| 摘要 |
<p>A system is provided for delivering a high-power laser beam through a fiber optic cable to a metal workpiece for drilling, cutting or welding the workpiece. The laser beam is focused onto a first end of the fiber optic cable, with a gas being applied to the first end of the cable as a cooling agent. The gas is transmitted coaxially with the fiber optic cable along the length thereof. The laser beam emerges from a second end of the fiber optic cable and is received and focused onto a workpiece by a beam delivery assembly. The transmitted gas is applied to the second end of the fiber optic cable as a cooling agent and injected onto the workpiece coaxially with the focused laser beam. With such arrangement, a laser beam is delivered to a workpiece for processing the workpiece via a flexible system, allowing the beam to be dexterously maneuvered about the workpiece. Also, since the gas cooling agent is applied to the workpiece coaxially with the focused beam, the gas may comprise an element which assists the laser beam in processing the workpiece. Also included is a mechanism for facilitating connection of the beam delivery assembly to an arm for maneuvering the beam delivery assembly through a plurality of positions with respect to the workpiece. Such mechanism inhibits rotation of the beam delivery assembly and the fiber optic cable during such maneuvering, thus preventing rotational strain from being applied to the cable and reducing the possibility of cable breakage.</p> |
