The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for measuring the inclination of a waterjet relative to a machine coordinate system of a laser machining device. The present invention provides a method for measuring the inclination of a waterjet of a laser machining device in which a laser beam that has been introduced and guided into a waterjet jetted from an optical head is moved relative to a workpiece fixed to a table so as to machine the workpiece, wherein measured is the inclination of the waterjet relative to the table which is within a stable-length range in which the laser beam passing through the inside of the waterjet can be reflected so as to advance in the axial direction.

Provided is a laser fusing method for a glass sheet, including: cutting the glass sheet (G) by irradiating the glass sheet (G) with a laser (L) from a front surface (S) side thereof along a preset cutting line (X) extending in a surface direction of the glass sheet (G); and jetting a shaping gas (A3) so as to form a flow along at least one of the front surface (S) and a back surface (B) of the glass sheet (G), the shaping gas (A3) passing through an irradiation portion (C) of the laser (L).

A process head for processing a substrate using a laser beam, comprising: an optical unit including at least one optical element for directing the laser beam; a plurality of Bernoulli air bearings arranged to surround an optical axis of the optical element and configured to eject a first fluid flow for producing an attractive force between said Bernoulli air bearing and said substrate by the Bernoulli principle, so as to maintain a substantially constant spacing between said optical element and said substrate.

An additive manufacturing system includes a build surface, one or more laser energy sources, and an optics assembly. Exposure of a layer of material on the build surface to laser energy from the optics assembly melts at least a portion of the layer of material. A gas flow head is coupled to the optics assembly and defines a partially enclosed volume between the optics assembly and the build surface. The gas flow head includes a gas inflow through which a supply gas flows into the gas flow head, a gas outflow through which a return gas flows out of the gas flow head, and an aperture arranged to permit transmission of the laser energy through the gas flow head to the build surface. The supply gas and return gas define a gas flow profile within the gas flow head.

Provided is a cutting method for a glass sheet, comprising radiating a laser beam to a cutting portion (C) of a glass sheet (G) having a thickness of 500 μm or less to fuse the glass sheet (G), wherein a narrowest gap between fused end surfaces (Ga1 and Gb1) of the glass sheet (G), which face each other in the cutting portion (C), is managed to satisfy a relationship of 0.1≦b/a≦2, where “a” is a thickness of the glass sheet (G) and “b” is the narrowest gap.

Ejection and stop of a powder flow are switched while maintaining a once generated steady flow without stopping it. A processing nozzle includes a supply source of a fluid containing a powder, a first channel through which the fluid supplied from the supply source passes, a second channel that supplies the fluid to an ejection port of the nozzle, a third channel that releases the fluid outside the nozzle, and a switch that causes the first channel and the second channel to communicate with each other when supplying the fluid to the ejection port, and causes the first channel and the third channel to communicate with each other when not supplying the fluid to the ejection port.

A system and method for automated laser ablation includes an end effector for performing laser ablation at a location with restricted access. The systems and methods of the present disclosure specifically provide for a miniature laser end effector which may be inserted through a port or bore in order to ablate the surface of an internal component of a complex assembly. In several embodiments of the present subject matter, the end effector is mounted on a machine and coupled to a laser system.

A nozzle for laser machining is provided with a flange portion and formed in an annular shape, and includes a first communication hole communicating between a first end portion and a second end portion on a side opposite to the first end portion, a circumferential groove portion provided between the flange portion and the second end portion, and a plurality of second communication holes communicating between a surface of the flange portion on a first end portion side and a side surface of the circumferential groove portion on the first end portion side. A side surface of the circumferential groove portion on a second end portion side extends so that the plurality of second communication holes are invisible from the second end portion side.

An additive manufacturing system may include a build surface, one or more laser energy sources, and an optics assembly. Exposure of a layer of material on the build surface to laser energy from the optics assembly melts at least a portion of the layer of material. A gas flow head is coupled to the optics assembly and defines a partially enclosed volume between the optics assembly and the build surface. The gas flow head includes a gas inflow through which a supply gas flows into the gas flow head, a gas outflow through which a return gas flows out of the gas flow head, and an aperture arranged to permit transmission of the laser energy through the gas flow head to the build surface. The supply gas and return gas define a gas flow profile within the gas flow head.

A system and method for automated laser ablation includes an end effector for performing laser ablation at a location with restricted access. The systems and methods of the present disclosure specifically provide for a miniature laser end effector which may be inserted through a port or bore in order to ablate the surface of an internal component of a complex assembly. In several embodiments of the present subject matter, the end effector is mounted on a machine and coupled to a laser system.