Travel speed measurement and motion analysis of high-speed laser motion systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023358778-A1
Application number	US-202318144509-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 8, 2023
Priority date	May 9, 2022
Publication date	Nov 9, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods for analyzing laser beam characteristics in high-speed laser motion systems, wherein the characteristics include laser travel speed, velocity, and acceleration, wherein the high-speed laser motion systems comprise a laser for generating a laser beam, comprising determining a location of the first pin-hole sensor within the predetermined field of view; determining a location of the second pin-hole sensor within the predetermined field of view; defining a travel distance of the laser beam; measuring the amount of time to travel from the location of the first pin-hole sensor to the location of the second pin-hole sensor; and dividing the travel distance by the amount of time to travel from the location of the first pin-hole sensor to the location of the second pin-hole sensor to calculate the velocity of the laser beam between the first pin-hole sensor and the second pin-hole sensor.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A method for analyzing laser beam characteristics in high-speed laser motion systems, wherein the characteristics include laser travel speed, velocity, and acceleration, wherein the high-speed laser motion systems comprise a laser for generating a laser beam, comprising:
(a) positioning a first pin-hole sensor within a predetermined field of view of the laser, and determining a location of the first pin-hole sensor within the predetermined field of view; (b) positioning a second pin-hole sensor within the predetermined field of view, and determining a location of the second pin-hole sensor within the predetermined field of view; (c) using the determined locations of the first pin-hole sensor and the second pin-hole sensor to define a travel distance of the laser beam; (d) measuring the amount of time to travel from the location of the first pin-hole sensor to the location of the second pin-hole sensor; (e) dividing the travel distance by the amount of time to travel from the location of the first pin-hole sensor to the location of the second pin-hole sensor to calculate the velocity of the laser beam between the first pin-hole sensor and the second pin-hole sensor; and dividing the calculated velocity of the laser beam by the amount of time to travel from the location of the first pin-hole sensor to the location of the second pin-hole sensor to calculate the acceleration of the laser beam between the first pin-hole sensor and the second pin-hole sensor.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning a third pin-hole sensor within the predetermined field of view and determining a location of the third pin-hole sensor within the predetermined field of view.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising using the determined locations of the first pin-hole sensor and the third pin-hole sensor to define a second travel distance for the laser beam.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising measuring the amount of time to travel from the location of the first pin-hole sensor to the location of the third pin-hole sensor.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
(a) dividing the second travel distance by the amount of time to travel from the location of the first pin-hole sensor to the location of the third pin-hole sensor to calculate the velocity of the laser beam between the first pin-hole sensor and the third pin-hole sensor, and (b) subtracting the velocity of the laser beam between the first pin-hole sensor and the second pin-hole sensor from the velocity of the laser beam between the first pin-hole sensor and the third pin-hole sensor to calculate a change in velocity of the laser beam.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising summing the amount of time to travel from the location of the first pin-hole sensor to the location of the second pin-hole sensor plus the amount of time to travel from the location of the first pin-hole sensor to the location of the third pin-hole sensor to calculate a total measured time.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising dividing the change in velocity of the laser beam by the total measured time to calculate the acceleration of the laser beam between the first pin-hole sensor and the third pin-hole sensor.

8 . A system for analyzing laser beam characteristics in high-speed laser motion systems, wherein the characteristics include laser travel speed, velocity, and acceleration, wherein the high-speed laser motion systems comprise a laser for generating a laser beam, comprising:
(a) a first pin-hole sensor positioned within a predetermined field of view of the laser, wherein the first pin-hole sensor has a determined location within the predetermined field of view; and (b) a second pin-hole sensor positioned within the predetermined field of view of the laser, wherein the second pin-hole sensor has a determined location within the predetermined field of view,
wherein the determined locations of the first pin-hole sensor and the second pin-hole sensor are used to define a travel distance of the laser beam,
wherein the amount of time to travel from the location of the first pin-hole sensor to the location of the second pin-hole sensor is measured,
wherein the travel distance is divided by the amount of time to travel from the location of the first pin-hole sensor to the location of the second pin-hole sensor to calculate the velocity of the laser beam between the first pin-hole sensor and the second pin-hole sensor, and
wherein the calculated velocity of the laser beam is divided by the amount of time to travel from the location of the first pin-hole sensor to the location of the second pin-hole sensor to calculate the acceleration of the laser beam between the first pin-hole sensor and the second pin-hole sensor.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the first pin-hole sensor and the second pin-hole sensor are mounted in a portable testing apparatus, wherein each pin-hole is positioned to receive the laser light generated by the non-stationary laser beam, and wherein each pin-hole sensor is elevated at a predetermined height above an upper surface of the portable testing apparatus.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the system further comprises a third pin-hole sensor positioned within the predetermined field of view, wherein the third pin-hole sensor has a determined location within the predetermined field of view.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the determined locations of the first pin-hole sensor and the third pin-hole sensor are used to define a second travel distance for the laser beam, and wherein the amount of time to travel from the location of the first pin-hole sensor to the location of the third pin-hole sensor is measured.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the second travel distance is divided by the amount of time to travel from the location of the first pin-hole sensor to the location of the third pin-hole sensor to calculate the velocity of the laser beam between the first pin-hole sensor and the third pin-hole sensor, and wherein the velocity of the laser beam between the first pin-hole sensor and the second pin-hole sensor is subtracted from the velocity of the laser beam between the first pin-hole sensor and the third pin-hole sensor to calculate a change in velocity of the laser beam.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the amount of time to travel from the location of the first pin-hole sensor to the location of the second pin-hole sensor is added with the amount of time to travel from the location of the first pin-hole sensor to the location of the third pin-hole sensor to calculate a total measured time.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the change in velocity of the laser beam is divided by the total measured time to calculate the acceleration of the laser beam between the first pin-hole sensor and the third pin-hole sensor.

15 . A system for analyzing laser beam characteristics in high-speed laser motion systems, wherein the characteristics include laser travel speed, velocity, and acceleration, wherein the high-speed laser motion systems comprise a laser for generating a laser beam, the system comprising:
(a) positioning a portable testing apparatus within a predetermined field of view of the laser, wherein the portable testing apparatus includes:
(i) a first pin-hole sensor mounted at a determined location in the portable testing apparatus, wherein the first pin-hole sensor is elevated at a predetermined height above an upper surface of the portable testing apparatus; and
(ii) a second pin-hole sensor mounted at a determined location

Assignees

• Edison Welding Inst Inc

Inventors

• Hay Jacob C
• Aman Ron
• Ream Stanley L

Classifications

• H01S3/0014

  Monitoring arrangements not otherwise provided for (photometry G01J1/00, e.g. G01J1/4257; radiation pyrometry G01J5/00; measuring coherence of light G01J9/00; measuring wavelength of light G01J9/00, e.g. G01J9/0246; measuring optical pulses G01J11/00; calorimetrically measuring power of laser beams G01K17/003) · CPC title

• B33Y50/02

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• B22F12/90

  Means for process control, e.g. cameras or sensors · CPC title

• B22F10/28 Primary

  Powder bed fusion, e.g. selective laser melting [SLM] or electron beam melting [EBM] · CPC title

• G01P3/68 Primary

  using optical means, i.e. using infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light (G01P3/80 takes precedence {; by reflection of waves G01S17/58}) · CPC title