Laser beam alignment and transport system

Abstract

A laser welding system is disclosed in which a high power laser produces the laser beam for delivery to a weld site. A transmitter is optically coupled to the laser and directs the laser beam to a spatially separated receiver. The receiver has an input alignable for receiving the directed laser beam and including optics for delivering the laser beam to the weld site. A pair of directable beam deflectors are employed for aligning the transmitter and the receiver. A pair of steering deflectors introduce the laser beam into the transmitter. A selectable mounting allows the laser to be secured at various orientations relative to the steering mirrors and the weld site. The transmitter and the receiver each have a detector positioned for receiving an alignment laser beam at a point which indicates alignment. The transmitter and the receiver include steppable drives for positioning their respective deflectors. The alignment laser is aligned at a starting block on the receiver detector and the transmitter detector. The steppable drives are each driven away from the starting block by an amount sufficient to eliminate backlash when the drives are reversed. Each steppable drive is then reversed and driven in one direction to bring the alignment laser beam back to the starting block and thereafter into the alignment position in a series of sequential alignment steps.