Method and Apparatus for Forming a Plurality of Laser Beams With Ultraviolet Wavelength, and Laser Machining Apparatus

摘要

The invention provides a method and an apparatus for forming a plurality of ultraviolet-wavelength laser beams, and a laser machining apparatus, in which the machining efficiency can be improved due to easy maintenance and inspection while deterioration of wavelength conversion means can be prevented to reduce the running cost. A laser beam with a near infrared wavelength output from a laser oscillator is branched into a plurality of laser beams by a laser distribution unit. Each branched laser beam is partially converted into a laser beam whose wavelength is ½ of the near infrared wavelength by a wavelength converter. An ultraviolet laser beam whose wavelength is 1/3 of the near infrared wavelength of the laser beam is formed out of the branched laser beam and the laser beam with the wavelength which is ½ of the near infrared wavelength by another wavelength converter, both the branched laser beam and the laser beam with the wavelength which is ½ of the near infrared wavelength being output from the wavelength converter. The ultraviolet laser beam is extracted and supplied to a portion to be machined, by a wavelength separator.