REDUCED MIST LASER SHOCK PEENING

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To minimize mist between laser and an article for laser shock peening.

SOLUTION: A laser unit (12) includes a laser beam source (14) for generating laser beam (16) along a laser beam centerline (20). A beam tube (22) surrounds at least a portion (24) of the beam centerline. A beam aperture (26) is located at an exit (28) of the tube. A final beam optical lens (30) is mounted within the tube upstream of the aperture. A gas purging means (34) flows purge gas (35) into the tube. A converging section (48) of the tube is located between the lens and the aperture. A telescoping section (54) is located between the lens and the aperture in the converging section (48) of the tube. The lens has a focal number down to about 5. A gas knife (60) located between the aperture and the focal point (FP) of the lens is used for flowing a large volume of clearing gas (64) across the laser beam between the aperture and the focal point of the lens.

COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI