PLASTIC PROCESSING METHOD

Abstract

A method for processing a plastic workpiece having a first side and a second side opposite the first side using laser ablation and a nozzle body produced according to the method. The method includes advancing a laser beam into the plastic workpiece from outside of the plastic workpiece and through the first side to at least partially penetrate the plastic workpiece, and evaporating at least a portion of the plastic workpiece with the laser beam starting from the second side.

Claims

1. A method for processing a plastic workpiece having a first side and a second side opposite the first side using laser ablation, comprising: advancing a laser beam into the plastic workpiece from outside of the plastic workpiece and through the first side to at least partially penetrate the plastic workpiece; and evaporating at least a portion of the plastic workpiece with the laser beam starting from the second side.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the evaporated plastic escapes toward the outside of the plastic workpiece.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the plastic workpiece evaporates in a region of a focal point of the laser beam.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of undercuts or deep-hole geometries are producible in the plastic workpiece.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plastic workpiece is processed to produce a nozzle body.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the at least one portion of the plastic workpiece evaporated by the laser beam forms at least one channel of the nozzle body.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the at least one portion of the plastic workpiece evaporated by the laser beam forms a filter arrangement of the nozzle body.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising emitting the laser beam from a laser arrangement.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the laser arrangement emits a high-energy pulse.

10. The method according to claim 1., wherein the laser beam has a focal point with dimensions in a range of 0.001 mm to 0.25 mm.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the focal point comprises a first focal point and at least a second focal point that lies adjacent to the first focal point.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the first focal point: and the at least one second focal point lies ton a predefined route.

13. The method according to claim 1., wherein the plastic workpiece comprises a highly transparent plastic workpiece.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising focusing a focal point of the laser beam on the second side and moving the focal point of the laser beam in a direction from the second side toward the first side.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising moving the focal point of the laser crosswise to the direction from the second side to the first side.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising additional processing of the plastic workpiece, wherein the additional processing starts from the first side.

17. A nozzle body produced according to the method of claim 1, wherein the plastic workpiece comprises, at least in part, a highly transparent plastic.

18. The nozzle body according to claim 17, wherein the nozzle body is an atomizing nozzle body.

19. The nozzle body according to claim 17, wherein the nozzle body comprises a filter arrangement.

20. The nozzle body according to claim 17, wherein the nozzle body comprises at least one channel that is cylindrical with a largest diameter essentially between 0.001 mm and 0.25 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] The present invention is further described in the detailed description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a laser arrangement and a plastic workpiece;

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the laser arrangement with a plastic workpiece that has already been processed;

[0042] FIG. 3 shows a laser arrangement with another processed plastic workpiece;

[0043] FIG. 4 shows a laser arrangement and a plastic workpiece with a deep hole;

[0044] FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a Rayleigh nozzle body;

[0045] FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of a filter arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] The particulars shown herein are by way of example and. for purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the present invention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the present invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the present invention may be embodied in practice.

[0047] In FIGS. 1 through 4, one laser arrangement 1 is illustrated in each case with a laser generating device 2, a laser guiding arrangement 3, and an objective lens 4. In addition, one transparent plastic workpiece 5 is illustrated in each case.

[0048] The laser generating device 2 generates a laser beam 6, which is guided to the objective lens 4 by the laser guiding arrangement 3. The laser beam 6 is emitted starting from the objective lens 4. The laser beam 6 advances into the plastic workpiece 5 through a first side 7. There, the laser beam 6 penetrates the plastic workpiece 5 until it is focused at a focal point 9 on a second side 8 of the plastic workpiece 5. A direction of travel 10 of the focal point 9 is thereby provided essentially towards the first side 7 starting from the second side 8.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows a plastic workpiece 5 that has already been partially processed, wherein the focal point 9 is guided along a route 11. The evaporated plastic can thereby escape without interacting with the laser beam 6. Undercuts can also be produced.

[0050] In FIG. 3, a plastic workpiece 5 is illustrated which has been processed both starting from the second side 8 and also from the first side 7. For this purpose, material is first evaporated starting from the second side 8, in order to then form a channel 12. As a final step, the remaining geometry is formed starting from the first side 7.

[0051] FIG. 4 shows a plastic workpiece 5 in which a deep-hole geometry 13 is formed. For this purpose, the focal point 9 is moved to the second side 8, in order to then be moved in the direction of the direction of travel 10. The evaporated plastic can escape through an already-processed portion of the plastic workpiece 5. The evaporated plastic thus does not interact with the laser beam 6, so that the deep-hole geometry 13 can be created as a cylindrical shape.

[0052] With the method described above, nozzle bodies and filter arrangements, for example, can be produced.

[0053] A section of an exemplary Rayleigh nozzle body 14 is illustrated in FIG. 5. The Rayleigh nozzle body 14 comprises a plurality of channels 12, wherein the channels 12 are tapered by a funnel-shaped geometry 15. The channels 12, with the exception of the funnel-shaped geometry 15, thereby have a cylindrical, deep-hole geometry.

[0054] In FIG. 6, a schematic section of a nozzle body 16 is illustrated with a filter arrangement 17. The filter arrangement 17 comprises a plurality of channels 12 which each have a cylindrical, deep-hole geometry. The filter arrangement 17 is located upstream of a nozzle in order to filter out ultra-fine particles and thus prevent a clogging of the nozzle.

[0055] It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it is understood that the words which have been used herein. are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0056] 1 Laser arrangement [0057] 2 Laser generating device [0058] 3 Laser guiding arrangement [0059] 4 Objective lens [0060] 5 Plastic workpiece [0061] 6 Laser beam [0062] 7 First side [0063] 8 Second side [0064] 9 Focal point [0065] 10 Direction of travel [0066] 11 Route [0067] 12 Channel [0068] 13 Deep-hole geometry [0069] 14 Rayleigh nozzle body [0070] 15 Funnel-shaped geometry [0071] 16 Nozzle body [0072] 17 Filter arrangement