Method for gas assisted energy beam engraving of a target object

Abstract

This invention relates to a method for gas assisted energy beam engraving of a target object. This invention employs and energy beam, such as a laser beam or an electron beam, to irradiate a target object in the presence of a selected gaseous environment in order to engrave a mark in the object.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for gas assisted energy beam engraving of a target object, comprising: 
 a. placing at least a portion of the target object in a controlled gaseous environment;    b. energizing a source of an energy beam with at least six amperes of current, the energy beam further comprising a beam size sufficient to engrave a mark in the target object to predetermined dimensions;    c. irradiating a desired portion of the target object with the energy beam while the desired portion of the target object being irradiated is present in the controlled gaseous environment; and    d. causing relative movement between the energy beam and the target object during the irradiating, the movement occurring in a predetermined manner to create a desired engraved pattern in the target object.    
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein the gaseous environment comprises reducing gases, inert gases, oxidizing gases, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein the energy beam is a laser beam.  
     
     
         4 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein the target object comprises ceramics, stainless steel, aluminum, and titanium.  
     
     
         5 . A method for gas assisted laser engraving of a target object, comprising: 
 a. placing at least a portion of the target object into a controlled gaseous environment;    b. irradiating at least a portion of the target object in the controlled gaseous environment with a laser beam from a laser, the laser drawing a current level of at least six amperes, the laser beam further comprising sufficient power and beam dimensions to engrave a desired mark in the target object;    c. simultaneously with the irradiating, covering a surface of the target object which is being irradiated with a predetermined cover gas; and    d. simultaneously with the irradiating, causing relative movement between the laser beam and the target object, at a preselected speed to create a desired pattern.    
     
     
         6 . The method of    claim 5   , wherein the cover gas in step (c) is ejected from a nozzle in communication with a source of cover gas and the controlled gaseous environment.  
     
     
         7 . The method of    claim 6   , further comprising moving the nozzle such that the cover gas is directed at the surface of the target object being irradiated.  
     
     
         8 . The method of    claim 5   , wherein the cover gas is heavier than the gas composition which makes up the earth's atmosphere.  
     
     
         9 . The method of    claim 5   , wherein step (d) further comprises moving a laser which emits the laser beam.  
     
     
         10 . The method of    claim 5   , wherein step (d) further comprises moving the target object.  
     
     
         11 . The method of    claim 5   , wherein the cover gas comprises gases selected from the group of gasses consisting of argon, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The method of    claim 5   , wherein the target object comprises metallic objects and ceramic objects.  
     
     
         13 . A system for engraving, comprising: 
 a. a controlled gaseous environment;    b. a target holder disposed within the controlled gaseous environment, the target holder having sufficient size to support a target object to be engraved in the controlled gaseous environment;    c. an energy beam device drawing at least six amperes, the energy beam device able to generate an energy beam of predetermined dimensions that can be made to irradiate a predetermined portion of the target object;    d. a source of cover gas; and    e. an outlet for the cover gas in communication with the controlled gaseous environment and the source of cover gas.    
     
     
         14 . The system of    claim 13    further comprising a controllable energy beam moving device coupled to the energy beam device, the energy beam moving device having a controllable incremental step movement of an approximately 60 micron step size.  
     
     
         15 . The system of    claim 13    further comprising a controllable target object moving device.  
     
     
         16 . The system of    claim 13    wherein the energy beam device is a laser.  
     
     
         17 . The system of    claim 13    wherein the outlet for the cover gas further comprises a nozzle in communication with the source of cover gas, the nozzle further capable of being directed at regions of the target object being irradiated.  
     
     
         18 . The system of    claim 13   , wherein the cover gas comprises gases selected from the group consisting of argon, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and combinations thereof.