Abstract: A laser machining system for machining a workpiece by a laser beam. The laser machining system includes a laser machining head with at least one focusing optics for focusing the laser beam so that the workpiece is heated and process emission occurs; at least four optical sensors; and a control device. The optical sensors are insensitive to radiation having the wavelength of the laser beam and the optical sensors are each arranged to sense the process emission in at least one wavelength range that does not include the wavelength of the laser beam and to generate a respective sensor signal based thereon. The control device is configured to monitor the machining of the workpiece based on the mean value of the sensor signals.

Abstract: A laser machining system for machining a workpiece uses a laser beam, preferably for cutting or welding a workpiece using a laser beam. The laser machining system includes a machining head with a housing having an opening for emitting the laser beam from the machining head, a measuring device configured to direct an optical measurement beam through the opening, and an optical unit for aligning the laser beam and the optical measurement beam, the optical unit being settable to adjust the laser beam and the optical measurement beam perpendicular to the optical axis of the machining head in the region of the opening. The measuring device is further configured to determine a setting of the optical unit corresponding to the central alignment of the laser beam on the basis of measurement values based on reflections of the optical measurement beam for different settings of the optical unit.

Abstract: A machining head is provided for a laser machining system configured to machine a workpiece using a laser beam. The machining head includes a housing having an opening for emitting the laser beam from the machining head; at least one reflective reference at the housing; and a measuring device configured to direct an optical measurement beam towards the opening and the at least one reflective reference. The measuring device is further configured to determine a distance (d1) between the end portion and the workpiece on the basis of a first reflection (A) of the optical measurement beam from the at least one reflective reference and a second reflection (B) of the optical measurement beam from the workpiece.

Abstract: A laser machining system for machining a workpiece uses a laser beam, preferably for cutting or welding a workpiece using a laser beam. The laser machining system includes a machining head with a housing having an opening for emitting the laser beam from the machining head, a measuring device configured to direct an optical measurement beam through the opening, and an optical unit for aligning the laser beam and the optical measurement beam, the optical unit being settable to adjust the laser beam and the optical measurement beam perpendicular to the optical axis of the machining head in the region of the opening. The measuring device is further configured to determine a setting of the optical unit corresponding to the central alignment of the laser beam on the basis of measurement values based on reflections of the optical measurement beam for different settings of the optical unit.

Abstract: A machining head is provided for a laser machining system configured to machine a workpiece using a laser beam. The machining head includes a housing having an opening for emitting the laser beam from the machining head; at least one reflective reference at the housing; and a measuring device configured to direct an optical measurement beam towards the opening and the at least one reflective reference. The measuring device is further configured to determine a distance (d1) between the end portion and the workpiece on the basis of a first reflection (A) of the optical measurement beam from the at least one reflective reference and a second reflection (B) of the optical measurement beam from the workpiece.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for clamping components during machining, in particular during welding of sheet-metal components arranged in two or multiple layers. The apparatus includes a holder for a machining head, in particular for a laser machining head, a pressure-exerting element fitted on the holder in a movable fashion relative thereto, a pressure-exerting device provided operatively between the holder and the pressure-exerting element and having a first actuating element for moving the pressure-exerting element relative to the holder into a first direction, and a second actuating element for moving the pressure-exerting element into a second direction which is opposite to the first direction, and a force-setting device for controlling the pressure-exerting device in order to set a clamping force. During welding, the clamping force is exerted on the sheet-metal components by the pressure-exerting element.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method which can be carried out with a sensor device, for monitoring a laser machining operation to be performed on a work piece (12), in which for quality assurance with a local-resolution receiver assembly (10, 11, 14) a given field of observation (13) is selected in the region of the interaction zone between laser beam (25) and work piece (12), in which radiation coming from the selected field of observation (13) is detected with a radiation-sensitive receiver (10) which delivers an electrical signal corresponding to the detected radiation, in which the electrical signal is filtered in a signal processing circuit (16) in order to detect rapid and/or short, fault-related changes in intensity of the detected radiation, and in which the filtered electrical signal for the detection of faults during the laser machining operation.