METHOD OF FRAGILE NON-METALLIC MATERIAL LASER CUTTING AND DEVICE TO THIS END Russian patent published in 2014 - IPC B23K26/38 C03B33/04 

FIELD: process engineering.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to laser cutting of fragile non-metallic materials, glass in particular, and can be used for cutting of large-sized flat and 3D-shape articles. Proposed method comprises controlled through heat crushing by focused laser beam in curvilinear path. Cutting is performed by oval laser beam, its oval axes lengths being adjusted in cutting. This beam cuts off machining allowance by stopping the cutting process and is diverted back through 50-80 mm to cut the separated allowance off. Then, laser beam is returned to main cut stop point to make it displace in cutting path. Proposed device comprises laser, focusing system, coolant feeder, focusing lens, lens drive, article holder composed by suction cups arranged at adjustable-length holders and ball-and-socket joints. The latter ensure parallelism of suction cup surfaces and article surface. Lens drive is composed of six-axis robot-manipulator. Laser optical fibre end is secured to manipulator output link, laser being equipped with collimator and lens.

EFFECT: automated cutting, higher quality of cutting and articles, accelerated processing.

7 cl, 2 dwg