PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR THE LASER-BEAM MACHINING OF WORKPIECES

摘要

A process for machining workpieces (10) using a laser beam which is focussed on the workpiece (10) which is in relative movement and ionises material, in which an arc (11) is used besides the laser radiation in the region of the workpiece (1) on which the laser beam impinges. To ensure that the arc (11) does not persist at its burnt-in point, the arc is struck with intensity-modulated and/or pulsed laser radiation and/or with a pulsed and/or modulated electrode voltage, the arc (11) is automatically extinguished after striking or its electrode voltage is reduced below the striking voltage, and restruck thereafter.