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| United States Patent |
6,423,928
|
|
Piwczyk
|
July 23, 2002
|
Gas assisted laser cutting of thin and fragile materials
Abstract
An improved method and apparatus for laser cutting a thin fragile material
using a high velocity assist gas to remove molten material and
laser-generated debris is characterized by the high velocity assist gas
exerting substantially zero force on the material being cut. An improved
form of gas assist laser gas assist nozzle is shaped to achieve a
supersonic gas flow velocity that is used advantageously to effect rapid
removal of ejected gas and other materials.
| Inventors:
|
Piwczyk; Bernhard P. (Dunbarton, NH)
|
| Assignee:
|
ASE Americas, Inc. (Billerica, MA)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
690161 |
| Filed:
|
October 12, 2000 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
219/121.67; 219/121.72; 219/121.84 |
| Intern'l Class: |
B23K 026/38; B23K 026/14 |
| Field of Search: |
219/121.84,121.67,121.72
239/597,601
372/701
|
References Cited
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|
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| 4659900 | Apr., 1987 | Gilli et al. | 219/121.
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| 4813611 | Mar., 1989 | Fontana.
| |
| 5083006 | Jan., 1992 | Stroud | 219/121.
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| 5247155 | Sep., 1993 | Steen | 219/121.
|
| 5375890 | Dec., 1994 | Keevil et al. | 324/688.
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| 5463202 | Oct., 1995 | Kurosawa et al. | 219/121.
|
| 5489888 | Feb., 1996 | Jagiella et al. | 340/537.
|
| 5756961 | May., 1998 | Sato et al. | 219/121.
|
| 5759428 | Jun., 1998 | Balamane et al. | 219/121.
|
| 6008465 | Dec., 1999 | Horn | 219/121.
|
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 56-136295 | Oct., 1981 | JP.
| |
| 8-242043 | Sep., 1996 | JP.
| |
Other References
"Adjust Box EG 316Z with Remote Control 301", precitec GmbH, Lasermatic Z,
dated Jan. 3, 1996, three pages.
|
Primary Examiner: Evans; Geoffrey S.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pandiscio & Pandiscio
Goverment Interests
This invention was made under U.S. Government Subcontract No.
ZAF-6-14271-13.
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