formed on the first curved surface and the second curved surface to have a first semicircular cross section and a second semicircular cross section, respectively, The first member and the second member are disposed such that the first curved surface and the second curved surface have a common contact plane, The first semicircular cross section and the second semicircular cross section form a circular opening, An aperture control device in which a diameter of a circular opening formed by the first semicircular cross section and the second semicircular cross section changes as the first member and the second member rotate. The method of claim 1, An aperture control device in which the diameters of the first semicircular cross section and the second semicircular cross section are continuously changed. The method of claim 1, The aperture control device in which the diameter of a said 1st semi-circular cross section and a 2nd semi-circular cross section changes into a step shape. The method of claim 1, And the first member and the second member are in the form of a circular column. The method of claim 1, The first member and the second member is an aperture control device in the form of a semi-circular column. The method of claim 1, And a driving unit for rotating the first member and the second member. The method of claim 6, And the driving portion rotates the first member and the second member together at the same time. The method of claim 6, And the drive unit rotates one of the first member and the second member, and the other member is rotated by the frictional force.

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