摘要 |
<p>A beam combining unit (40) combines the output beams of three lasers after the beams have been transmitted along three optical fibres (42), only one of which is shown. The beam combining unit (40) includes a holder arrangement (45,46,55,56,57,59) for receiving the ends of the optical fibres (40), three collimating lenses (62), only one of which is shown, and a single focusing lens (65). The ends of the three optical fibres (42) are located substantially in a common plane and circularly spaced at 120 DEG intervals. The three collimating lenses (62) are also located substantially in a common plane and their axes are circularly spaced at 120 DEG intervals. Each of the collimating lenses (62) is aligned with one of the optical fibres (42). The laser beams are directed by the collimating lenses (62), as collimated beams, onto the focusing lens (65) with axes of the individual beams parallel to each other. The beams are focused by the focusing lens (65) to a common point for performing a material processing operation.</p> |