High speed and high power laser scribing methods and systems

• US 8,921,732 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2008
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RevoLaze LLC (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: RevoLaze LLC (Lear Corporation)
• Inventors: Costin, Darryl J., Costin, Darryl J. Jr., Costin, Kimberly L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Hsien Ming
• Application Number:
  US12/664,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20100176101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,392 Days
• Field of Search: 219/121.6, 219/121.61, 219/121.68, 219/121.69, 219/121.85
• US Class Current: 219/121.6
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/082 Scanning systems, i.e. devices involving movement of the laser beam relative to the laser head
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 59/16 by wave energy or particle radiation , e.g. infrared heating B29C59/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/24 Ablative recording, e.g. by burning marks; Spark recording marking by high energetic means, e.g. by laser otherwise than burning or ablative removal B41M5/26; materials or methods for recording or reproduction by optical means G11B7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/26 Thermography B41M5/20, B41M5/24 take precedence; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used B23K takes precedence; thermographic or photothermographic systems using noble metal compounds G03C1/494
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 1/228 by laser radiation
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 33/102 involving a focussed radiation beam, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 23/0025 by a laser beam

Abstract

A method of scribing a graphic on a material is provided, in which laser output is applied to the material. The laser output is moved relative to the material at a high speed greater than 10 m per second, and at a high power greater than 500 W, to scribe a graphic on a surface of the material. Also provided is a system for scribing a graphic on a material. The method and system of the invention are especially useful in the scribing of building materials.

Claims

1. A method of scribing a graphic on a work piece, comprising:

applying control information from a controller to a laser to scribe a surface of a work piece with laser output that has a power in the range of approximately 500 W to approximately 50,000 W, wherein the laser is moved at a relative laser scan speed in the range of approximately 10 m/s to approximately 50 m/s, and lases the surface of the work piece without burning through the work piece based on the control information,

wherein the controller has a processing power in a range of approximately 10,000 pixels per second to approximately 50,000 pixels per second.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the work piece comprises a building product.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the building product comprises a member selected from fiberglass reinforced plastic, coated steel, or wood composite board.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the building product comprises glass.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the building product comprises a member selected from a window, a mirror, a flooring product, a ceiling tile, or drywall.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the processing power is in a range of 20,000 pixels per second to 50,000 pixels per second.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the relative laser scan speed is greater than 20 m/s and wherein the laser output is greater than 1000 W.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the relative laser scan speed is greater than 30 m/s and wherein the laser output is greater than 2000 W.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein said scribing comprises applying the laser output on the work piece over a scan length of at least 0.9 m.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising reflecting the laser output off a beryllium-coated controllable mirror prior to the laser output being applied to the surface of the work piece.

11. A method of scribing a graphic on a work piece, comprising:

applying control information from a controller to a laser to scribe a surface of a work piece with laser output that has a power in the rage of approximately 500 W to approximately 50,000 W, wherein the laser is moved at a relative laser scan speed in the range of approximately 10 m/s to approximately 50 m/s, and lases the surface of the work piece at a power change width of 1 to 4 pixels without burning through the work piece, based on the control information,

wherein the controller has a processing power in a range of approximately 10,000 pixels per second to approximately 50,000 pixels per second.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the work piece comprises a building product.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the building product comprises a member selected from fiberglass reinforced plastic, coated steel, or wood composite board.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the building product comprises glass.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the building product comprises a member selected from a window, a mirror, a flooring product, a ceiling tile, or drywall.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the processing power is in a range of 20,000 pixels per second to 50,000 pixels per second.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the relative laser scan speed is greater than 20 m/s and wherein the laser output is greater than 1000 W.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the relative laser scan speed is greater than 30 m/s and wherein the laser output is greater than 2000 W.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein said scribing comprises applying the laser output on the work piece over a scan length of at least 0.9 m.

20. A method of scribing a graphic on a work piece, comprising:

applying control information from a controller to a laser to scribe a surface of a work piece with laser output that has a power in the range of approximately 500 W to approximately 50,000 W, wherein the laser is moved at a relative laser scan speed in the range of approximately 10 m/s to approximately 50 m/s, and lases the surface of the work piece at a power change width of 1 to 4 pixels without burning through the work piece based on the control information, wherein the controller has a processing power in a range of approximately 10,000 pixels per second to approximately 50,000 pixels per second; and

reflecting the laser output off a beryllium-coated controllable mirror prior to the laser output being applied to the surface of the work piece.