Processing tool cleaning using laser ablation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10016792-B2
Application number	US-201615293349-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2016
Priority date	Oct 14, 2016
Publication date	Jul 10, 2018
Grant date	Jul 10, 2018

Abstract

Provided are methods for cleaning processing tools from residue using laser ablation. Also provided are processing tools comprising non-metal base portions and protective optical layers that cover and shield these base portions from laser ablation. For example, a protective optical layer may reflect a laser beam used for ablating the tool. Methods of forming these protective optical layers on non-metal base portions are also provided. In some embodiments, this protective optical layer is the outermost layer exposed to the environment. Alternatively, the protective optical layer may be covered by a release layer. The release layer may be retained or removed during laser ablation. In some embodiments, light emitted by a processing tool during laser ablation is analyzed to determine performance of its protective optical layer. This feedback may be used to control the laser ablation such as to control orientation of the laser beam relative to the processing tool.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for cleaning residue using laser ablation from a mold used for forming composite parts, the method comprising:
providing the mold comprising a base portion, a protective optical layer disposed over the base portion, and a release layer disposed over the protective optical layer and forming a surface of the mold;
wherein the base portion comprises a non-metal material, and
wherein the release layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a silicone release agent, a fluoropolymer resin, and a polysilazane resin; and exposing the surface of the mold to a laser beam,
wherein the protective optical layer comprises a reflective material and blocks the laser beam from reaching the base portion, and
wherein exposing the surface comprises emitting a light by the mold and ablating the residue away from the surface,
wherein the light emitted by the mold is at least in part reflected by the protective optical layer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reflective material is selected from the group consisting of metal flakes and ceramic flakes.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the release layer is transparent to the laser beam.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the release layer is retained while exposing the surface to the laser beam.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the release layer is removed while exposing the surface to the laser beam.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring the light emitted by the mold.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein exposing the surface of the mold to the laser beam comprises removing the release layer from the protective optical layer and further comprising forming a replacement release layer over the protective optical layer after removing the release layer.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein monitoring the light emitted by the mold comprises determining the wavelength of the light emitted by the mold.

9. The method of claim 6 , further controlling a position of the mold relative to the laser beam based on monitoring the light emitted by the mold.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the wavelength of the light emitted by the mold changes when the protective optical layer becomes exposed, while exposing the surface of the mold to the laser beam.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein determining the wavelength of the light emitted by the mold comprises monitoring changes in the wavelength to determine when the residue is ablated away from the surface.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein exposing the surface of the mold to the laser beam comprises removing the release layer from the protective optical layer, and wherein determining the wavelength of the light emitted by the mold further comprises monitoring changes in the wavelength to determine when the release layer is removed from the protective optical layer.

13. A method for cleaning residue using laser ablation from a mold used for forming composite parts the method comprising:
providing the mold comprising a base portion and a protective optical layer disposed over the base portion and forming a surface of the mold,
wherein the base portion comprises a non-metal material, and
wherein the protective optical layer comprises a release material selected from the group consisting of a silicone release agent, a fluoropolymer resin, and a polysilazane resin; and

exposing the surface of the mold to a laser beam,
wherein the protective optical layer blocks the laser beam from reaching the base portion, and
wherein exposing the surface comprises emitting a light by the mold and ablating the residue away from the surface,
wherein the light emitted by the mold is at least in part reflected by the protective optical layer.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Tracey Ashley C
• Westren Anthony M
• Blohowiak Kay Y
• Brei Mark R
• Zimmerman Tyler Jacob
• Barclay Richard C
• Baker Tara Kovacs
• Shafranyuk Yuliya

Classifications

• B08B7/0042 Primary

  by laser · CPC title

• B29C33/3835

  Designing moulds, e.g. using CAD-CAM · CPC title