Abstract: In a bearing support (10) for a laser resonator, adjacent support sections (11a, 11b) are directly and undetachably connected to each other by an articulated deflectable joint (12). An additional vertical safety on the bearing support is no longer necessary since the two support sections (11a, 11b) are already held together in a vertically secure manner by the articulated joint (12).

Abstract: In a laser processing machine for processing workpieces using a laser beam (2), a telescope (1) for widening the laser beam (2) comprises an ellipsoidal mirror (3) and a paraboloidal mirror (4) whose axes of rotation (6) extend parallel, in particular collinear, to each other. This orientation permits precise production of the reflecting surfaces of the two mirrors through one single clamping (e.g. through diamond lathe) such that later adjustment is not required.

Abstract: An apparatus for deflecting a laser beam includes a deflecting mirror disposed in a holder, a lever, a rotatable coupler, and a drive member. The mirror is pivotable about a first pivot axis lying on a surface of the mirror, and the holder is rotatable about a second pivot axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the first pivot axis to cause the mirror to rotate about the second pivot axis. The lever is coupled to the mirror along a first lever axis parallel to and separated from the first pivot axis. The rotatable coupler is coupled to the lever along a second lever axis parallel to and separated from the first pivot axis, the coupler is rotatable about the second pivot axis, and the rotatable coupler and the holder are longitudinally translatable relative to each other along the second pivot axis. The drive member is coupled to the holder, and the drive member is longitudinally translatable along the second pivot axis to cause the mirror to rotate about the first pivot axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the functionality of an optical element includes a detector and a light source whose radiation is reflected to the detector by a surface of the optical element facing the detector and the light source.

Abstract: A system for the reforming of a laser beam having a circular sector shaped beam cross section into a laser beam with a rectangular beam cross section, incorporates a mirror whose surface is shaped as the circular sector of a reflective parabolic rotational body. With only one mirror, and with only minor image aberrations, the circular sector shaped laser beam can be reformed into a rectangular laser beam.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the beam guiding of a laser beam with at least one optical element and with a housing that has a first housing section, which can be fitted at least partially into a support body of a power laser or beam guiding system or can be attached thereto, and a further housing section that at least partially encloses the optical element, wherein a one-piece housing is provided, into which the optical element can be fitted, and wherein a bearing surface for the optical element is provided, which bearing surface at least partially encloses the housing opening and has a coating with a surface that is harder than the housing material.

Abstract: A device for beam guiding a laser beam with at least one optical element, which is positioned with a retaining element to a supporting section, and with a clamping element, which fixes the optical element to the supporting section of a housing section, wherein the housing section having the supporting section has a fastening section on which the clamping element engages for the central introduction of a retaining force and positions the optical element to the supporting section with the interposition of at least one retaining element.

Abstract: A laser has at least two coaxial electrode tubes spaced apart to provide a laser cavity therebetween and a cooling system including cooling coils about the outer surface of the outer electrode and about the inner surface of the inner electrode and in heat exchange contact therewith. Support pipes are provided about the outside of the outside cooling coil and about the inside surface of the inner cooling coil. The cooling coils are deformed into improved heat exchange contact with the electrode tubes by internal pressure and may be softened by annealing or the like before the application of the deformation pressure.

Abstract: A laser processing machine incorporates a gas flushed beam guiding chamber (3) and an optical element (2) bounding the beam guiding chamber (3) on the beam input side serves the optical element to direct the laser beam (4) into the beam-guiding chamber (3), and a flushing gas intake opening (10) is provided in the beam-guiding chamber (3) near the optical element (2). An optical diaphragm aperture (7, 21) is provided in the beam guiding chamber (3) for shaping the laser beam (4) and it is designed to also serve as a restrictor for the flushing gas. The diaphragm subdivides the beam guiding chamber, and, since only the part of the beam guiding chamber between the optical element and the diaphragm is subject to positive pressure, the amount of flushing gas needed for flushing is reduced.

Abstract: A gas laser includes a control to modify the distribution of the intensity of the laser light over the laser beam cross section produced in the lasing gas within at least one laser tube by at least two electrodes and a voltage supply unit by means of which a voltage can be fed to electrodes. A discharge area forms in the lasing gas and this can be affected by adjusting the amplification profile of the laser over the excitation cross section of the laser tube.

Abstract: A gas laser (1) has an optics system and a mode-masking diaphragm in the beam guiding chamber of the laser resonator. The optics system is adjustable between two settings in each of which any higher-order modes of the laser beam (3) are masked out. The Gaussian mode (9) can be generated in one of the two settings, and the ring mode (10) in the other setting. An appropriate control permits switching between Gaussian and ring modes depending upon the intended processing operation.

Abstract: A gas laser gas has an elongated cavity in which are disposed a first elongated electrode tube having an inner diameter, and a second elongated electrode tube disposed coaxially within the first electrode tube and having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the first electrode tube and spaced therefrom so as to provide a gas discharge chamber therebetween. The second electrode tube provides a gas exit chamber therewithin, and the first electrode tube is spaced from the wall of the cavity to provide a gas entry chamber thereabout. The electrode tubes permit gas to flow therethrough from the gas entry chamber to the gas exit chamber. The electrodes may be formed from a gas permeable material such as sintered metal, or formed from a non-permeable material with openings therein. The electrodes may have coolant flowing therethrough.

Abstract: An HF-excited gas laser has a laser tube of ceramic material containing a laser gas, and the tube includes a chemical component which will preclude passage therethrough of secondary radiation of a wavelength within a proscribed range which would interact with the material of the laser tube to create defects therein. The chemical component to prevent damage to the laser tube may be provided as a layer on its inside surface which is essentially impermeable to and/or reflects the secondary radiation back into the lasing gas. Alternatively, the material of the laser tube may incorporate the chemical component, preferably over the portion of the wall adjacent its inner surface.

Abstract: A laser beam generating assembly for materials processing includes a resonator to generate a linearly polarized laser beam, and a beam forming assembly which includes mirrors to orient the polarization plane of the laser beam in a prescribed orientation relative to the vertical and a delay plate which has its reflective surface oriented so that the polarization plane of the beam impinges thereon is at an angle of 45°. The delay plate serves to produce a polarized laser beam with a rotating polarization vector, and in particular an elliptical or circular polarization of the laser beam.

Abstract: A laser resonator is described, with a first and a second end mirror and with coaxial electrodes between which laser radiation reflected back and forth in the direction of an axis of symmetry of the laser resonator passes azimuthally segment by segment through a resonator volume with an annular cross section. The invention is distinguished in that the second end mirror is a substantially conical mirror that deflects the laser radiation striking it to respective azimuthally opposite regions of the resonator volume.

Abstract: In a gas laser (1) with a laser gas circulation path (5) in which a fan (4) conveys the laser gas (6) through a laser discharge space or tube (2) and a cooling system (3a, 3b), the gas throughput is increased by a bypass (8) of the laser discharge space (2). In the bypass may be a filter, cooler and catalyst for treating that portion of the laser gas flowing therethrough. The volume of gas diverted through the bypass may be adjusted to improve the efficiency of the laser.

Abstract: A connector assembly for resiliently actuated coupling of a first component of cylindrical configuration to a second component with a cylindrical recess utilizes a pair of interfitting inner and outer annular ring elements having first and second axial ends and axially extending overlying body portions. The first ends extend inwardly of the recess and the second ends are in surface contact with the circumferential surface of the cylindrical component. Each ring elements has a radially extending flange on one of its ends which extends along the ends of the other ring element into close surface relationship with one of the components.

Abstract: A carrying structure for the flanges and other elements of two laser beam paths has a geometric central plane zone that lies between and parallel to geometric central plane zones of the two laser beam paths so that the carrying structure includes the flanges of the first and second laser beam paths, is common to at least two laser segments, and that the first central plane zone of the first laser segment is disposed parallel to the second central plane zone of the second laser segment.