Patent ID: 6804574
Filing Date: 2004-10-12
Classification: B23K,B41J,G05B

Abstract:
A method of operating a laser drilling system, comprising:inputting at least one first parameter associated with laser beam characteristics into a computer system including steps of: (a) determining if said laser beam parameters have been defined as a laser beam parameter profile and saved and if so selecting the laser beam parameter profile; (b) if not inputting required laser beam parameters, thereby defining a laser beam parameter profile; inputting at least one second parameter associated with workpiece material characteristics into said computer system including steps of: (a) displaying known workpiece materials; (b) determining if said workpiece material characteristics have been defined as a workpiece material characteristics profile and saved and if not inputting required material characteristics and selecting a workpiece material having the required workpiece material characteristics, thereby defining the workpiece material characteristics profile; (c) if so selecting said workpiece material defined by the saved workpiece material characteristics profile; inputting at least one third parameter associated with workpiece geometry characteristics into said computer system and sufficient to define size and tapered shape of a three-dimensional hole shape to be drilled in said workpiece including steps of: (a) determining if said workpiece geometry has been defined as a workpiece geometry profile and saved and if not inputting workpiece geometry profile; (b) if so selecting workpiece geometry; (c) determining if said selected workpiece geometry has an associated algorithm defining a tool path that is used to direct position of a laser beam upon a workpiece to produce the tapered hole by varying position of the laser beam to remove layers of workpiece material and by removing workpiece material layer by layer; and determining if said selected workpiece geometry is compatible with said selected material parameters and said laser beam parameter profile and if so performing the following: (a) processing said first, second and third parameters in said computer system to calculate the tool path; (b) determining a laser drilling data set that includes said tool path; and (c) exporting said laser drilling data set to said laser drilling system.