Laser tool with a focus adjustment unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11660701-B2
Application number	US-201916503934-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 5, 2019
Priority date	Jan 5, 2017
Publication date	May 30, 2023
Grant date	May 30, 2023

Abstract

In order to create a laser tool, in particular for the structuring of cylinder running surfaces, that offers the possibility of adjusting the focal position of the laser beam with high process reliability and with high repeatability, it is provided that the laser tool has a laser source for producing laser beams, a collimator for producing a parallel course of the laser beams from the laser source, which are passed through a lens that is located within a rotatable spindle, wherein an optical device for deflecting the laser beams onto a material surface is attached to an end of the spindle facing away from the laser source, wherein the collimator is movable parallel to the laser beam by means of a drive.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A laser tool for structuring cylinder running surfaces, the laser tool comprising:
a laser source for producing a laser beam;
a collimator that provides a course of the laser beam from the laser source, wherein the laser beam is passed through a lens that is located within a rotatable spindle;
an optical device to deflect the laser beam onto a material surface, the optical device being attached to an end of the spindle facing away from the laser source;
a lens tube that is non-rotatable, the lens tube having a first end facing towards the laser source and a second end facing towards the optical device, wherein the lens is attached inside the second end of the lens tube and the second end of the lens tube is disposed inside an end of the spindle facing towards the laser source; and
a sleeve, wherein the sleeve is positioned between the collimator and the lens tube such that a first end of the sleeve faces toward the collimator and a second end of the sleeve faces toward, and is non-rotatably attached directly to, the first end of the lens tube,
wherein the collimator, the sleeve and the lens tube are movable parallel to the laser beam via a drive,
wherein the collimator has a first end facing towards the laser source and a second end facing towards the first end of the sleeve,
wherein the laser tool further comprises a centering device for moving the collimator in an X-Y plane that is perpendicular to the laser beam, and
wherein the centering device is positioned toward the second end of the collimator and is attached to the first end of the sleeve.

2. The laser tool according to claim 1 , wherein the drive is an electric drive, a servomotor, a pneumatic drive, or a hydraulic drive.

3. The laser tool according to claim 1 , wherein a movement of the collimator is based on at least one predefinable parameter.

4. The laser tool according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one predefinable parameter is a feed of the collimator toward the optical device or a feed of the collimator toward the laser source.

5. The laser tool according to claim 1 , wherein the laser tool has at least a lower stop and/or an upper stop that delimit the movement of the collimator.

6. The laser tool according to claim 1 , wherein the lens is arranged in a fixed position in the lens tube.

7. The laser tool according to claim 1 , wherein the spindle is rotated by a hollow-shaft motor, and wherein the spindle is attached to a rotor of the hollow-shaft motor.

8. The laser tool according to claim 1 , wherein the optical device includes a reflecting prism or a mirror.

9. The laser tool according to claim 1 , wherein the laser tool has a tilting device via which the collimator is tilted at an angle with respect to the X-Y plane.

10. The laser tool according to claim 9 , wherein the tilting device is arranged towards the second end of the collimator and is attached to the centering device.

11. The laser tool according to claim 1 , wherein the laser tool has a first nozzle system, wherein the first nozzle system has at least two air nozzles that surround the laser beam that has emerged from the laser tool with air jets such that workpiece particles removed from the workpiece surface by the laser beam are slowed down and/or the air jets of the at least two air nozzles are directed at the workpiece surface in order to clean the workpiece surface.

12. The laser tool according to claim 11 , wherein the laser tool has a second nozzle system, wherein the second nozzle system has at least one air nozzle whose air jet crosses the laser beam outside of a laser beam exit aperture of the laser tool such that an ingress of particles into an interior of the laser tool through the laser beam exit aperture is prevented.

13. The laser tool according to claim 1 , wherein the laser tool has an oscillation generating device, via which the lens is placed in oscillation parallel to the laser beam, and wherein an oscillation frequency is controlled as a function of a rotational speed of the spindle.

14. The laser tool according to claim 13 , wherein the oscillation generating device is a system comprising a coil and a magnet.

15. A method for setting a focal position of laser beams in a laser tool comprising a laser source for producing a laser beam and a collimator that provides a parallel course of the laser beam from the laser source, which is passed through a lens, the method comprising
arranging the lens within a rotatable spindle, wherein a lens tube that is non-rotatable and has a first end facing towards the laser source and a second end facing towards an optical device is provided, wherein the lens is attached inside the second end of the lens tube and the second end of the lens tube is disposed inside an end of the spindle facing towards the laser source;
providing a sleeve, wherein the sleeve is positioned between the collimator and the lens tube such that a first end of the sleeve faces toward the collimator and a second end of the sleeve faces toward, and is non-rotatably attached directly to, the first end of the lens tube;
providing a centering device for moving the collimator in an X-Y plane that is perpendicular to the laser beam, the centering device being positioned toward the second end of the collimator and is attached to the first end of the sleeve;
attaching the optical device to an end of the spindle facing away from the laser source to deflect the laser beam onto a material surface; and
moving the collimator, the sleeve and the lens tube parallel to the laser beam via a drive,
wherein at least one parameter is predefined by a controller that controls the movement of the collimator,
wherein the collimator is moved in a direction of the optical device or opposite to the direction of the optical device as a function of the at least one parameter, and
wherein the collimator has a first end facing towards the laser source and a second end facing towards the first end of the sleeve.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one parameter is a feed of the collimator toward the optical device or a feed of the collimator toward the laser source.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the lens is arranged in a fixed position in the lens tube that is attached to the collimator so that the lens follows the movement of the collimator.

Assignees

• Volkswagen Ag

Inventors

• Wehrendt Christian

Classifications

• B23K2101/06

  Tubes · CPC title

• B23K26/106 Primary

  inside the workpiece · CPC title

• B23K26/16

  Removal of by-products, e.g. particles or vapours produced during treatment of a workpiece (by a fluid stream B23K26/142) · CPC title

• B23K26/352

  for surface treatment · 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