A method for machining a material using a pulsed laser includes introducing a sequence of laser pulses into the material for machining the material, and synchronizing a start of each sequence with a fundamental frequency of the laser. The sequence of laser pulses comprises at least two different sequence elements that are offset from one another in space and time. Each sequence element comprises an individual laser pulse, a specific succession of individual laser pulses, or a burst of laser pulses. Specific sequence element properties are impressed on each sequence element. The sequence element properties comprise a position of the laser focus of a respective sequence element. The position of the laser focus of each sequence element of the sequence is adapted for each sequence element.

A device for moving at least one cutting and welding arrangement able to cut, then weld a tail of a first metal strip to a head of a second metal strip, includes at least one first carriage holding at least one welding head. The first carriage is movable over a guide path following a first course across a transverse strip region. At least one second carriage is movable separately from the first carriage and holds a cutting head. The second carriage is movable on a guide path following a second course. The welding head is used exclusively for a welding mode, the second carriage is used exclusively for a cutting mode and the two carriages have parked positions on either side of the tail and head widths of the strips. A welding method which is associated with the device is also provided.

A device for moving at least one cutting and welding arrangement able to cut, then weld a tail of a first metal strip to a head of a second metal strip, includes at least one first carriage holding at least one welding head. The first carriage is movable over a guide path following a first course across a transverse strip region. At least one second carriage is movable separately from the first carriage and holds a cutting head. The second carriage is movable on a guide path following a second course. The welding head is used exclusively for a welding mode, the second carriage is used exclusively for a cutting mode and the two carriages have parked positions on either side of the tail and head widths of the strips. A welding method which is associated with the device is also provided.

There are provided high power laser systems for performing decommissioning of structures in land based boreholes, and wells, offshore, and other remote and hazardous locations, and using those system to perform decommissioning operations. In particular embodiments the laser system is a Class I system and reduces emission of materials created during laser cutting operations. The laser systems can include lifting and removal equipment for removing laser sectioned material.

There are provided high power laser systems for performing decommissioning of structures in land based boreholes, and wells, offshore, and other remote and hazardous locations, and using those system to perform decommissioning operations. In particular embodiments the laser system is a Class I system and reduces emission of materials created during laser cutting operations. The laser systems can include lifting and removal equipment for removing laser sectioned material.

In various embodiments, one or more optical elements are utilized to alter the numerical aperture of a radiation beam received from an optical fiber in order to accommodate the properties of a downstream collimator within a laser delivery head.

In various embodiments, one or more optical elements are utilized to alter the numerical aperture of a radiation beam received from an optical fiber in order to accommodate the properties of a downstream collimator within a laser delivery head.

Laser cutting on a plated steel sheet is executed by cutting the plated steel sheet by irradiating the plated steel sheet covered with a plate metal with laser light at a wavelength in a 1 micrometer band; and emitting assist gas onto a cut surface of the plated steel sheet, the cut surface being formed in the step of cutting, to make the plate metal fused by irradiation of the laser light flow to the cut surface so as to cover the cut surface with the plate metal.

Laser cutting on a plated steel sheet is executed by cutting the plated steel sheet by irradiating the plated steel sheet covered with a plate metal with laser light at a wavelength in a 1 micrometer band; and emitting assist gas onto a cut surface of the plated steel sheet, the cut surface being formed in the step of cutting, to make the plate metal fused by irradiation of the laser light flow to the cut surface so as to cover the cut surface with the plate metal.

A fixture used in the manufacture of an eyepiece, to cut the eyepiece to a particular shape, and a method of using the fixture to cut the eyepiece to have a desired shape. Embodiments are directed to a configurable fixture to align, hold, and protect a plastic sheet (e.g., a wafer) while a laser cutting apparatus is cutting one or more eyepieces out of the wafer. During the cutting, the fixture protects the eyepieces from reflected laser light by providing voids around the laser cutting lines, and by supporting each eyepiece near its perimeter. The fixture can be quickly rearranged for different eyepieces, different eyepiece shapes, and/or different plastic sheet sizes.