Laser cutting with chemical reaction assist

Patent · 31 December 1991

OSTI ID:868544

Gettemy, Donald J ^[1]

---

1. Los Alamos, NM

A method for cutting with a laser beam where an oxygen-hydrocarbon reaction is used to provide auxiliary energy to a metal workpiece to supplement the energy supplied by the laser. Oxygen is supplied to the laser focus point on the workpiece by a nozzle through which the laser beam also passes. A liquid hydrocarbon is supplied by coating the workpiece along the cutting path with the hydrocarbon prior to laser irradiation or by spraying a stream of hydrocarbon through a nozzle aimed at a point on the cutting path which is just ahead of the focus point during irradiation.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5164567
• OSTI ID: 868544
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/219/
ahead
aimed
assist
auxiliary
auxiliary energy
beam
chemical
chemical reaction
coating
cutting
energy
energy supplied
focus
hydrocarbon
irradiation
laser
laser beam
laser cutting
laser focus
laser irradiation
liquid
liquid hydrocarbon
metal
metal workpiece
method
nozzle
oxygen
oxygen-hydrocarbon
passes
path
prior
provide
reaction
spraying
stream
supplement
supplied
workpiece