METHOD FOR ALTERING THE BEAM DIAMETER OF A LASER BEAM ON A MACHINING PLANE AND ASSEMBLY DESIGNED THEREFOR

摘要

The invention relates to a method for altering the beam diameter of a laser beam on a machining plane (8) in the generative production of components and to an assembly that is designed to carry out said method for machining a component or material using a laser beam. According to said method, the machining laser beam is guided by an optical fibre (1, 2) to an optical system (4, 7) that is used to direct the laser beam onto the machining plane by means of a focusing lens system (7). The method is characterised in that at least two optical fibres (1, 2) with different fibre core diameters are used and to alter the beam diameter, the machining laser beam is switched between being guided via the first of the two optical fibres (1) and the optical system (4, 7) to the machining plane (8) and being guided via the second of the two optical fibres (2) and the optical system (4, 7) to the machining plane (8). The method and associated assembly permit a higher laser output with the increase in beam diameter than with the use of zoom lenses for altering the beam diameter. The method and assembly are particularly suitable for use in laser-based generative production methods.