Other

General Electric Company

Edison Welding Institute, Inc.

Amada Company, Limited

Laser Manufacturing Technologies, Inc.

Southwest Research Institute

Sciaky Bros., Inc.

Stanley Louis Ream

Craig Thompson Walters

Jacob Cole Hay

David Scott Diwinsky

Herbert Chidsey Roberts

Paul Boulware

Michael Dean Fullington

William C Flannigan

Chun-Sheu Lee

C S Lee

G C Lim

Kenneth Fukae

John F Connors

Douglas D Bass

Michael G Bell

A system and method for automated laser ablation includes an end effector for performing laser ablation at a location with restricted access. The systems and methods of the present disclosure specifically provide for a miniature laser end effector which may be inserted through a port or bore in order to ablate the surface of an internal component of a complex assembly. In several embodiments of the present subject matter, the end effector is mounted on a machine and coupled to a laser system.

System and method for automated laser ablation

A laser beam alignment system includes at least one mirror with a surface pattern configured to receive and reflect a laser beam, at least one detector configured to detect a deflected portion of a laser beam from the mirror, and at least one controller configured to communicate with the at least one mirror and the at least one detector and to control the mirror position on the basis of the deflected portion of the laser beam.

Laser beam positioning method using a patterned mirror

A testing apparatus for use with a laser processing system that includes a laser for generating a non-stationary laser beam and a work plane positioned at a working distance relative to the non-stationary laser beam, wherein the testing apparatus includes a support tube; a protective window mounted in the support tube for protecting components mounted within the support tube; a reimaging lens mounted in the support tube for enlarging the non-stationary laser beam for characterization thereof; a pin-hole defining structure mounted in the support tube for receiving laser light generated by the laser beam, wherein the pin-hole is located at a predetermined distance from the reimaging lens; a fiber optic cable disposed within the pin-hole defining structure that has a proximal end at which the laser light is received through the pin-hole and a distal end to which the laser light is delivered; and a photodetector located at the distal end of the fiber optic cable that converts the laser light delivered to the photodetector into electrical voltage output signals based on intensity of the laser light received through the pin-hole.

Laser beam profiling system for use in laser processing systems

A system and method for automated laser ablation includes an end effector for performing laser ablation at a location with restricted access. The systems and methods of the present disclosure specifically provide for a miniature laser end effector which may be inserted through a port or bore in order to ablate the surface of an internal component of a complex assembly. In several embodiments of the present subject matter, the end effector is mounted on an automated machine and coupled to a laser system.

A testing apparatus for use with a laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing device that includes a laser for generating a non-stationary laser beam and a build plane positioned at a predetermined location relative to the non-stationary laser beam. The portable testing apparatus includes a support having an upper surface adapted to receive and absorb laser light generated by the non-stationary laser beam; a plurality of pin-hole defining structures each positioned to receive the laser light generated by the non-stationary laser beam, and such that each pin-hole is elevated at a predetermined height above the upper surface of the support and parallel thereto; a fiber optic cable disposed within each pin-hole defining structure, wherein each fiber optic cable has a proximal end at which the laser light is received through the pin-hole and a distal end to which the laser light is delivered; and a photodetector located at the distal end of each fiber optic cable, wherein the photodetector converts the laser light delivered to the photodetector into electrical voltage output signals based on intensity of the laser light received through each pin-hole.

Laser beam profiling system for use in laser powder bed fusion manufacturing

A testing apparatus adapted to be placed within a laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing device that includes a laser for generating a non-stationary laser beam and a build plane positioned at a predetermined location relative to the non-stationary laser beam. The portable testing apparatus includes a support having an upper surface that is positioned parallel to and above the build plane of the laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing device, and that is adapted to receive and absorb laser light generated by the non-stationary laser beam; a plurality of pin-hole defining structures mounted at predetermined locations in the support such that each pin-hole defined is positioned to receive the laser light generated by the non-stationary laser beam, and such that each pin-hole is elevated at a predetermined height above the upper surface of the support and parallel thereto; a fiber optic cable disposed within each pin-hole defining structure, wherein each fiber optic cable has a proximal end at which the laser light is received through the pin-hole and a distal end to which the laser light is delivered; and a photodetector located at the distal end of each fiber optic cable that converts the laser light delivered to the photodetector into electrical voltage output signals that are based on the intensity of the laser light received through each pin-hole.

A system for removing a coating from a surface is provided. This system includes a laser scanner, wherein the laser scanner further includes at least one laser source, wherein the at least one laser source is operative to generate at least one laser beam, and wherein the laser beam is directed onto a work surface by the laser scanner; and a controller for operating the laser scanner. The controller further includes an imaging device for imaging the work surface; a lighting device for illuminating the work surface and overwhelming light generated by the interaction of the laser beam with the work surface; and a processor for processing information collected by the imaging device and adjusting the power output of the at least one laser source, if and when desirable or necessary.

Polygonal laser scanner and imaging system for coating removal

A high-powered laser beam focusing apparatus for use in laser welding applications that includes a laser having a beam delivery fiber for generating a laser beam and a housing adapted to receive the beam delivery fiber. The housing further includes a first internal chamber adapted to receive a flow of pressurized gas; a second internal chamber; and an aerodynamic window positioned between the first chamber and the second chamber.

High-power laser focusing apparatus with pressurized housing and aerodynamic window

A laser scanner system for removing a coating from a surface. The system includes a laser source for generating a laser beam; a focusing optic operative to receive, focus and re-direct the laser beam; a rotating multi-faceted mirror for receiving and reflecting the focused laser beam, wherein the rotating multi-faceted mirror repeatedly translates the reflected focused laser beam in one direction along an arc path and through a first focal point, and wherein passage of the laser beam through the first focal point results in divergence of the beam; a reimaging mirror for receiving and reflecting the divergent laser beam toward a work surface, wherein the reimaging mirror produces an image of the first focal point and its path; and wherein the rotating multi-faceted mirror and the reimagining mirror cooperate to produce a beam cross-over region having a minimal cross-sectional area relative to other points along the beam path, and wherein the beam cross-over region is located between the reimaging mirror and the work surface.

Polygonal laser scanner for coating removal

An apparatus for controlling a high power laser beam for three dimensional operation consists of a mirror and three linear servo-mechanisms to tilt and to translate the mirror. The movement of the linear servo-mechanisms is controlled by a computer numerical control system or programmable logic controller.

Apparatus and system for positioning a laser beam

To automatically align a laser beam path with respect to an axis along which a movable carriage of a laser processing machine moves, the apparatus of this invention comprises means for detecting laser beam position at least when the carriage is positioned at a first and a second position, means for displaying the detected laser beam positions, and means for adjusting the mirror tilt angle. In the apparatus, the laser beam path is aligned with respect to the axis by actuating the mirror tilt angle adjusting means so that the second laser beam position on the display means is moved to coinside with the first laser beam position. The apparatus of this invention may comprise, instead of the display means, means for calculating an inclination angle of the laser beam with respect to the axis, based on the distance between the first and the second position, and distance between the first and the second laser beam position.

Laser beam path alignment apparatus for laser processing machines

To generate a laser beam of significantly higher quality and high output power without damaging the output coupler (mirror), a novel stable optical laser resonator includes, in particular, a retro-reflector having an aspherical concave mirror for correcting intracavity wavefront aberrations induced when the laser beam travels through the lasing medium. The optimal surface constants of the geometry of the aspherical mirror are determined by an optical interferometry technique, an geometrical ray-tracing technique, and computer-aided ray tracing technique.

Laser resonator

Stability of the optical path in a laser resonator cavity is achieved by means of two reflective surfaces mounted orthogonally with respect to each other, serving as the reflector at one end of the resonator cavity. Return and feedback mirrors are rigidly mounted at the opposite end of the aforementioned resonator cavity. Changes in relative orientation not self-compensated by the use of orthogonally-mounted mirrors are corrected by means of a real-time servomechanism. A typical servomechanism comprises an auxiliary laser mounted rigidly to one end of the laser resonator cavity reflecting a collimated light beam from a reflector mounted rigidly to the opposite end of the resonator cavity. The reflected spot is detected by a detector, sensitive to positional changes in the reflected light, rigidly mounted with respect to the auxiliary laser. The positional changes of this reflected spot are used to drive a linear translator to correct the relative orientation in real-time.

Laser resonator cavity

An apparatus is described for cooling the inner circumference of an annular laser window. A cylinder, conductive to heat, is inserted in the central opening of the annular window. Compliant metal wires are used to maintain good thermal contact between the cooling cylinder and the inner circumference of the annular window. A spring compression device is used to maintain constant pressure on the compliant metal wires. The portion of the cooling cylinder outside the window, in the region external to the laser, is slotted. A cooling fluid, typically refrigerated air, is passed through the slots to provide effective heat exchange with the metal cylinder.

Apparatus for cooling laser windows

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for surface hardening metals by means of a concentrated beam of electrons. The electron beam is directed and focused to a desired spot on the surface of the said workpiece and is caused to move incrementally from one to the next of a predetermined pattern of points on the work surface. The beam is directed to each point in turn for a predetermined length of time and moved from point to point at a relatively rapid rate. The pattern is projected over the desired surface of the work a predetermined number of times so that the material to be heat treated is brought above the transformation temperature and maintained below the melting temperature by close control of the electron beam parameters. A programmable computer retains in its memory a number of predetermined displacement patterns for the electron beam and controls all the electron beam gun parameters and all machine functions.

Growing community of inventors

Columbus, OH, United States of America

Stanley Louis Ream