Abstract: An automated welding system is provided for welding a workpiece. The system includes a multiaxially movable arm, a fiber optic cable, a laser source, a focusing head, a focus lens, and a shield. The fiber optic cable is coupled to the arm. The laser source is coupled to the fiber optic cable and configured to supply laser light thereto. The focusing head includes a first end, a second end, and a passage extending therebetween. The shield has an inlet, an outlet and a cavity formed therebetween, and each of the inlet and the outlet has a diameter. The shield inlet is coupled to the focusing head and the shield inlet diameter is greater than the shield outlet diameter. The shield outlet diameter is sized to provide an opening through which the laser beam exits and prevents substantially all particles external to the focusing head passage from entering therein.