Universal Laser Systems, Inc

Edwin W Gorham

Christian J Risser

Yefim P Sukhman

Stefano J Noto

James W Rabideau

Stanfano J Noto

David W Schultz

John Danielson

Mark Howse

Yefim P Sukman

A laser material processing system and method focus a laser beam to a smaller spot size with a high power density using a movable beam expander to provide high resolution laser beam for engraving and/or cutting. A movable beam focusing assembly containing a beam expanding optics and a beam focusing optics is a part of a motion system providing a high power density focused beam within the material processing area minimizing size and weight of the laser beam positioning optics and avoiding the problems inherent in handling and positioning a larger diameter beam.

High resolution laser beam delivery apparatus

Laser cabinet

Each one of multiple laser sources are independently separately mounted on a laser material processing platform and their beam paths are combined by a combiner which includes one or more optical elements mounted in the laser material processing platform which make the beam paths parallel and colinear. The combined beams are then moved in X and Y planes relative to a workpiece supported in the laser material processing platform under the control of a computer in the performance of work in accordance with a work program. The beam path of each laser source and the optical axis of the beam delivery system are each pre-aligned to the same predetermined reference and automatically coincide upon installation such that these components are rapidly and interchangeably interfaceable. The beams are orthogonally polarized and the optical elements of the combiner transmit one beam while reflecting another beam. While two laser beams are shown, an infinite number of laser beams may be used.

Apparatus and method for combining multiple laser beams in laser material processing systems

The beam path &lsqb; &rsqb; of a laser source &lsqb; &rsqb; is first pre-aligned to a predetermined reference, and then the optical axis &lsqb; &rsqb; of the beam delivery system &lsqb; &rsqb; of a laser material processing platform &lsqb; &rsqb; is pre-aligned to the pre-aligned beam path of the laser source such that the two coincide. If the laser beam &lsqb; &rsqb; is invisible, a laser simulator &lsqb; &rsqb; having a visible pre-aligned beam may be used instead. When every laser source and every laser material processing platform &lsqb; &rsqb; in a predetermined population thereof are pre-aligned in this manner, then any one of the laser sources and any one of the laser material processing platforms in the population may be interchanged for any one of its kind in the population and interfaced with any one of the other kind in the population to form a laser material processing system without any additional alignment requirement during or after the interfacing operation and the laser beam paths &lsqb; &rsqb; and beam delivery system optical axes &lsqb; &rsqb; will be automatically aligned with each other after any laser source in the line is combined with any laser material processing platform in the line.

Apparatus and method for making laser sources and laser platforms interchangeable and interfaceable

A computer controlled laser material processing system has a plurality of laser sources the beams of which are selectively operable between two modes. In a first raster engraving mode the beams are separated and independently controllable in synchronism with the motions of a beam delivery system to form plural, parallel, spaced apart scan lines on the surface of the workpiece for affecting the surface at high speed. In a second vector cutting mode the beams are combined such that they are collinear and have a power approximately equal to the sum of the powers of each individual laser source for cutting the surface at high power. The system may be switched by moving an optical element which, in the vector mode position, combines the beams and, in the raster mode position, separates the beams by either incrementally adjustably controlling the beams to provide a predetermined pitch between the scanned lines or by fixedly establishing a predetermined angle between the beams coupled with scanning in a variable interleaved pattern to achieve the desired pitch and image quality. Alternatively, an optical element may be inserted in the path of the collinear beams to separate them into parallel or angled beams for use in multi line scanning in the raster mode. The reverse sequence is followed to switch from raster to vector mode.

Laser material processing system with multiple laser sources apparatus and method

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Phoenix, AZ, United States of America

Edwin W Gorham