CARBON MONOXIDE LASER MACHINING SYSTEM

摘要

Laser-machining apparatus includes a carbon monoxide (CO) laser emitting a beam of laser-radiation having forty-four different wavelength components and optical elements for delivering the radiation to workpiece. An acousto-optic modulator is provided for modulating the beam on the workpiece. A birefringent plate is provided in the beam transported to the workpiece for randomly polarizing radiation incident on the workpiece. A minimum distance of the workpiece from the laser, and the number of different-wavelength components in the laser beam provides that no optical isolator is required for preventing feedback of radiation into the laser.

主权项

1. Optical apparatus for laser-machining a workpiece, comprising:
a carbon monoxide laser delivering a beam of laser-radiation having a plurality of wavelength-components at discrete different wavelengths; a plurality of optical elements arranged to direct the laser-radiation beam from the laser to the workpiece along a beam-path having a path-length; and wherein the number of wavelength-components and the path-length of the beam-path are selected such that an optical isolator is not required to prevent any laser-radiation reflected from the workpiece back along the beam path from being fed-back into the laser.