Tool for laser beam processing, laser beam processing apparatus and method for laser beam processing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11027367-B2
Application number	US-201816223263-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2018
Priority date	Jul 25, 2016
Publication date	Jun 8, 2021
Grant date	Jun 8, 2021

Abstract

A tool for laser beam processing is provided. The tool includes an upper tool and a lower tool, which are able to be advanced toward one another by way of a press, such that at least one component is able to be fixed in a predefined position between the upper tool and the lower tool. At least one laser beam exit surface, which is part of an inner surface of the upper tool or lower tool, and at least one laser beam guide, into which laser radiation is able to be coupled and is able to be directed through the laser beam exit surface onto a processing location on the component are provided. A control device, which enables and/or disables the coupling of laser radiation into the at least one laser beam guide depending on the advancing movement between upper tool and lower tool is provided. Furthermore, a laser beam processing apparatus and a method for laser beam processing are also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool for laser beam processing, comprising:
an upper tool and a lower tool which are mutually convergeable by way of a press such that at least one component is fixable in a predefined position between the upper tool and the lower tool;
at least one laser beam exit face which is part of an internal face of the upper tool or of the lower tool;
at least one laser beam guide into which laser radiation is couplable and is directable by way of the laser beam exit face onto a processing location on the component;
a control installation which releases and/or blocks coupling-in of the laser radiation into the laser beam guide so as to depend on actuation movement between the upper tool and the lower tool, and
an insertion unit by way of which at least one auxillary element is feedable by way of a feeding duct that leads through the upper or lower tool, wherein
the feeding duct at the processing location opens into a tool interior on a side that is opposite the at least one laser beam exit face, and
a feeding duct mouth is configured to position the at least one auxillary joining element precisely on the component.

2. The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the internal faces of the upper tool and of the lower tool have a contour by way of which at least two components are mutually fixable in a predefined joining position.

3. The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the laser beam exit face is formed by a free end of an optical fiber or by a lens.

4. The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the tool comprises two or more spatially mutually separated laser beam exit faces by way of which in each case one laser beam is directable onto a processing location.

5. The tool according to claim 4 , wherein at least one of the two or more spatially mutually separated laser beam exit faces is formed by a free end of an optical fiber or by a lens.

6. The tool according to claim 5 , wherein each of the at least one of the two or more spatially mutually separated laser beam exit faces is assigned one laser processing optical system which is specified for carrying out exactly one processing task.

7. The tool according to claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one laser beam exit face is assigned one laser processing optical system which is specified for carrying out exactly one processing task.

8. The tool according to claim 1 , further comprising:
lines which are configured in the upper tool and/or in the lower tool and by way of which a fluid is feedable to and dischargeable from at least the processing location.

9. A laser processing apparatus, comprising:
a tool according to claim 1 ;
a laser source which is coupled to the at least one laser beam guide; and
a press in which the tool is installed.

10. A method for laser beam processing, the method comprising the acts of:
fixing at least one component in a predefined position by way of an upper tool and a lower tool which are mutually converged by closing movement of a press;
inducing thermal energy into the at least one component at at least one processing location by way of a laser beam for carrying out component processing, wherein
the laser beam exits by way of a part of an internal face of the upper tool or of the lower tool that is designed as a laser beam exit face, and
laser beam processing takes place in a temporal window in which the upper tool and the lower tool, by virtue of the closing movement of the press, in a manner of a protective housing shield environment from laser radiation; and

providing an insertion unit by way of which at least one auxillary element is feedable by way of a feeding duct that leads through the upper or lower tool, wherein
the feeding duct at the processing location opens into a tool interior on a side that is opposite the at least one laser beam exit face, and
a feeding duct mouth is configured to position the at least one auxillary joining element precisely on the component.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein a first component and at least one second component by way of a contour of the internal faces of the upper tool and of the lower tool are mutually fixed in a predefined joining position.

12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the laser beam processing is welding, soldering/brazing, subtraction of material, local removal of a component coating or heating of the at least one component.

Assignees

• Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag

Inventors

• Hammer Maik
• Van Niekerk Johann
• Grimm Alexander
• Korber Franz

Classifications

• B23K26/037

  by pressing on the workpiece, e.g. using a pressing roller foot · CPC title

• B23K26/22 Primary

  Spot welding · CPC title

• B23K26/02

  Positioning or observing the workpiece, e.g. with respect to the point of impact; Aligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam · CPC title

• B23K37/0435

  Clamps · CPC title

• B23K26/0093

  combined with mechanical machining or metal-working covered by other subclasses than B23K · CPC title