US 11,927,825 B2
Exchangeable optical module for a laser machining machine
Udo Stürmer, Pfronten (DE); and Andreas Abt, Oy-Mittelberg (DE)
Assigned to SAUER GmbH, Stipshausen (DE)
Appl. No. 16/645,559
Filed by SAUER GmbH, Stipshausen (DE)
PCT Filed Sep. 7, 2018, PCT No. PCT/EP2018/074133
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 9, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/048610, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 14, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2017 215 838.7 (DE), filed on Sep. 7, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0276668 A1, Sep. 3, 2020
Int. Cl. G02B 7/16 (2021.01); B22F 10/25 (2021.01); B22F 10/36 (2021.01); B22F 12/00 (2021.01); B22F 12/20 (2021.01); B22F 12/41 (2021.01); B22F 12/53 (2021.01); B22F 12/90 (2021.01); B23K 26/046 (2014.01); B23K 26/06 (2014.01); B33Y 40/00 (2020.01); G02B 7/02 (2021.01); G02B 7/14 (2021.01); G02B 27/14 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 7/16 (2013.01) [B22F 12/38 (2021.01); B22F 12/90 (2021.01); B23K 26/046 (2013.01); B23K 26/0643 (2013.01); B23K 26/0648 (2013.01); B33Y 40/00 (2014.12); G02B 7/028 (2013.01); G02B 7/14 (2013.01); G02B 27/141 (2013.01); B22F 10/25 (2021.01); B22F 10/36 (2021.01); B22F 12/20 (2021.01); B22F 12/41 (2021.01); B22F 12/53 (2021.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optical module for a machine for machining workpieces and/or for producing molded bodies by location-selective solidification of material powder to form connected regions by means of a focused laser beam, comprising:
a housing with means for releasably attaching the optical module to the machine;
a plurality of optical components for collimating and focusing the laser beam, being arranged in or on the housing;
a collimation optics changer with a plurality of collimation optics; and
an exchangeable focusing module with a focusing optics, wherein:
the focusing module comprises at least two clamping bolts which engage with corresponding receptacles arranged in the housing of the optical module, wherein the corresponding receptacles comprise a hydraulic, pneumatic, or spring-loaded mechanism;
the optical module further comprises an automatically exchangeable powder nozzle, wherein
the powder nozzle comprises a flange on which another at least two clamping bolts, which are different from the at least two clamping bolts of the focusing module, are provided, the another at least two clamping bolts engage with another corresponding receptacles arranged in the housing of the optical module, and the another corresponding receptacles comprise a hydraulic, pneumatic, or spring-loaded mechanism,
the flange is integrally formed with the powder nozzle such that an entirety of the powder nozzle including the flange is exchangeable and removable from the housing, and
the powder nozzle is automatically exchangeable via an operation of the machine based on a control signal which includes opening the another corresponding receptacles arranged in the housing of the optical module and exchanging the powder nozzle with a different powder nozzle located in a tool changer in the machine, the tool changer being movable by the machine based on a control signal; and
an essentially cylindrical recess for the focusing module is formed inside the flange, such that a lower end of the focusing module is located within the recess in the powder nozzle, wherein the focusing module and the powder nozzle are arranged coaxially to each other and to the laser beam at the optical module.