In a first aspect, the invention relates to a laser treatment head comprising an input for a laser bundle, and further provided with a lens system for focusing the laser bundle and a scanning system for deflecting the laser bundle according to a one-dimensional or two-dimensional touch pattern. In particular, the laser treatment head further comprises an directional body configurable relative to the casing between at least a first position and a second position, for variably emitting the deflected laser bundle with said touch pattern, in at least a first or a second emission direction. In further aspects, the invention relates to a laser treatment device and a laser treatment process.

In a sleeve for a gas nozzle, a sleeve main body and a sleeve end face is formed at least in part by a wear protection element which is fastened to the sleeve main body and which is composed of a more wear-resistant material than the sleeve main body adjoining the sleeve end face, an inner and/or an outer beveled portion of the sleeve end face are formed at least in part by the wear protection element.

A nozzle for a laser processing head is provided. The nozzle includes a primary passage disposed in a body of the nozzle. The primary passage is configured to direct a laser beam and a primary fluid from a proximal end of the body to a distal end of the body. The nozzle also includes a set of at least one auxiliary passage disposed in the body of the nozzle and radially offset from a longitudinal axis of the primary passage. A distal portion of the auxiliary passage diverts into two fluid flow passages including (i) a first fluid flow passage configured to direct a first portion of an auxiliary fluid axially forward toward the distal end of the nozzle body, and (ii) a second fluid flow passage configured to direct a second portion of the auxiliary fluid radially inward to mix with the primary fluid in the primary passage.

An optically powered system for rapid, focused heating and melting of water ice. The optical wavelength is chosen to fall in a range where transmissivity through liquid water is higher than through ice. An alternative embodiment of the invention further comprises a length of fiber optic tether between source and output to allow for motion of the melt head. A further embodiment includes probing the ice using various sensing modalities exploiting the presence of the fiber in the ice, searching for biomarkers and characterizing the radiation/light environment for subsurface habitability, including photosynthetic potential and radiation environment as a source for energy.

A laser head apparatus that enables switching between a laser beam and a purging stream. The laser head apparatus includes a bracket that provides for translation and rotation of the laser optics and purging nozzle. The laser optics and purging nozzle are located on opposite sides of the bracket and may be rotated to different rotational positions around a center axis of the bracket and translated to different linear positions along a length of the bracket. Methods of removing material using the laser head apparatus to between a laser beam and a purging stream are also provided.

An assembly and method of reducing discoloration of a foam material resulting from laser processing the material comprising an assembly configured for positioning below the material being processed and for directing air into open cells of the open-cell foam material to pressurize the material during laser processing. The assembly comprises an air delivery mechanism comprising one or more apertures for an air chamber positioned directly below the material travel path. Aligning the one or more apertures with the axis of the laser beam and its focal point when the material is positioned above the one or more apertures and pressurizing or filling of the open cells with air in the direct vicinity of the target area reduces processing related discoloration of the material. The cells are laser processed concurrently with pressurization thereby substantially reducing settling of debris and smoke on the material and reducing discoloration.

A debris remover includes an air nozzle that blows air from one side toward a processing point at which a workpiece is irradiated with a laser beam, a suction duct having a suction opening for sucking debris that has scattered to another side due to the air blown from the air nozzle, vortex generators formed on the processing point side of the suction opening for guiding the scattering debris into the suction duct, and a C-shaped sealing plate that is formed in such a manner as to surround the vortex generators from a rear side and reduces a space defined between the suction opening and the workpiece.

The invention relates to a machining head (1) for laser machining machines, in particular for laser cutting machines, having an interface to a laser light source (3), preferably to fiber-coupled or fiber-based laser sources. Said laser sources are designed for more than 500 W of average output power in the near infrared region. The interface is preferably designed for coupling an optical waveguide (2) for the working laser beam (6). The machining head (1) also has a focusing optical unit (11) having preferably only one imaging lens. A deflecting assembly (9, 10) for at least one single deflection of the working laser beam (6) is arranged between the interface and the focusing optical unit (11). Said deflecting assembly (9, 10) is designed as a passive optical element that changes the divergence of the working laser beam (6) in dependence on power.

This shaping apparatus is equipped with: a movement system which moves a target surface; a measurement system for acquiring position information of the target surface in a state movable by the movement system, a beam shaping system that has a beam irradiation section and a material processing section which supplies a shaping material irradiated by a beam from beam irradiation section; and a controller. On the basis of 3D data of a three-dimensional shaped object to be formed on a target surface and position information of the target surface acquired using the measurement system, the controller controls the movement system and the beam shaping system such that a target portion on the target surface is shaped by supplying the shaping material while moving the target surface and the beam from beam irradiation section relative to each other.

Techniques for removing material from a substrate are provided. A laser beam is focused at a distance from the surface to be treated. A gas is provided at the focus point. The gas is dissociated using the laser energy to generate gas plasma. The substrate is then brought in contact with the gas plasma to enable material removal.