Patent ID: 8530783

Claim:
A laser cutting system, comprising: a laser source for providing a laser beam; and a chamber for maintaining a controlled environment, the chamber having an optical element disposed in one surface of the chamber for allowing access by the laser beam to an internal volume of the chamber, the chamber also having an input port and an exhaust port; a fixture for holding an article to be cut by the laser beam, the fixture disposed within the chamber; a laser nozzle through which the laser beam shines to fall upon the article held by the fixture, the laser nozzle having an opening disposed at a distal end of the nozzle and located adjacent the fixture such that the laser beam exits the opening to fall upon the article held by the fixture; a vacuum nozzle disposed around the laser nozzle and positioned adjacent the fixture such that a first opening disposed at a distal end of the vacuum nozzle at least partially surrounds the article to be cut without touching the article to be cut; and a channel defined by an outer surface of the laser nozzle and an inner surface of the vacuum nozzle, the channel in fluid communication with the first opening of the vacuum nozzle and the exhaust port such that gas flowing through the input port into the chamber is drawn over the article to be cut and into the first opening and through the channel by a vacuum source applied to the exhaust port.