Optical system and laser processing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9500781-B2
Application number	US-201313960982-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 7, 2013
Priority date	Oct 5, 2012
Publication date	Nov 22, 2016
Grant date	Nov 22, 2016

Abstract

An optical system and a laser processing apparatus with which spattering can be suppressed by reducing an evaporation reactive force at a workpiece by forming two focal points on the optical axis, using a simple configuration. The optical system is provided with a convex lens that focuses laser light; and a concave lens that is disposed on the same optical axis as the laser light that passes through the convex lens. The concave lens has a first region that has a through-hole, that is positioned on the optical axis, and that does not have lens properties, as well as a second region that surrounds the first region and that diverges the laser light.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An optical system comprising:
a laser oscillator that generates laser light and emits the laser light toward the optical system;
a first lens that focuses the laser light which is used for processing a workpiece;
a second lens that is disposed on the same optical axis as the laser light that passes through the first lens and through which the laser light focused by the first lens passes; and
a drive portion that moves the second lens out of the optical path of the laser light when cutting the workpiece and places the second lens in the optical path of the laser light when welding the workpiece,
wherein the second lens has a first region that is positioned on the optical axis and does not have lens properties, as well as a second region that surrounds the first region and diverges the laser light,
wherein the laser light that passes through the second lens is radiated directly to the workpiece,
wherein the first lens and the second lens are disposed so that a focal point of the laser light that has passed through the first region of the second lens is set at a processing point of the workpiece or in a vicinity of the processing point, and
wherein the first region is a plate-like member in which a surface from which the laser light enters and a surface from which the laser light is emitted are parallel to each other.

2. An optical system comprising:
a laser oscillator that generates laser light and emits the laser light toward the optical system;
a third lens that diverges the laser light which is used for processing a workpiece;
a fourth lens that is disposed on the same optical axis as the laser light that passes through the third lens and through which the laser light diverged by the third lens passes; and
a drive portion that moves the fourth lens out of the optical path of the laser light when cutting the workpiece and places the fourth lens in the optical path of the laser light when welding the workpiece,
wherein the fourth lens has a third region that is positioned on the optical axis and that does not have lens properties, as well as a fourth region that surrounds the third region and focuses the laser light,
wherein the laser light that passes through the fourth lens is radiated directly to the workpiece,
wherein the third lens and the fourth lens are disposed so that a focal point of the laser light that has passed through the third region of the fourth lens is set at a processing point of the workpiece or in a vicinity of the processing point, and
wherein the third region is a plate-like member in which a surface from which the laser light enters and a surface from which the laser light exits are parallel to each other.

Assignees

• Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Watanabe Masao

Classifications

• B23K26/0648

  comprising lenses · CPC title

• G02B27/095

  Refractive optical elements · CPC title

• H01S3/005

  Optical devices external to the laser cavity, specially adapted for lasers, e.g. for homogenisation of the beam or for manipulating laser pulses, e.g. pulse shaping (shaping laser beam for working metal or other materials B23K26/06; optical elements, systems or apparatus in general G02B) · CPC title

• B23K26/21 Primary

  by welding · CPC title

• G02B27/0927

  Systems for changing the beam intensity distribution, e.g. Gaussian to top-hat · CPC title