An improved process for repair of worn and damaged surfaces of railway structures such as frog and diamond transition surfaces, rail head surfaces and wheels. A worn or damaged surface is prepared using a robotically-controlled laser to melt or gouge away metal using controlled laser energy and air pressure to remove existing worn or damaged surfaces. The process further utilizes laser cladding, laser weld overlaying, or laser additive manufacturing, of formulated powder, wire or stick welding material to worn surfaces that have been prepared for material build-up to original dimensions and similar metallurgical properties.

A laser system includes a controller, a laser source, a laser scanner, and a laser containment apparatus. The laser containment apparatus includes a mounting structure for the laser scanner, a shroud assembly coupled to the mounting structure, and a seal interface coupled to the shroud assembly at an opposite end from the laser scanner. The shroud assembly surrounds a working volume of the laser scanner and includes a vacuum port connected to a vacuum source and a purge port that guides purge gas from a purge gas source toward the laser scanner. A distal end of the seal interface is formed of a pliable material that compresses to seal the shroud assembly to a target surface of a workpiece upon establishment of a negative pressure differential between a vacuum pressure inside the shroud assembly and ambient atmospheric pressure.

A cutting apparatus including a plurality of laser beams for cutting vegetation. The apparatus comprises a housing including side walls being extended generally perpendicular to form a downwardly oriented opening. An electrically powered laser cutting device is positioned centrally within the housing. A transport device is connectable to the housing to provide movement of the housing and laser cutting device along a surface covered by vegetation. The laser cutting device generates at least one laser beam that is directed downward underneath the housing.

An automated or manual laser ablation system and method of use to enable safe, non-user-contact, rapid, and remote cleaning of industrial tubular equipment, e.g. heat-exchangers and reactors. The laser ablation system comprises: a fiber optic cable (12) with a laser probe output end (20), connected to an optics unit (5 or 6) enclosed within a laser probe housing (14). The optics unit comprises: a double convex and/or one or two plano-convex lens; and an Axicon prism, mirror cone, and/or galvo-scanning mirror to emit a rotating or a fixed circular beam. The laser beam cleans a plurality of reactor tubes' internal wall to cause the evaporation of deposit buildups and rust. The laser ablation system further comprises: an air vacuum system (30) positioned to cool the ablation system while removing the debris to a vacuum generator (35); and/or a push motor (60) that pushes and pulls the system through the tubes.

A CNC machine includes a lower body; an upper body that extends from the lower body and is movably attached to the lower body; a tool that is movably attached to the upper body; and a flexible mat that is attached to the lower body. The tool may be a laser generator with the flexible mat resistant to the laser beam. The flexible mat has at least one orientation such that an outer periphery of the flexible mat is greater than the full extent of range of motion of the tool. The upper body may be connected to the lower body by a pivot mechanism configured to allow the upper body to pivot from a first position to a second position and to rotationally fix the upper body relative to the lower body in the second position, with the first and second positions being ninety degrees apart.

In some embodiments, an ophthalmic laser system may be provided that does not include a traditional laser console. Instead, the treatment device may be configured to house the treatment light source within the device handle. Additionally, in some embodiments, the handheld treatment device may include a user interface, such as dials and buttons, for adjusting various parameters of the therapeutic light. With certain embodiments, the self-contained handheld treatment device may be operated independent of an AC power source. For example, in some embodiments, the handheld treatment device may be battery powered. Additionally, the handheld treatment device may be disposable or may utilize replaceable distal tips in certain embodiments. Certain embodiments may be particularly designed for transscleral cyclophotocoagulation. Also, treatment guides are provided that may be configured to couple with a treatment device to align the device with a target tissue of the eye.

A CNC machine includes a lower body; an upper body that extends from the lower body and is movably attached to the lower body; a tool that is movably attached to the upper body; and a flexible mat that is attached to the lower body. The tool may be a laser generator with the flexible mat resistant to the laser beam. The flexible mat has at least one orientation such that an outer periphery of the flexible mat is greater than the full extent of range of motion of the tool. The upper body may be connected to the lower body by a pivot mechanism configured to allow the upper body to pivot from a first position to a second position and to rotationally fix the upper body relative to the lower body in the second position, with the first and second positions being ninety degrees apart.

A computer-numerically-controlled machine can include a light source and a housing. The light source can be configured to deliver electromagnetic energy to at least one location on a material at least partially disposed within the computer-numerically-controlled machine. The housing can include at least one side part surrounding an interior space and the at least one location on the material. The housing can include a structural material defining at least a portion of the interior space. The housing can further include a protective material protecting the side part. The protective material can reduce a permeability of the side part to the electromagnetic radiation relative to the structural material alone.

There is provided high power laser systems, high power laser tools, and methods of using these tools and systems for cutting, sectioning and removing structures objects, and materials, and in particular, for doing so in difficult to access locations and environments, such as offshore, underwater, or in hazardous environments, such as nuclear and chemical facilities. Thus, there is also provided high power laser systems, high power laser tools, and methods of using these systems and tools for removing structures, objects, and materials located offshore, under bodies of water and under the seafloor.

A handheld laser trimming and welding device can include a handheld laser trimming and welding wand and a nozzle. The nozzle can extend from the handheld laser trimming and welding wand to a distal portion, and the nozzle can have an aperture on the distal portion. The distal portion of the nozzle can be configured to optically communicate a laser to the distal portion of the nozzle and fluidically communicate a pressurized gas to the distal portion of the nozzle.