Patent ID: 7060934
Filing Date: 2006-06-13
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
1. A laser material processing system comprising: a laser source generating an output laser beam, characterized by parameters including an output laser beam diameter and an output laser beam divergence; a work area to contain a workpiece composed of material to be processed; a motion system for positioning the output laser beam within the work area to a plurality of positions corresponding to X and Y coordinates on the workpiece, the motion system includes a movable beam focusing assembly containing: at least one beam expanding optical element for transforming the output laser beam into a substantially diverging laser beam of increased diameter; and at least one beam focusing optical element fixedly positioned relative to the at least one beam expanding optical element for transforming the substantially diverging laser beam of increased diameter into a focused laser beam of high power density; the moveable beam focusing assembly thus locating the at least one beam expanding optical element and the at least one beam focusing optical element substantially adjacent to the plurality of positions corresponding to X and Y coordinates on the workpiece, thereby maintaining the output laser beam diameter until entering the movable beam focusing assembly and providing a smaller focal spot of the focused laser beam of high power density incident upon the plurality of locations within the work area.