PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE MOMENTARY AND MAINTAINING THE DESIRED DEPTH OF PENETRATION OF A MACHINING LASER BEAM INTO A WORKPIECE

摘要

The penetration depth of a machining laser beam into workpiece is continuously monitored in that a measuring laser beam is directed onto the vapor capillary that is generated in the workpiece by the machining laser beam. The portion of the measuring laser beam that re-emerges from the vapor capillary is monitored by a sensor whose output signal is then used to bring about (producing holes) or to adjust (welding or superficial re-melting of a workpiece) the desired penetration depth defined by a pre-selected reference signal