Patent ID: 6538231
Filing Date: 2003-03-25
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
A laser machining apparatus comprising:a plurality of laser generators; one or more machining tools to focus a laser beam, each of said machining tools being associated with two or more of said plurality of laser generators to form a group; machining tool moving means for moving each of said machining tools along a desired machining path; fiber-optic cables for connecting said plurality of laser generators and said one or more machining tools; one or more fiber-optic cable switching devices provided between the laser generators and the machining tool in each group; and a control device to control said fiber-optic cable switching devices, wherein each of said laser generators is connected to one of said fiber-optic cable switching devices through the fiber-optic cable, the connection between the fiber-optic cable switching devices and the connection between the fiber-optic cable switching device and the machining tool are made through one or more fiber-optic cables, and said control device controls said fiber-optic cable switching device so as to change over the laser generator for use and the fiber-optic cables to guide a laser beam to the machining tool.