Patent ID: 6215094
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
Process for determining instantaneous penetration depth and achieving a desired penetration depth of a machining laser beam (9; 109) into a workpiece, comprising:(a) determining in a preliminary trial the percentage portion of a measuring laser beam (9; 114) that re-emerges at the workpiece (1, 2; 101, 102) at the desired penetration depth;(b) directing a laser beam (9; 114) performing the function of a measururing laser beam onto a vapour capillary (4; 104) formed in the workpiece (1, 2; 101, 102) by a laser beam (9; 109) performing the function of a machining laser beam,(c) determining a portion of the laser beam performing the function of a measuring laser beam that re-emerges from the vapour capillary (4; 104) within said workpiece, following multiple reflections within said workpiece,(d) in step (c) determining the percentage portion of the laser beam (9; 114) performing the function of a measuring laser beam that actually re-emerges at the workpiece (1, 2; 101, 102) and is not introduced into the workpiece (1, 2; 101, 102), and(e) determining energy introduced into the workpiece (1, 2; 101, 102) per unit of time and area by the laser beam (9; 109) performing the function of a machining laser beam as a function of said portion of the laser beam (9, 114) performing the function of a measuring laser beam that was determined in step (c).