Abstract: Laser machining system with x, y and z axis translational movement and C and D axis rotational movement of a beam positioning device to perform automatic tracking over the surface of a workpiece at a constant distance utilizing a sampled capacitive sensing device operative in the refractory interval between laser pulses. The system also automatically determines the normal vector to the part surface and is controllable along a selectable axis for accurate tracking the focal point of the beam across the surface of the workpiece even when the beam is oriented at an angle other than normal to the surface of the workpiece. The system also provides for control of the of the focal point of the beam at a particular displacement from the machining nozzle tip, using a least means squares curve fitting technique and further provides for identification of a mounting fixture unique to a workpiece by sensing coding on the surface of the fixture thereby to select a particular part machining program.

Abstract: An electron beam gun with liquid cooled rotatable crucible is disclosed including a metallic bellows connected to the housing for the rotatable crucible at a 90.degree. angle and the bellows contractible to a minimum length that is a straight line between the axis of the housing and the remote end of the bellows with the bellows permitting rotation about the housing axis as the crucible is rotated to place different pockets in target position of the E-gun.

Abstract: A thermal cutting machine, capable of providing a high cutting quality and of avoiding any interference between a cut product and the machining nozzle, comprises a workpiece table (4) for supporting a workpiece (5) to be cut, the workpiece table (4) being capable of moving the workpiece in the X-axis direction, and a machining nozzle (2a) for emitting a heat source to cut the workpiece, said machining nozzle (2a) being movable in the Y-axis direction. The workpiece table (4) is provided with a chain conveyer (6) having a plurality of grid elements (11) laterally spanning the chains (10) of the conveyer (6). A retracting means is provided for retracting downwardly at least one grid element (11) which is in the conveyor position corresponding to the cutting path for the machining nozzle, by depressing the portion of the chains (10) which support that grid element.

Abstract: A process for texturing the surface of a workpiece with a laser beam, the beam being moved by a control unit along a tracking line predetermined by tracking points on the surface of the workpiece to be processed. Desired points that form the midpoints of surface areas are found on the trajectory established on the surface of the workpiece. A tracking point is determined in each of the surface areas. Furthermore, recessed areas and surface areas can be established arbitrarily on the surface of the workpiece, wherein the tracking points fall within the surface areas and not in the recessed areas. Moreover, an imaginary matrix can be formed upon the surface of the workpiece that includes tracking points determined in accordance with a degree of coverage and a random value.

Abstract: In the laser beam machining apparatus, an optical sensor provided with a blue filter detects change of color of light emission from the machining spot on a workpiece irradiated by a machining laser beam from orange color light emission to blue color light emission, when laser beam intensity per area becomes above a certain level as a result of good focusing by a condenser lens; and the position of the condenser lens is controlled based on output of the optical sensor, in a manner that the optical lens lies in such a positional range that the blue color is emitted from machining spot.

Abstract: An apparatus for inking or printing on the surface of an item, such as a badge or emblem, is described. The apparatus incorporates a number of sub-systems including: an apparatus for holding and positioning blank screen material; a laser ablation system for producing the desired hole pattern in the blank screen material to form screens; a print/ink station; a table assembly for supporting a plurality of labels or emblems and moving such labels or emblems sequentially to the print station; and an apparatus for moving the screens to the print/ink station. The apparatus also includes heater for drying the ink after the printing/inking step is completed. The apparatus for producing the patterns includes a laser, mirrors for moving the beam in the x and y directions, and optics for focusing the beam on the blank screen material. The inking station includes an ink tray, a reciprocating squeegee and blades for wiping ink from the leading edges of the squeegee after the squeegee passes over the pattern.

Abstract: A glazing unit having incorporated therewith a solar control filter, comprising combinations of layers of transparent films adhered to the surface of a transparent glass sheet. A protective covering is provided over the coating stack. The coating stack includes at least three layers of zinc oxide and at least two layers of silver deposited alternately one upon another, with each layer of silver between two layers of zinc oxide. The glazing unit exhibits color compatibility in environments, where normally employed. The electrically conducting silver layers enable the coating stack to optionally be utilized as a defogging and deicing system for the unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tool head for machining a workpiece by means of a laser beam (10), which passes through an optical focusing system (2) which is disposed within the tool head and which is carried by a lens mounting (3) and which can be positioned only by displacing the lens mounting (3) relative to the tool head in the direction of the laser beam. The lens mounting (3) is displaced using automatic setting means (8, 9; 23).

Abstract: A technique is described for the removal of trace metal contaminants from organic dielectrics such as polyimide. Pulsed ultraviolet radiation is used to remove the contaminants from the dielectric, regardless of their chemical nature, by the process of ablation. The process allows prepatterned bulk metal features to be simultaneously exposed to the pulsed radiation and yet remain unaffected.

Abstract: A consumable laser mask for forming a visual lens, especially a contact lens, in which at least a portion of the light passing through the lens is focussed by diffractive means. The laser mask is shaped to provide the diffractive means in the finished lens, and is made from a polymeric material with a thickness such that no residue is left at the completion of the laser ablation process. The invention also includes a method of manufacturing a lens using a consumable laser mask in accordance with the present invention.

Abstract: In order to improve a weld monitoring device comprising an optical detection device for detecting a light emission of a welding plasma and generating a signal corresponding to the ultraviolet emission portion and also comprising an analyzing device for processing this signal and having at least one analyzing member for ascertaining those interruptions in the ultraviolet emission which exceed a predeterminable length of time, such that, in general, a documentation of a welding process with respect to the interruptions in the ultraviolet emission occurring thereby is possible without preliminary tests and this permits analysis following completion of the welding process, it is suggested that the analyzing device have a plurality of analyzing members, that the predeterminable lengths of time of the individual analyzing members differ from one another, that each analyzing member report each interruption exceeding the respective predeterminable length of time to a storage member and that each storage member retain

Abstract: Surfaces of silicon wafers used in making computer chips are marked by dimples engraved by pulses of radiation from a Nd:YAG or Nd:YLF laser pumped by diode lasers (commonly called a DPY laser). A beam of radiation from the DPY laser is focused on and moved across the surface of a wafer so as to produce dimples in a cluster positioned on a microgrid subdividing elements of a dot-matrix representation of a text written in alpha-numeric or bar-code characters.

Abstract: A method for forming a curved edge on a lens comprising the steps of providing an annular laser beam and irradiating a first peripheral region of the lens with the laser beam to remove a layer of lens material from the first peripheral region through ablative photodecomposition. Next, a second peripheral region of the lens is irradiated with the laser beam to remove a layer of lens material from the second peripheral region.

Abstract: A laser welding apparatus and method utilizes a pressure foot carried on a laser welder as the laser welder traverses an elongated weld line. The foot is L-shaped comprising a vertical mounting leg for attachment to the welder and a horizontal pressure plate at the lower end of the mounting leg. The pressure plate includes a cylindrical bearing element that creates a contact area with the items being welded that closely surrounds the weld site being contacted by the laser beam. At least one adjustable biasing unit forces the pressure plate into engagement with the items being welded to tightly press such items against an underlying support surface to cause close contact of the items only adjacent the weld site. Since the pressure foot is carried on the welder, the contact area of the pressure foot will move in concert with relative motion between the welder and the support surface to traverse along the weld line. No other clamps are used.

Abstract: In the implementation of the method for manufacturing a texture drum, a surface structure is produced in the region of a surface with an electron beam, preceding a charging occurring within a working interval with an electrons beam having an energy density generating a recess, the texture drum is charged during a pre-treatment interval by an electron beam having an energy density that leaves the surface structure essentially as it was formed.

Abstract: An apparatus for etching optical servo tracks on a magnetic storage disk comprises optics for generating a beam of light for etching the servo tracks and a spindle for rotating the disk in proximity to the optics. The device further comprises a center pin at the center of rotation of the spindle and an alignment pin which is off-center of the spindle. A disk to be etched is placed on the spindle with the center pin through a center hole in the disk hub. A pressurized gas nozzle directs bursts of pressurized gas toward the edge of the disk to rotate the disk until an alignment hole in the disk hub engages the alignment pin.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nozzle for the surface treatment of metal workpieces, in particular for the powder build-up welding or thin-layer alloying of highly stressed metal components, which can be selectively connected to a mirror-focused or a lens-focused high-energy beam installation, preferably a high-performance laser installation, by using the cooling medium units, inert gas lines and powder conveyors/extractors provided. In comparison with known laser spray nozzles, the nozzle guarantees a directionally-independent coating of highly stressed metal components with a regular annular distribution of the stream of powder-delivery gas and inert gas supplied.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for deep cutting a material covering a substrate, the material absorbing laser radiation, enables the transforming of a beam from a laser source into a thin pencil of rays to create a focussing field having a thin blade shape including a large focussing depth spanning several millimeters and having variations in energy density of laser radiation less than a predetermined value so that the laser radiation is sufficient to remove an entire thickness of the material, by fusion or ablation, within the focussing field. The focussing field and the material are movable relative to each other to expose varying portions of the material to the focussing field while maintaining the focussing field substantially perpendicular to an external surface of the material or to a generating line of the external surface of the material.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for cutting a pattern of a printed wiring board and method and apparatus for cleaning a printed wiring board are provided, wherein a laser beam is irradiated onto a printed wiring board to evaporate the irradiated portion, to thereby cut a pattern or clean the printed wiring board. A laser beam is irradiated onto a cutting spot of the pattern of the printed wiring board to volatilize and remove the cutting spot, and a laser beam having a lower energy density and a larger irradiation area than that used for the pattern cutting is applied to a region of the wiring board around the cut spot, to remove molten matter adhering to that region.

Abstract: An equipment for excimer laser ablation machining provided a laser (11), a main body (14) housing a mirror (12) for reflecting an ultraviolet ray emitted by the laser and an optical system (13) for arranging the ultraviolet ray to a parallel ray, and a means (15) for moving the relative position of an object to be machined and the parallel ray, the means (15) being a supporter of an object to be machined and having a means (16) for arranging a dielectric mirror mask (7), leaving a space of 0.1 mm through 50 mm, preferably 0.1 mm through 1 mm, between the object to be machined and the dielectric mirror mask (7), the equipment to be employed specifically for producing a via hole of a multi-layered circuit board, and a method for excimer laser ablation machining conducted by employing the foregoing equipment.