Analysis, topology modification and modeling of the laser head casing taking into account the capabilities of additive equipment

The article considers the issue of improving the design of the laser head casing in order to ensure its compactness and take into account the capabilities of additive equipment that allows making more complex plastic casing parts without violating the collectability and maintainability of the laser head casing. The manufacture of a laser head casing made of plastic makes it possible to reduce its material consumption in comparison with a casing made of aluminum alloy. At the same time, it is proposed to further reduce the material consumption of the plastic casing due to the introduction of special recesses and stiffening ribs into its design. In the CAE-module of the CAD/CAM-system SolidWorks, a comparative analysis of the strength and stiffness of the laser head casing design options, assembled from parts with recesses and stiffeners, as well as without them. The modeling results of the deformation process for the casing variants convincingly showed that it is possible to replace the material of its parts from aluminum alloy to plastic and that reducing the material consumption and changing the design of the casing does not lead to such a loss of its strength and rigidity which causes an unacceptable deviation of the laser beam from the vertical, that is, does not affect the functioning of the laser head. (paper)