An apparatus for delivering laser energy from a source of laser energy to a target work piece, comprising: a relay imaging system (L52, L53, L57, L58) which relays an image of an output of the source to a target image plane over an optical path (500, 502, 507), the relay imaging system including input optics arranged to receive the laser energy from an output of the source of laser energy, a transmitting mirror mounted on a gimbal having an adjustable angle of incidence relative to the input optics, and a robot mounted optical assembly, the robot mounted optical assembly including a receiving mirror mounted on a gimbal, the receiving mirror having an adjustable angle of incidence relative to the transmitting mirror and output optics arranged to direct the laser energy toward the target image plane to form an irradiance profile of the image of an output of the source on the target work piece, wherein the position of the receiving mirror and the angle of incidence of the transmitting mirror and the receiving mirror are controlled to define within the optical path a segment between the transmitting mirror and the receiving mirror that is essentially straight; and a controller to configure the transmitting mirror, the robot mounted optical assembly and the receiving mirror to direct the laser energy through the robot mounted optical assembly to target positions on a surface of the target work piece to position the target image plane within a range of distances before or after the target positions on the surface of the target work piece characterized in that the receiving mirror has a position adjustable in three dimensions by adjusting a position of the mounted optical assembly, in that the segment is a variable segment, further in that the controller is so configured that the irradiance profile on the target work piece is substantially the same quality as the image of an output of the source. a relay imaging system (L52, L53, L57, L58) which relays an image of an output of the source to a target image plane over an optical path (500, 502, 507), the relay imaging system including input optics arranged to receive the laser energy from an output of the source of laser energy, a transmitting mirror mounted on a gimbal having an adjustable angle of incidence relative to the input optics, and a robot mounted optical assembly, the robot mounted optical assembly including a receiving mirror mounted on a gimbal, the receiving mirror having an adjustable angle of incidence relative to the transmitting mirror and output optics arranged to direct the laser energy toward the target image plane to form an irradiance profile of the image of an output of the source on the target work piece, wherein the position of the receiving mirror and the angle of incidence of the transmitting mirror and the receiving mirror are controlled to define within the optical path a segment between the transmitting mirror and the receiving mirror that is essentially straight; and a controller to configure the transmitting mirror, the robot mounted optical assembly and the receiving mirror to direct the laser energy through the robot mounted optical assembly to target positions on a surface of the target work piece to position the target image plane within a range of distances before or after the target positions on the surface of the target work piece characterized in that the receiving mirror has a position adjustable in three dimensions by adjusting a position of the mounted optical assembly,