An apparatus includes a splitter configured to split a laser beam into a plurality of beamlets, a phase modulator array optically coupled to the splitter and operative to produce phase differences between the beamlets, phase modulation electronics operably coupled to the phase modulator and configured to control an operation of the phase modulator array, a multicore photonic crystal fiber amplifier, the multicore photonic crystal fiber amplifier configured to amplify the beamlets output by the phase modulator array, thereby producing an amplified laser beam at an output thereof, and a waveguide optically coupled between an output of the phase modulator array and an input of the multicore photonic crystal fiber amplifier.

An apparatus includes a splitter configured to split a laser beam into a plurality of beamlets, a phase modulator array optically coupled to the splitter and operative to produce phase differences between the beamlets, phase modulation electronics operably coupled to the phase modulator and configured to control an operation of the phase modulator array, a multicore photonic crystal fiber amplifier, the multicore photonic crystal fiber amplifier configured to amplify the beamlets output by the phase modulator array, thereby producing an amplified laser beam at an output thereof, and a waveguide optically coupled between an output of the phase modulator array and an input of the multicore photonic crystal fiber amplifier.

The present invention has as its object to provide a laser welded joint excellent in joint strength preventing a bead from cracking and comprised of exactly the number of weld beads required for joint strength and a laser welding method for the same in overlay laser welding of steel sheets forming multiple ring-shaped weld beads. The present invention is a laser welded joint excellent in joint strength preventing a bead from cracking and comprised of exactly the number of weld beads required for joint strength in overlay laser welding of steel sheets forming multiple ring-shaped weld beads, produced by a step of overlaying a plurality of metal sheets and forming a first weld bead and a step of firing a laser beam to successively form a further two or more weld beads at the outside of the first weld bead by laser irradiation, the surface hardness of the weld bead increasing from the inside bead to the outside bead.

The present invention has as its object to provide a laser welded joint excellent in joint strength preventing a bead from cracking and comprised of exactly the number of weld beads required for joint strength and a laser welding method for the same in overlay laser welding of steel sheets forming multiple ring-shaped weld beads. The present invention is a laser welded joint excellent in joint strength preventing a bead from cracking and comprised of exactly the number of weld beads required for joint strength in overlay laser welding of steel sheets forming multiple ring-shaped weld beads, produced by a step of overlaying a plurality of metal sheets and forming a first weld bead and a step of firing a laser beam to successively form a further two or more weld beads at the outside of the first weld bead by laser irradiation, the surface hardness of the weld bead increasing from the inside bead to the outside bead.

A laser processing device for processing workpieces such as by welding includes a laser processing head and a workpiece clamping claw defining an opening through which the laser beam is focused on the workpiece. Each of the laser processing head and the clamping claw have respective shielding portions and movable relative to each other to selectively form a light-tight housing about a portion of the beam extending between the laser head and the clamping claw.

A laser welding machine includes: an elevator that is capable of sliding an elevating platform; a pressing actuator that is fixed to the elevating platform at a base part of the pressing actuator and has a tip slidably connected to the base part and pressing a conductive upper terminal toward a conductive lower terminal; a laser oscillator; a machining optical device that is fixed to the elevating platform and has a lens to focus the laser light emitted from the laser oscillator; a position detector that detects a vertical positioning of the pressing actuator; a counter that receives an output of the position detector and delivers position information; and a control circuit that controls, based on the received signal from the counter, the elevator, the pressing actuator, and the machining optical device, and controls operation of the laser oscillator.

A laser beam irradiation unit of a laser processing apparatus includes a pulse laser oscillator, a condenser which converges and irradiates a pulse laser beam upon a workpiece held on a chuck table, a dichroic mirror disposed between the pulse laser oscillator and the condenser, a strobo flash irradiation unit which irradiates light on a route of the dichroic mirror and the condenser, a beam splitter disposed between the strobo flash irradiation unit and the dichroic mirror, and an image pickup unit disposed on the route of the light split by the beam splitter. A control unit renders the strobo flash irradiation unit and the image pickup unit operative in a timed relationship with the pulse laser beam oscillated from the pulse laser beam oscillator and irradiated upon the workpiece and detects a processed state on the basis of an image signal from the image pickup unit.

A laser beam irradiation unit of a laser processing apparatus includes a pulse laser oscillator, a condenser which converges and irradiates a pulse laser beam upon a workpiece held on a chuck table, a dichroic mirror disposed between the pulse laser oscillator and the condenser, a strobo flash irradiation unit which irradiates light on a route of the dichroic mirror and the condenser, a beam splitter disposed between the strobo flash irradiation unit and the dichroic mirror, and an image pickup unit disposed on the route of the light split by the beam splitter. A control unit renders the strobo flash irradiation unit and the image pickup unit operative in a timed relationship with the pulse laser beam oscillated from the pulse laser beam oscillator and irradiated upon the workpiece and detects a processed state on the basis of an image signal from the image pickup unit.

The present invention relates to devices with which, for example, narrow surfaces of preferably plate-like workpieces can be provided with a coating material. The device includes a laser for outputting a laser beam to a laser beam emitter, wherein the laser beam is directed onto the coating material or onto the workpiece in such a manner that the laser beam forms a plane of reference with solder on the surface of the coating material or the workpiece.

The present invention relates to devices with which, for example, narrow surfaces of preferably plate-like workpieces can be provided with a coating material. The device includes a laser for outputting a laser beam to a laser beam emitter, wherein the laser beam is directed onto the coating material or onto the workpiece in such a manner that the laser beam forms a plane of reference with solder on the surface of the coating material or the workpiece.