Abstract: A laser processing device (100) includes a laser oscillator (2), a laser machine (11) and a control means (1) for controlling the laser oscillator and the laser machine. The control means includes a storage means (50) for storing the processing program (60) for the work to be processed. The storage means has stored therein a required laser gas pressure value (72) for the laser oscillator in the laser processing operation, which value is determined in accordance with the processing specifics the work (20). The control means includes a laser gas pressure command transmission means (52) for transmitting a laser gas pressure command based on the required laser gas pressure value to the laser oscillator. This further improves the processing performance of the laser processing apparatus. Further, the control means may include a required laser gas pressure value adjusting means (55) for adjusting the required laser gas pressure value.

Abstract: A plurality of discharge sections are formed in an optical resonance space and are provided with electrodes that are mutually different in for example shape, size and construction. Laser medium gas flows through a circulatory passage passing through a fan and heat exchangers. Mutually different modes can be obtained when discharge is produced independently in the discharge sections. When discharge is produced in both of the discharge sections, the various intermediate modes can be obtained, in accordance with the distribution of power supplied from power sources for discharge excitation that are independently operated.

Abstract: In an laser oscillator (100), a blower (10, 20, 120) for circulating a laser medium between an electric discharge tube (102) and a circulating passage (104) includes: a casing (12) having a suction port (12a) and an exhaust port (12b); and a blade (18) pivotally supported in the casing (12) so that the blade (18) can face the suction port (12a) and the exhaust port (12b). The blade (18) is formed into a shape in which a diameter of the blade (18) is different at a position on a cross section perpendicular to a rotary central line (O), and a gap (Go) between a portion, in which a diameter of the blade (18) is relatively large, and the casing is larger than a gap (Gi) between a portion, in which a diameter of the blade (18) is relatively small, and the casing. Due to the foregoing, a highly reliable blower used for a laser oscillator, the reduction of the blower efficiency of which is suppressed to be as small as possible, can be provided.

Abstract: A laser oscillator capable of restraining the generation of a diffracted beam so as to obtain a laser beam with high power and high quality. The laser oscillator has an output mirror, a rear mirror and first and second concave mirrors. These mirrors cooperate together so as to form a laser beam profile. First and second beam waists are formed in the laser beam profile, between the output mirror and the first concave mirror and between the second concave mirror and the rear mirror, respectively. The laser oscillator includes a first aperture positioned generally in the middle of an optical path between the output mirror and the first beam waist and a second aperture positioned generally in the middle of the optical path between the first beam waist and the first concave mirror.

Abstract: A laser oscillator capable of effectively collecting and removing particulate foreign matter contained in gas laser medium flowing in a circulating path. An electric discharge section arranged in an optical resonator is incorporated into a circulating path of the gas medium including a heat exchanger and a blower. The gas laser medium flows at a high speed in the circulating path. At least one spiral-flow dust collecting mechanism is provided in the circular path downstream of the heat exchanger, and the gas laser medium discharged from the blower is supplied to the electric discharge section through the spiral-flow dust collecting mechanism. The gas laser medium containing the particulate foreign matter spirally flows around an inner pipe in a cylindrical body of the spiral-flow dust collecting mechanism.

Abstract: A plurality of discharge sections are formed in an optical resonance space and are provided with electrodes that are mutually different in for example shape, size and construction. Laser medium gas flows through a circulatory passage passing through a fan and heat exchangers. Mutually different modes can be obtained when discharge is produced independently in the discharge sections. When discharge is produced in both of the discharge sections, the various intermediate modes can be obtained, in accordance with the distribution of power supplied from power sources for discharge excitation that are independently operated.

Abstract: A laser oscillator capable of effectively collecting and removing particulate foreign matter contained in gas laser medium flowing in a circulating path. An electric discharge section arranged in an optical resonator is incorporated into a circulating path of the gas medium including a heat exchanger and a blower. The gas laser medium flows at a high speed in the circulating path. At least one spiral-flow dust collecting mechanism is provided in the circular path downstream of the heat exchanger, and the gas laser medium discharged from the blower is supplied to the electric discharge section through the spiral-flow dust collecting mechanism. The gas laser medium containing the particulate foreign matter spirally flows around an inner pipe in a cylindrical body of the spiral-flow dust collecting mechanism.

Abstract: An external optical system is simplified in construction so that a laser oscillation apparatus is low-priced and compact as a whole. On the side of one end portion (10A) of a return-type resonator (10), a laser beam is reflected by a polarizing mirror (147) to be incident upon a polarizing mirror (146) which is situated diagonally below the mirror (147), and is also reflected by a polarizing mirror (142) to be incident upon a polarizing mirror (141) which is situated diagonally above the mirror (142). Thus, at the one end portion (10A), the polarizing mirror (141) and the like are arranged so that optical axes cross each other. Since the emitted laser beam forms a linear polarized beam inclined at an angle of 45.degree. to a horizontal plane, as indicated by arrow (100), the laser beam can be subjected to circular polarization by using only one 1/4-wavelength mirror. Thus, the construction of the external optical system can be simplified.

Abstract: A laser oscillator which is capable of providing a circularly polarized laser beam by an external optical system having a brief configuration. A folding section of a folded-type resonator (10) comprises reflecting mirrors (4a), (4b) and (4c). The reflecting mirror (4a) is inclined at an angle of 45.degree. to an optical axis of an excitation section (3a), and the reflecting mirror (4c) is inclined at an angle of 45.degree. to an optical axis of an excitation section (3b). The reflecting mirror (4b) is horizontally arranged so that the center of the mirror is positioned at the vertex of an isosceles right triangle with respect to the reflecting mirrors (4a) and (4c). Thus, an S polarized-light component of a laser beam from the excitation section (3b) is reflected by the reflecting mirror (4c) toward the reflecting mirror (4b).

Abstract: A high-frequency discharge pumping laser device is provided in which a high-frequency voltage is applied to a discharge tube to cause laser excitation. Light discharged from the discharge tube is measured by a photodiode to control an output of a laser power supply, to thereby stably control the discharging operation when the laser output is zero. The laser output has a close relationship with the discharging area inside the discharge tube, and therefore, the discharging area in which the discharging operation can be stably maintained with the output of zero is detected, to thereby stably control the discharging operation when the output is zero. Further, the length of the discharging area has an indirect relationship with the ambient temperature of the discharge tube, and the discharging operation effected when the laser output is zero is stably controlled in accordance with the ambient temperature of the discharge tube.