Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
  • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
  • B23K26/36—Removing material
  • B23K26/38—Removing material by boring or cutting
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
  • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
  • B23K26/08—Devices involving relative movement between laser beam and workpiece
  • B23K26/10—Devices involving relative movement between laser beam and workpiece using a fixed support, i.e. involving moving the laser beam
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
  • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
  • B23K26/60—Preliminary treatment
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
  • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
  • B23K26/70—Auxiliary operations or equipment
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
  • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
  • B23K26/70—Auxiliary operations or equipment
  • B23K26/702—Auxiliary equipment
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
  • B23K37/00—Auxiliary devices or processes, not specially adapted for a procedure covered by only one of the other main groups of this subclass
  • B23K37/04—Auxiliary devices or processes, not specially adapted for a procedure covered by only one of the other main groups of this subclass for holding or positioning work
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
  • B23K2103/00—Materials to be soldered, welded or cut
  • B23K2103/08—Non-ferrous metals or alloys
  • B23K2103/10—Aluminium or alloys thereof
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
  • Y10T29/49826—Assembling or joining
  • Y10T29/49863—Assembling or joining with prestressing of part

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an apparatus and process technique to neutralize the warp effect caused by the build up of micro strains caused by machining parts with a long wavelength laser.
• the warping phenomenon is very repeatable. Once it is characterized in a metal part, developing a technique to pre-stress the part in the opposite direction of the warp is relatively simple as long as the part can be properly fixtured without yielding any other features in the part.
• the part to be machined is pre-stressed in an opposite direction of a warp stress due to machining with a fixture for holding the part without yielding any other features in the part. The part is then machined while held in the fixture.
• the part has features that induce high stress concentrations, it is possible to reinforce such areas to keep the high stress zones from yielding.
• inserts having a precise fit with the features may be placed into the features to restrain the features and to prevent the features from yielding.
• expandable inserts may be placed into the features and expanded until they have such a precise fit.
• the part may include a thin flat sheet of a metal material, such as aluminum.
• FIG. 1 is an illustration showing an apparatus for machining a part with a long wavelength laser
• FIG. 2A is a top view of an aluminum sample that was machined with a long wavelength laser
• FIG. 2B is a top view of a first portion of the aluminum sample of FIG. 2A that has been cut and mounted for testing;
• FIG. 2C is a top view of a second portion of the aluminum sample of FIG.
• FIG. 2D is a 10Ox magnification optical image of the first portion taken from a top-down point of view
• FIG. 2E is a 20Ox magnification bright field optical image of the first portion taken from a top-down point of view;
• FIG. 2F is a 50x magnification bright field optical image of the second portion
• FIG. 2G is a 20Ox magnification bright field optical image of the second portion
• FIG. 2H is a 60Ox magnification SEM micrograph of first portion taken from a top-down point of view
• FIG. 21 is a 60Ox magnification SEM micrograph of first portion taken from a top-down point of view
• FIG. 3 is a simplified perspective view of a typical part with concave warp profile set above it;
• FIG. 4 is a simplified perspective view of a typical part with a convex pre- stress profile set above it;
• FIG. 5 is a simplified perspective view of a typical part with stress concentration geometry and a reinforcing portion having restraining inserts
• FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative reinforcing portion having expandable inserts.
• FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an expandable insert according to FIG.
• FIG. 1 shows a relevant portion of an apparatus 10 for machining a part 12 with a long wavelength laser 14 that produces a beam 15 suitable for machining part 12.
• apparatus 10 and an associated method according embodiments of the present invention are directed most generally to neutralizing a warp effect resulting from a build up of micro strains caused by machining part 12 with long wavelength laser 14.
• Part 12 may include or be in the form of a thin flat sheet, and long wavelength laser 14 is utilized to cut one or more apertures 18 through part 12. Apertures 18 extend from an upper face to a lower face of part 12 such that apertures 18 extend substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by part 12.
• Apparatus 10 includes a fixture 16 that holds part 12 in a predetermined position and profile with respect to long wavelength laser 14 while long wavelength laser 14 is utilized to cut one or more features into or through part 12.
• Fixture 16 includes a base portion 17 and pressure plates 19 that are adapted to engage the lower and upper surfaces, respectively, of part 12 at opposed ends of part 12. That is, each end of part 12 is captured between base portion 17 and one of pressure plates 19.
• pressure plates 19 extend along the length of opposing edges of part 12.
• One or more clamps 21 are utilized to secure base portion 17 and pressure plates 19 with respect to part 12.
• Fixture 16 also includes one or more fingers 23 that extend upward from base portion 17 and are engageable with part 12.
• Base 17 and laser 14 are generally incorporated into any number of laser micro-machining systems.
• base 17 is removably fixed to a base of the laser micro-machining system, and laser 14 is generally supported by a gantry system for movement with respect to base 17.
• Base 17 can also be mounted for movement with respect to laser 14.
• Suitable laser micro-machining systems are available from Electro Scientific Industries, Inc. of Portland, OR and sold as Model Nos. 5330, 5530, 5650 and 5800.
• the term "long wavelength laser” is defined to include, for example, an infrared wavelength laser.
• the long wavelength laser can have a wavelength of greater than approximately 750 nanometers (nm), and more preferably a wavelength of between approximately 900 nanometers (nm) and approximately 800 micrometers ( ⁇ m). In certain embodiments, a wavelength of between approximately 900 nanometers (nm) and approximately 9000 nanometers (nm) is preferable. Most preferably, but not necessarily, a wavelength of between approximately 1000 nanometers (nm) and approximately 1100 nanometers (nm) is used.
• the term "thin" when used with respect to a flat sheet of material is defined as a sheet having a thickness of less than 1000 microns ( ⁇ m), and more preferably between 100 microns ( ⁇ m) and 1000 microns ( ⁇ m).
• the term "flat" as used with respect to the sheet of material is not to be considered limiting.
• the sheet of material can have any desired contour for the finished product or part. As long as the contoured product or part can be bent sufficiently in a pre-stressed counter warp direction configuration to offset laser machining induced warp without producing any yielding of associated high stress concentration features using the process and apparatus of the present invention, it is considered to be within the scope of the invention.
• the term "material" as used with respect to the thin flat sheet is defined as a homogenous metal material, and more particularly aluminum material.
• materials selected from another homogenous metal material besides aluminum a composite metal material, a resin material, a resin material including a fiber filler, a resin material including glass fiber filler, a composite resin and metal material, a composite resin, fiber filler, and metal material, and any combination thereof.
• Machining of aluminum sample 22 with long wavelength laser 14 causes formation of a localized heat affected zone 24 and a molten zone 26 in an area surrounding each of holes 20.
• molten zone 26 expands and transitions to a liquid state.
• Heat affected zone 24 also expands and rises in temperature where the metal of aluminum sample 22 is annealed locally.
• heat affected zone 24 and molten zone 26 cool down and shrink in volume.
• FIG. 2A is a top view of aluminum sample 22 subsequent to laser cutting or machining with long wavelength laser 14.
• Aluminum sample 22 was prepared for optical and SEM (scanning electron microscope) imaging by preparing a first portion 30 and a second portion 32 as specimens.
• First portion 30 was prepared for imaging by cutting through aluminum sample 22 to provide a substantially rectangular specimen including an array of completely intact holes 20 and by mounting the specimen as shown in FIG. 2B. First portion 30 is thus adapted for inspection from a top-down or bottom-up perspective.
• Second portion 32 was prepared for imaging by cutting through aluminum sample 22 to provide an elongate specimen that, along its elongate sides 34, bisects a plurality of holes 20 along their respective longitudinal axes and by mounting the specimen as shown in FIG. 2C. Second portion of 32 is thus adapted for inspecting the cross-sectional properties of holes 20.
• FIG. 2D A 20Ox bright field optical image of first portion 30 with a top down view is shown in FIG. 2E.
• a 50x bright field optical image of second portion 32 is shown in FIG. 2F.
• a 500x bright field optical image of second portion 32 is shown in FIG. 2G.
• heat affected zone 24 and molten zone 26 can be identified. Dark field optical images also show these zones.
• a 60Ox SEM image of first portion 30 with a top down view in FIG. 2H shows heat effected zone 24 and molten zone 26.
• FIG. 21 is a 60Ox SEM image of first portion 30 showing precipitates 36 in the aluminum matrix.
• Micro-hardness tests of a sampling locations of aluminum sample 22 after drilling show that the hardness values of material heat effected zone 24 and molten zone 26 are reduced below that of the base material.
• part 12 is a thin flat sheet 40 of material that has a rim 42 around most of its perimeter and may have numerous features machined into it, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3-5.
• high stress concentrations are introduced into areas of part 12 adjacent to features 44 that are machined into rim 42.
• features 44 may include a plurality of square or rectangular apertures arranged along rim 42 in a side-by- side fashion.
• concave warp profile 50 may be established empirically, by machining part 12 using long wavelength laser 14 without pre-stressing part 12, and then measuring the resulting concave warp profile 50 of part 12 directly. Of course, other known methods may be used to establish parameters of concave warp profile 50.
• concave warp profile 50 may be established empirically, by machining part 12 using long wavelength laser 14 without pre-stressing part 12, and then measuring the resulting concave warp profile 50 of part 12 directly. Of course, other known methods may be used to establish parameters of concave warp profile 50.
• fixture 16 is configured to pre-stress part 12 in a magnitude and direction that is based on concave warp profile 50.
• fixture 16 is configured to flex part 12 into a convex pre-stressed profile 52, as best seen in FIG. 4, through engagement of upstanding fingers 23 of fixture 16 with part 12 (FIG. 1).
• Convex pre-stressed profile 52 is in the opposite direction of but has approximately the same magnitude as concave warp profile 50. Part 12 is machined while it is held in pre-stressed convex profile 52.
• two fingers 23 are equidistantly-spaced from a center portion of part 12. Two other fingers 23 are similarly- spaced from the center portion of part 12 and are located along the length of part 12. Parts of different sizes and shapes may use a different number and/or differently-shaped fingers 23 based on the desired convex pre-stressed profile 52.
• reinforcing portion 60 can be provided on fixture 16 as shown in FIG. 5.
• reinforcing portion 60 of the fixture 16 includes one or more inserts 62 are associated, either directly or indirectly, with fixture 16. Inserts 62 have a very precise fit to the high stress geometry of the features 44.
• Inserts 62 are placed within features 44, and the precise fit of inserts 62 with respect to features 44 causes the stress induced in part 12 by fixture 16 to be redistributed within part 12 in the vicinity of features 44, thereby lessening the magnitude of stress concentrations that are induced by features 44. In this manner, inserts 62 restrain features 44 and keep features 44 from yielding.
• inserts 62 may be provided in any manner suitable to restrain features 44 and keep features 44 from yielding. Thus, it is sufficient for inserts 62 to be assembled with respect to features 44 in any suitable manner.
• reinforcing portion 60' of fixture 16 may be provided with one or more expandable inserts 72 in order to ensure and or enhance the precise fit required to reinforce features 44.
• expandable inserts 72 are intended to provide a very precise fit to the high stress geometry of features 44 and are placed into features 44 to reduce the magnitude of the stress concentrations, thus restraining features 44 and keeping features 44 from yielding.
• expandable inserts 72 allow for a slight variation in their size so they may be expanded to have a very precise fit with features 44. This adjustability allows expandable inserts 72 to achieve a precise fit with features 44 despite manufacturing variations in part 12, and thus allows for a larger range of acceptable design tolerances.
• each expandable insert 72 In order expand and adjust expandable inserts 72, each expandable insert
• Expansion slot 74 extends from a top face 76 to an opposed bottom face 78 of the expandable insert 72, as well as through a front face 80 of expandable insert 72.
• a threaded bore 82 is formed within expansion slot 74 and extends into expandable insert 72 from front face 80.
• a threaded tapered portion 84 is formed within threaded bore 82 such that advancing a set screw 86 into tapered portion 84 of threaded bore 82 causes expansion slot 82 to expand, thereby moving a first lateral face 88 and an opposed second lateral face 90 of expandable insert 72 away from one another and into contact with walls of a feature 44.
• first contraction slot 92 and a second contraction slot 94 may be provided on the expandable insert 72 and oriented substantially perpendicular to expansion slot 74.
• First contraction slot 92 extends from top face 76 to bottom face 78, as well as through first lateral face 88.
• Second contraction slot 94 extends from top face 76 to bottom face 78, as well as through second lateral face 90.
• first contraction slot 92 and second contraction slot 94 are configured such that expansion of expansion slot 74 in response to advancement of set screw 86 causes contraction of contraction slots 92, 94.
• first contraction slot 92 and second contraction slot 94 allow a high degree of expansion of expansion slot 74 without causing an undesired deformation of alternative reinforcing portion 60' of fixture 16.
• the part to be machined can be of any desired configuration and need not be limited to a thin flat sheet of material. It should also be recognized that the features with high stress concentrations can be of any desired configuration and need not be limited to those illustrated in the figures. [0051] While the invention has been described in connection with certain embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
• Laser Beam Processing (AREA)
• Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (3)

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• 2009
  • 2009-06-12 US US12/483,544 patent/US8461482B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2009-06-16 JP JP2011514745A patent/JP5461543B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2009-06-16 WO PCT/US2009/047486 patent/WO2010008732A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2009-06-16 CN CN200980122011.4A patent/CN102057061B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2009-06-16 KR KR1020117001333A patent/KR20110040848A/ko not_active Withdrawn
  • 2009-06-18 TW TW098120491A patent/TWI510316B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation

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