Patent ID: 7241965

Claim:
A laser welding apparatus comprising a laser head, plasma suppression means, and gas extraction means in which: the laser head focuses a laser beam upon a component to be welded, at a laser beam impingement point, the laser welding apparatus is adapted to move the laser beam relative to the workpiece in a welding direction, the plasma suppression means is positioned behind the laser head, relative to the welding direction, and is arranged to impinge a jet of gas on the component in the welding direction, at an angle between about 38° and about 52° to the component surface, flowing towards the laser beam impingement point, at a distance of at least 1 mm from the laser beam axis, such that the gas is deflected across the laser beam, and the gas is extracted by the extraction means located in front of the laser head, relative to the welding direction, and adjacent the laser beam, diametrically opposite the plasma suppression means.