Laser beam brilliance enhancing beam splitting for laser welding/brazing

Abstract

A laser processing head can be used for joining (e.g., welding, brazing, soldering, etc.) workpieces. A collimator collimates laser light, which passes to a beam splitter. The beam splitter has anti-reflective and high-reflective coatings on peripheral and inner areas of the beam splitter. The beam splitter splits the collimated light into central or inner light from the inner area and peripheral light from the peripheral area. A main output in communication with the beam splitter directs at least the peripheral light into a main beam toward the workpieces. For example, a cable can feed a brazing wire adjacent the main beam for brazing the workpieces together. Meanwhile, a secondary output in communication with the beam splitter directs at least the central light into a secondary beam, which can be used to pre-heat the workpiece, post-heat the workpiece, or remove any surface coating from the workpiece.