In order to ensure, in a process for representing a work area in a three-dimensional structure in which the work area is imaged by a viewing device, that the viewing device or an instrument can be introduced into the structure along a predetermined path of displacement despite the different positioning of the viewing device, it is suggested that the relative positioning of the viewing device is determined relative to the structure, that the coordinates of a path of displacement are predetermined for an instrument or for the viewing device in the structure, are compared with the respective positioning and the path of displacement is represented in its correct position in the image. A device for performing this process is also described.

Method and apparatus for representing a work area in a three-dimensional structure

Method and apparatus for maintaining the focal point of a laser beam used for laser machining relative to a workpiece, including an optical distance measuring sensor having a measurement beam, a mirror for combining the measurement and laser beams into a predetermined optical path having a common axis for both beams, and a focusing element which may be in the form of a refractive lens or a reflective parabolic mirror located in the optical path, and a control means for controlling the location of the focal point of the laser beam based on the distance sensed by measurement beam. In drilling, once the hole breaks through the workpiece, the application of the laser beam can be stopped by observing a departure from the incremental distance measurement change.

Apparatus and method for focal point control for laser machining

A nozzle arrangement for laser beam cutting, having a nozzle body surrounding a focused laser beam and with a passage opening for the laser beam, and having a nozzle sleeve which surrounds the nozzle body and forms with the nozzle body an annular gap which on the one hand has an inlet for a gas, and on the other hand has an annular opening assigned to the passage openings, wherein there is provided in the annular gap a nozzle-like constriction whose width is increased upstream and downstream of the constriction.

Nozzle system for laser beam cutting

A method of forming a continuous laser butt weld between two members is disclosed. The method comprises providing two members to be butt welded, positioning respective edges of the members in abutting contact with the two members being canted slightly with respect to one another so that the butt joint formed by the edges is open toward a first side of the member, with the edges contacting one another toward a second side of the members opposite the first side, and directing a high energy density laser beam at the butt joint from the first side of the members so that at least a portion of the laser beam extends into the open side of the butt joint to the edges, while urging the edges of the two members in the direction of the butt joint for butt welding the members.

Method of laser butt welding

A nozzle assembly (34) for laser beam cutting having a truncated conical nozzle body (10) matched to the focussed laser beam with a through drilling (11) for the laser beam, with a nozzle sleeve (13) concentrically surronding the nozzle body (10) and thus forming an annular gap (12), said sleeve having an outlet drilling (14) coaxial with the through drilling (11) for a stream of cutting gas from the annular gap (12) connected to a source of gas, in which the outlet drilling (14) is arranged in front of the through drilling (11) on the workpiece side and has a diameter (D) exceeding that (d) of the through drilling (11). To ensure that thegas stream is deflected from the nozzle parallel to the axis of the laser beam with a minimum of flow losses, the nozzle assembly is designed so that the outlet cross section of the outlet drilling (14) is approximately the same as the transition cross section between the annular gap (12) and the outlet drilling (14).

Nozzle assembly for laser beam cutting

In the machining of material by means of high-output energy sources, e.g. by means of a laser beam, it is quite essential that the radiation is exactly focussed and is correctly orientated both relative to the workpiece or the machining spot and to the part of the apparatus containing the optics. It is proposed to observe during the laser operation an at least ring-sector-shaped zone around or coaxial to the laser beam (2) or the spot (7) where it strikes the workpiece (6) and to focus or control the laser beam (2) in accordance with the result of the observation.

Method and apparatus for focussing and controlling a high-output energy source

The welding speed of plastically deformable materials when using high power density energy sources, for example a focused laser beam (34) is limited by the formation of defects (cracks, shrinkage cavities, pinholes etc.) in the welding or closed to the latter (butt-joint 11). In order to increase the welding speed while avoiding those defects, the present invention proposes the deformation of the welding (butt-joint welding 11) and the neighbouring areas of the metal sheets (14, respectively 15) so as to press the melted mass formed for the welding and provided by the welding seam, to avoid shrinkage cavities as well as pinholes and to prevent welding strains by plastic deformation in the butt-joint welding area (11). Simultaneously to the deformation of the butt-joint welding (11), it is possible to proceed to its smoothing.

Verfahren und vorrichtung zum schweissen plastisch verformbarer werkstoffe

Method and device for welding plastically deformable materials

In the cutting of workpieces by means of laser beam, gas is blown at high velocity together with the beam onto the workpiece. It is proposed to design gas-discharge nozzles (60) in such a way that they are formed as grooves in the conical end face (49) of a nozzle insert (47) and are formed on the other side by a nozzle cap (48) which has a section of complementary conical shape such that the grooves are covered. Furthermore, it is proposed to provide a combining chamber (formed by a mounted cap) in which the gas jets are combined in order to come out together with the laser beam as a single gas jet.

Device for cutting workpieces by means of a high-energy beam

Working heads for high-energy welding and/or cutting equipment have to be aligned with respect to the energy beam and working position. In many cases it is also necessary to observe the working movements or to steer these by observation. For this purpose the invention proposes a working head (11) and a process for aligning the latter, in which an optical observation instrument, e.g. an endoscope (31), is accommodated in the working head (11) before commencing machining work (with the energy beam switched off), or else during machining.

Gerd Dr Ing Sepold

Papers

Method and apparatus for focussing and controlling a high-output energy source

Verfahren und vorrichtung zum schweissen plastisch verformbarer werkstoffe

Method and device for welding plastically deformable materials

Device for cutting workpieces by means of a high-energy beam

Process for aligning a working head for a focused high-output energy source, and a working head, in particular for executing the process