Patent ID: 8723074
Filing Date: 2014-05-13
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
1. A laser machining system comprising: a part handling system including a workpiece support surface for supporting a workpiece to be machined; at least one stationary laser source for generating at least one laser beam; at least one laser scanning stage positioned relative to the part handling system for linear movement along a scanning axis; a movable optical head located on the laser scanning stage and movable relative to the stationary laser source, the optical head including a beam delivery system for receiving the at least one laser beam, for modifying the at least one laser beam, and for directing the modified beam at the workpiece while moving to machine the workpiece, wherein the beam delivery system comprises at least one mask and at least one lens for near field imaging the modified beam onto the workpiece, and wherein the beam delivery system further includes a lens translation stage for moving the lens and adjusting the focus of the modified beam; and a workpiece tracking system for tracking changes in the workpiece relative to the moving optical head and for adjusting at least one parameter of the modified beam in response to the changes in the workpiece, wherein the workpiece tracking system measures changes in a height of a process plane of the workpiece relative to the optical head, and wherein the lens translation stage moves the lens and adjusts the focus of the modified beam in response to changes in the height of the process plane of the workpiece supported on the workpiece support surface.