Combination apparatus for machining material with a milling cutter and a laser

• US 7,257,879 B1
• Filed: 01/23/2007
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jenoptik Automatisierungstechnik Gmbh (Jenoptik AG)
• Original Assignee: Jenoptik Automatisierungstechnik Gmbh (Jenoptik AG)
• Inventors: Jancsó, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): Cadugan; Erica
• Application Number:
  US11/625,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20070169325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 210 Days
• Field of Search: 295/66, 29/50, 29 52- 53, 29 54- 55, 29/565, 219/121.67, 219/121.82, 219/121.84, 219/121.75, 409131-132, 409135-136, 408/16, 408/1.R, 408/22, 408/24, 408/26, 408/30, 408/701
• US Class Current: 29/566
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 2220/48 Methods of milling not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 3/28 Grooving workpieces tread-cutting by milling B23G1/32
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 5/16 characterised by physical features other than shape
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0093 combined with mechanical machining or metal-working covered by other subclasses than B23K combined welding or cutting procedures or apparatus B23K28/02
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 23/04 for both machining and other metal-working operations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 408/701 Cutting by use of radiant energy, e.g. laser, maser
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5147 including composite tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5176 including machining means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/34 Combined cutting means

Abstract

The invention is directed to an apparatus for cutting material by means of a milling cutter and laser radiation. The apparatus comprises a milling unit, a work spindle, a milling cutter, a laser, deflecting elements, focusing optics, and a work table. According to the invention, a workpiece can be milled and lasered simultaneously or successively at the same cutting location in that the laser beam is coupled into a channel coaxial to the mill axis.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cutting material comprising:

a milling unit;

a milling cutter and a motor-driven work spindle for receiving the milling cutter;

a laser being connected to an optical transmission system;

a work table for clamping the workpiece;

driving units and controlling units for generating and controlling the relative movement of the milling unit and work table in three spatial dimensions and for controlling the laser to perform laser cutting;

a hollow channel being provided in the milling cutter coaxial to the mill axis,

and said optical transmission system being for coupling a laser beam generated by said laser coaxially with and into the channel.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical transmission system comprises adjustable focusing optics by which the distance of the focus of the laser beam from a face of the milling cutter can be varied.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the milling cutter has cutouts between circumferential cutting edges thereof to facilitate the escape of combustion gases occurring during the laser cutting.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a cutting lens or a cover glass is fitted into the channel of the milling cutter.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein flushing channels whose outlet openings open into the channel directly below the cutting lens or cover glass are provided in the milling cutter.