HAND HELD POWDER-FED LASER FUSION WELDING TORCH

摘要

A novel and inventive hand held powder-fed laser fusion welding torch (100) providing manual flexibility for laser welding with powder-fed material. The hand held laser includes a body (104), handle (102), and nozzle assembly. Th e nozzle may be shrouded by a cover (170) that is slightly spaced apart from t he nozzle. The gap between the two may provide space through which inert gas ma y flow. Laser light from a remote source shines through the nozzle's central aperture. The nozzle aperture (144) may be circumscribed by powder channel outlets (148) aligned upon a working focal point coincident with the laser beam to treat a workpiece. A proximity sensor (220) may enable selective welding torch operation according to the presence of a workpiece.