Abstract: A pulse oscillating type solid laser unit that has a laser unit body whose exciting source is a laser diode that emits light in a principal energy absorbing spectrum of a solid laser activated media, and characterized by that prior to radiating laser light outside the laser unit body as a calibrating operation of a pulse laser output value, specified several varieties of rectangle pulse current values are conducted to a laser diode inside the pulse oscillating type solid laser unit so as to pulse-oscillate the laser unit body, a mean laser output value in each rectangle pulse current value is measured by the use of a laser output measuring instrument arranged inside the laser unit body so as to obtain a mean laser output value data, and in case that the laser output light is radiated outside the laser unit body, a pulse current value linear-predicted based on an obtained mean output value data is conducted to the laser diode so as to obtain a desired pulse laser output value.

Abstract: A pulse oscillating type solid laser unit that has a laser unit body whose exciting source is a laser diode that emits light in a principal energy absorbing spectrum of a solid laser activated media, and characterized by that prior to radiating laser light outside the laser unit body as a calibrating operation of a pulse laser output value, specified several varieties of rectangle pulse current values are conducted to a laser diode inside the pulse oscillating type solid laser unit so as to pulse-oscillate the laser unit body, a mean laser output value in each rectangle pulse current value is measured by the use of a laser output measuring instrument arranged inside the laser unit body so as to obtain a mean laser output value data, and in case that the laser output light is radiated outside the laser unit body, a pulse current value linear-predicted based on an obtained mean output value data is conducted to the laser diode so as to obtain a desired pulse laser output value.

Abstract: 1. A pulse oscillating type solid laser unit that has a laser unit body whose exciting source is a laser diode that emits light in a principal energy absorbing spectrum of a solid laser activated media, and characterized by that prior to radiating laser light outside the laser unit body as a calibrating operation of a pulse laser output value, specified several varieties of rectangle pulse current values are conducted to a laser diode inside the pulse oscillating type solid laser unit so as to pulse-oscillate the laser unit body, a mean laser output value in each rectangle pulse current value is measured by the use of a laser output measuring instrument arranged inside the laser unit body so as to obtain a mean laser output value data, and in case that the laser output light is radiated outside the laser unit body, a pulse current value linear-predicted based on an obtained mean output value data is conducted to the laser diode so as to obtain a desired pulse laser output value.

Abstract: A laser system is constructed so that a solid-state laser beam emitted from an Nd:YAG laser unit and a laser diode beam emitted from a combining LD which oscillates in a wavelength range shorter than that of the solid-state laser beam are combined by a dichroic beam splitter, the resultant beam is guided to an optical fiber, and a workpiece is irradiated with the combining LD beam and the solid-state laser beam with absolute irradiation positions and irradiation shapes of the beams almost matched each other. Thus, problems of high cost and high power consumption of the laser system due to low energy conversion efficiency, which become problems in a high-output high-luminance solid-state laser unit can be solved.

Abstract: A laser system is constructed so that a solid-state laser beam emitted from an Nd:YAG laser unit and a laser diode beam emitted from a combining LD which oscillates in a wavelength range shorter than that of the solid-state laser beam are combined by a dichroic beam splitter, the resultant beam is guided to an optical fiber, and a workpiece is irradiated with the combining LD beam and the solid-state laser beam with absolute irradiation positions and irradiation shapes of the beams almost matched each other. Thus, problems of high cost and high power consumption of the laser system due to low energy conversion efficiency, which become problems in a high-output high-luminance solid-state laser unit can be solved.

Abstract: 1. A pulse oscillating type solid laser unit that has a laser unit body whose exciting source is a laser diode that emits light in a principal energy absorbing spectrum of a solid laser activated media, and characterized by that prior to radiating laser light outside the laser unit body as a calibrating operation of a pulse laser output value, specified several varieties of rectangle pulse current values are conducted to a laser diode inside the pulse oscillating type solid laser unit so as to pulse-oscillate the laser unit body, a mean laser output value in each rectangle pulse current value is measured by the use of a laser output measuring instrument arranged inside the laser unit body so as to obtain a mean laser output value data, and in case that the laser output light is radiated outside the laser unit body, a pulse current value linear-predicted based on an obtained mean output value data is conducted to the laser diode so as to obtain a desired pulse laser output value.

Abstract: A laser machining apparatus with a simplified laser beam transmitting network. Respective laser beams form laser generators LS#11 to LS#25 divided into groups of G1 and G2 are aggregated to fiber-optic cables H1 and H2 by confluence devices HC1 and HC2 and transmitted to a most upstream laser beam outlet OP1. The laser beams are further aggregated to a fiber-optic cable H3 and distributed to a branch fiber-optic cable HH1 by the laser beam outlet OP1, and then distributed by laser beam outlet OP2 to OP8 to branch fiber-optic cables HH2 to HH8. The laser beams distributed to branch fiber-optic cables are focused by the machining tools TL1 to TL8 attached to robots RB1 to RB8 for laser machining. By controlling output levels of the laser generators with different oscillation wavelengths and different polarization characteristics, blend ratio of the laser beams can be adjusted. Distribution ratios of the laser beams at the laser beam outlets OP1 to OP8 are adjustable.

Abstract: A plurality of laser generators are provided to be environmentally separated from a machining station, and temperature, humidity, vibration, cleanliness and the like are detected by a sensor, and displayed. When an abnormal environment is detected, machining operation is stopped immediately or after a predetermined time elapsed. The laser generators are grouped according to each machining tool, and fiber-optic cable switching devices FC3 and FC4 are arranged for each group. By the switchover of the laser generator, and the selective connection of a fiber-optic cable by using the fiber-optic cable switching device, the degree of freedom in selecting the laser generator and the fiber-optic cable is produced.

Abstract: A window is formed at a portion in a reflecting surface that surrounds a slab type solid-state laser oscillating medium, filler strips, and a flow tube. A laser diode is disposed outside the region surrounded by the reflecting surface. Excitation light emitted from the laser diode is injected into the region surrounded by the reflecting surface through a condenser lens and the window.

Abstract: A laser machining apparatus with a simplified laser beam transmitting network. Respective laser beams form laser generators LS#11 to LS#25 divided into groups of G1 and G2 are aggregated to fiber-optic cables H1 and H2 by confluence devices HC1 and HC2 and transmitted to a most upstream laser beam outlet OP1. The laser beams are further aggregated to a fiber-optic cable H3 and distributed to a branch fiber-optic cable HH1 by the laser beam outlet OP1, and then distributed by laser beam outlet OP2 to OP8 to branch fiber-optic cables HH2 to HH8. The laser beams distributed to branch fiber-optic cables are focused by the machining tools TL1 to TL8 attached to robots RB1 to RB8 for laser machining. By controlling output levels of the laser generators with different oscillation wavelengths and different polarization characteristics, blend ratio of the laser beams can be adjusted. Distribution ratios of the laser beams at the laser beam outlets OP1 to OP8 are adjustable.

Abstract: A laser machining apparatus capable of performing a laser machining with an increased rate of operation. A plurality of laser generators are provided to be environmentally separated from a machining station, and temperature, humidity, vibration, cleanliness and the like are detected by a sensor, and displayed. When an abnormal environment is detected, machining operation is stopped immediately or after a predetermined time elapsed. The laser generators are grouped according to each machining tool, and fiber-optic cable switching devices FC3 and FC4 are arranged for each group. By the switchover of the laser generator, and the selective connection of a fiber-optic cable by using the fiber-optic cable switching device, the degree of freedom in selecting the laser generator and the fiber-optic cable is produced.

Abstract: A gas discharge excitation laser device having an improved response of an actual output to transition from a laser output ON command to a laser output OFF command. When a command output is switched from ON to OFF at time it2 after passing an ON period Ton, an output command voltage Voc is once suddenly reduced to an OFF-period bottom value Vbott lower than a value VB1 which is suitable for maintaining a base discharge current when laser gas is cold, and then is increased to the value VB1 in a period .tau.. Thus, the actual output is permitted to be instantly interrupted without stopping the discharge. Vbott is a function of .eta.=(Pc/Pmax).times.Beam ON period, and is gradually reduced to a lower-limit clamp value VB2. Vbott(.eta.)=VB1-[(VB1-VB2)/.eta.B2].eta. (where 0.ltoreq..eta..ltoreq..eta.B), Vbott(.eta.)=VB2 (where .eta.>.eta.B). In the equations, Pc is a laser output during the beam ON period, Pmax is a maximum rated laser output, and .eta.B2 is a value of .eta. when Vbott(.eta.) is reduced to VB2.

Abstract: A solid-state laser oscillating device which is inexpensive and capable of obtaining a high power. A plurality of laser crystals (YAG laser crystals, etc.) (1a, 1b, 1c) are arranged along the optical axis of an optical resonator so as to maintain optical contact with one another. Adjacent ones of the laser crystals have surfaces facing each other with an adhesive layer (10, 20) interposed therebetween, to form an array in a straight-line as a whole. An adhesive having a low light absorbance with respect to a laser beam of oscillation wavelength or an excitation light is used for forming the adhesive layers (10, 20). If the refractive index of the adhesive is substantially equal to that of the laser crystals, optical matching is achieved. The adhesive layers (10, 20) may be replaced by some other transparent material. The adjacent laser crystals may be arranged with a narrow gap therebetween or held in surface contact with each other.

Abstract: A laser output control system responsive to a command signal from a CNC, which is capable of sharply reducing time required for transfer of waveform data from the CNC in executing laser-beam machining. An output control device, upon receiving the command signal from the CNC, reads registration data and a set of waveform data stored in advance in one of the registers and a memory of an output control circuit, respectively, and then multiplies a peak value of a specified set of waveform data by a waveform scale factor and an override value set in advance to a PMC to form the waveform data into a waveform having a desired peak value. Then, by the use of a frequency and the number of times of output of the registration data, a repetition period and the number of repetitions of the set of waveform data are determined. The output control device delivers an output waveform thus determined to a power supply for a laser oscillator.

Abstract: An output waveform control device generates a pulse wave by processing waveform data from a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) unit and delivers the pulse wave for pulsed oscillation of a laser beam. The waveform data transferred from the CNC (Computer Numerical Control) unit is input to a duration-allocating device provided within a laser oscillator. The duration-allocating device of the laser oscillator allocates a duration .DELTA.T, set to a desired value, to each step of the waveform data W. The durations .DELTA.T are allocated in a shorter-to-longer order, and the resulting waveform data is transferred to a pulse wave-generating device. The pulse wave-generating device generates a pulse wave P1 based on the received waveform data W. The pulse wave P1 thus generated is preferably includes 20 pulse segments, each of which has a duration .DELTA.T allocated thereto which can vary from one segment to another.

Abstract: This invention relates to face-pumped slab lasers of the type that have laser head assemblies constructed of individual components, which are rigidly attached together, in order to form an integral structure. Such structures of this type, generally, allow a face-pumped slab laser component to be assembled and disassembled easily and quickly.

Abstract: There is provided an NC laser device including a combination of a numerical control device and a laser oscillator. A laser output command is sent to an output control circuit at the time of starting and the laser output is monitored by a power sensor to obtain a ratio of the command value to a monitored value. This ratio is stored in a non-volatile memory, the difference between this ratio and the ratio obtained at a previous start is obtained, and if the difference is higher than a predetermined set value, indicative that an abnormality has occurred during the non-operative period of the device, an alarm is displayed on a display screen.

Abstract: An electric discharge tube for a gas laser in which a laser gas flow axis and a laser oscillation optical axis are coaxial and a discharge direction of discharge pumping is perpendicular to those axes. The internal sectional form of a discharge tube (1) perpendicular to the laser oscillation optical axis is made rectangular and the internal diameter of nondischarge sections (10a, 10b) is made larger than the diagonal line of the discharge tube (1). The section of laser beams generated in a rectangular discharge region (11) becomes substantially rectangular in shape and the laser beams are externally output intact, whereby a substantially rectangular beam mode is obtained.

Abstract: A discharge tube for a high-speed axial-flow type discharge pumping gas laser device is provided, in which a capacitive load medium (9) under metal electrodes (2a, 2b) has convexly curved faces opposed to each other and constitutes a discharge tube. With this construction, the distribution of a laser oscillation gain within the discharge tube (1) is made uniform, and a single-mode laser beam is obtained.

Abstract: A laser gas displacement amount control method for controlling the amount of displacement of a laser gas in a discharge pumping type gas laser device. The laser gas in a discharge tube is displaced with a predetermined displacement amount during a fixed period immediately after starting during which a beam-output correction is effected, and the laser gas is displaced with a displacement amount smaller than the predetermined displacement amount during the operation period thereafter. Since this smaller displacement amount can be made less than one-tenth of the predetermined displacement amount required during the fixed period immediately after starting, the amount of consumption of the laser gas can be reduced.