Method and apparatus for cutting windows in a constant-velocity joint cage

摘要

Under the direction of a computer numerical control, a multi-axis manipulator (66) moves the collet and an attached cage supported by a cage holder (54) along an interpolated motion control path to cause a stationary laser beam from a laser generator to cut windows in the cage. The manipulator (66) includes multi-axis translators and rotators that allow formerly impractical window geometries to be produced. A beam exit casing includes a lens that converges the laser beam and a mirror that bends the beam to a ninety-degree cutting angle. The beam-bending mirror is disposed between the lens and a reflected image-side focal point of the lens. The resulting proximity of the mirror to the focal point allows the beam bender nose to fit into and cut from within a confined space such as a CV joint cage interior.