Patent ID: 8872065

Claim:
Laser machining apparatus for the manufacture of a tool from a blank ( 27 ), comprising: a laser ( 21 ) for generating laser beam impulses ( 24 ); a laser head ( 19 ) including a redirecting arrangement ( 23 ) for directing the laser beam impulses ( 24 ) of the laser ( 21 ) onto a plurality of impact locations ( 25 ) disposed along a predetermined pulse path (B) on the surface ( 26 ) of the blank ( 27 ) spaced a predetermined distance (A) from one another within a predetermined pulse area ( 55 ) moving along the surface ( 26 ) to form an ablation layer ( 59 ) and successive ablation layers ( 59 ), the predetermined pulse path (B) being cyclical and having a plurality of cycles during the movement of the predetermined pulse area ( 55 ) along the surface ( 26 ) and the predetermined pulse path (B) having a starting position (S) and an end position (E) during each of said cycles, the redirecting arrangement ( 23 ) for resetting the laser beam impulses ( 24 ) at the starting position (S) upon the laser beam impulses reaching the end position (E); and, a positioning arrangement ( 30 ) for providing a continuous relative movement between the blank ( 27 ) and the predetermined pulse area ( 55 ) during the formation of each of the ablation layers ( 59 ) for generating a chip groove ( 61 ) and a cutting edge ( 60 ) on the blank ( 27 ), the redirecting arrangement ( 23 ) for providing the movement of the laser beam impulses ( 24 ) along the predetermined pulse path (B) during each of said cycles at times corresponding, at times transverse, and at times opposite with respect to the continuous relative movement as the laser beam impulses ( 24 ) proceed along the predetermined pulse path (B).