Forming a pattern of apertures in an object with a plurality of laser beams

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9855626-B2
Application number	US-201514609162-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2015
Priority date	Jan 29, 2015
Publication date	Jan 2, 2018
Grant date	Jan 2, 2018

Abstract

A manufacturing method is provided which utilizes a laser system. During an embodiment of this method, an object is arranged relative to a head of the laser system. A pattern of holes are formed in the object by ablating the object with a plurality of laser beams which are directed from the head.

First claim

We claim:

1. A manufacturing method utilizing a laser system, comprising:
arranging an object relative to a head of the laser system, wherein the head includes a laser beam multiplexer; and
concurrently forming a pattern of holes in the object by ablating the object with a plurality of laser beams which are directed from the head, wherein at least some of the laser beams are incident with the laser beam multiplexer; and
translating the laser beam multiplexer to adjust inter hole spacing of the pattern of holes;
wherein the object is configured as at least a portion of an acoustic panel.

2. The manufacturing method of claim 1 , wherein the pattern of holes is a rectangular array of holes.

3. The manufacturing method of claim 1 , wherein the object comprises a fiber-reinforced composite.

4. The manufacturing method of claim 1 , wherein the laser beam multiplexer redirects at least some of the laser beams such that the laser beams are directed on substantially parallel trajectories.

5. The manufacturing method of claim 1 , further comprising:
moving the head from a first position to a second position, wherein the pattern of holes is formed while the head is in the first position; and
forming another pattern of holes in the object by ablating the object with a plurality of laser beams which are directed from the head while the head is in the second position.

6. A manufacturing method utilizing a laser system, comprising:
arranging an object relative to a head of the laser system;
forming a pattern of apertures in the object by ablating the object with a plurality of laser beams which are directed from the head;
wherein the head includes a laser beam multiplexer which redirects at least some of the laser beams such that the laser beams are directed on substantially parallel trajectories; and
translating the laser beam multiplexer to adjust inter hole spacing of the pattern of holes.

7. The manufacturing method of claim 6 , wherein the laser beam multiplexer comprises a prismatic mirror with which at least some of the laser beams are incident.

8. The manufacturing method of claim 6 , wherein the pattern of apertures comprises a pattern of four holes.

9. The manufacturing method of claim 6 , wherein the pattern of apertures comprises a pattern of nine holes.

10. The manufacturing method of claim 6 , wherein the object comprises a fiber-reinforced composite.

11. The manufacturing method of claim 6 , wherein the object is configured as at least a portion of an acoustic panel for a turbine engine.

12. The manufacturing method of claim 6 , wherein the laser system includes a plurality of lasers, each laser generates a respective one of the laser beams, and each laser beam ablates the object to foul′ a respective one of the apertures in the pattern.

13. The manufacturing method of claim 6 , wherein the pattern of apertures is a rectangular array of holes.

14. The manufacturing method of claim 1 , wherein
a first of the laser beams is incident with a first surface of the laser beam multiplexer; and
a second of the laser beams is incident with a second surface of the laser beam multiplexer that is positioned opposite the first surface.

15. The manufacturing method of claim 1 , wherein
the laser system includes a plurality of lasers, and each of the lasers generates a respective one of the laser beams;
a first of the lasers is configured to direct a respective one of the laser beams onto a first side of the laser beam multiplexer; and
a second of the lasers is configured to direct a respective one of the laser beams onto a second side of the laser beam multiplexer that is opposite the first side.

16. The manufacturing method of claim 1 , wherein
the laser system includes a plurality of lasers, each of the lasers generates a respective one of the laser beams;
an end portion of an optical fiber of a first of the lasers is positioned on a first side of the laser beam multiplexer; and
an end portion of an optical fiber of a second of the lasers is positioned on a second side of the laser beam multiplexer.

Assignees

• Rohr Inc

Inventors

• Tiwari Sean
• Chiou Song

Classifications

• B23K26/382 Primary

  by boring · CPC title

• B23K26/082

  Scanning systems, i.e. devices involving movement of the laser beam relative to the laser head · CPC title

• B23K26/402

  involving non-metallic material, e.g. isolators · CPC title

• B23K2103/50

  Inorganic materials other than metals or composite materials · CPC title

• B23K2103/16

  Composite materials · CPC title