Abstract: An articulated arm for conducting the beam of a laser to a point of utilization which moves relative to the laser. In the preferred embodiment the articulated arm is supported in a generally vertically depending manner from a stationary laser. The articulated arm terminates in a focusing clamp assembly which is positioned by an industrial robot. The articulated arm following the motions of the robot. The articulated arm comprises joints through which the laser beam is conducted and which contain mirror assemblies for changing the direction of the laser beam as it passes through each joint. A joint may include a rotary coupling member on a main body providing relative rotation of the axis of one of the incident and reflected laser beams about the axis of the other. The mirror assemblies include adjustable shim mechanisms which provide for the precision adjustment of the mirrors to secure alignment of the incident and reflected laser beam along the intersecting path segments through each joint.

Abstract: In a pulsed gas laser having a flexible exit gas line, such as polymer tubing, a device is disposed just upstream of the flexible tubing to attenuate certain characteristics of the exit gas before it reaches the flexible line. The device comprises a walled chamber having an inlet and an outlet and constructed and arranged to attenuate the peak pressure waves at the pulse frequency. The device also provides attenuation of temperature and for this purpose is made of a good thermal conductor such as copper. The invention enhances the effectiveness of the flexible polymer tubing exit gas lines and permits a laser to be pulsed at higher pulse frequencies than are conventionally done.

Abstract: Apparatus for directing a single laser beam to several predetermined positions on a workpiece. In a preferred embodiment of this invention, a laser beam is deflected from a plurality of rotating mirrors which sequentially intersect the laser beam thereby deflecting the beam through a lens to predetermined positions on the workpiece. By positioning each mirror so that at the point of intersection with the laser beam, its angular relation to the beam differs from the position of another mirror, the beam will be deflected to the plurality of predetermined positions. Thus, by providing apparatus in which rotating mirrors sequentially intersect a laser beam, a plurality of non-contact machining operations such as welding can be performed on the workpiece without indexing the workpiece or moving the laser equipment.