Means of enhancing laser processing efficiency of metals

Claim 1

A method of preparing the surface of a material for subsequent processing by radiation of a first laser of a first wavelength by direction radiation of a second laser of a second wavelength, different from said first wavelength, to impinge upon said surface and decrease the reflectivity thereof to radiation of said first laser, said second wavelength being shorter than said first wavelength, and said second laser producing pulses of radiation.

Claim 2

A method of preparing the surface of a material for subsequent processing by radiation of a first laser of a first wavelength by direction radiation of a second laser of a second wavelength, different from said first wavelength, to impinge upon said surface and decrease the reflectivity thereof to radiation of said first laser, said second wavelength being shorter than said first wavelength, and said second laser producing pulses of radiation.

Claim 3

A method of preparing a surface of a workpiece for subsequent working by a first laser operating at a first wavelength to enhance the coupling between said first laser and said surface, said method comprising the steps of establishing areas of the workpiece to be worked, irradiating those areas with a second laser operating at a second and different wavelength from said first wavelength and second laser exhibiting a significantly reduced reflectivity at said surface compared with said first laser wavelength and thereby decreasing the reflectivity of said surface to radiation of said first wavelength in said areas, whereby the efficiency of subsequent working of said first laser in said areas is improved.

Claim 4

A method of preparing a surface of a workpiece for subsequent working by a first laser operating at a first wavelength to enhance the coupling between said first laser and said surface, said method comprising the steps of establishing areas of the workpiece to be worked, irradiating those areas with a second laser operating at a second and different wavelength from said first wavelength and second laser exhibiting a significantly reduced reflectivity at said surface compared with said first laser wavelength and thereby decreasing the reflectivity of said surface to radiation of said first wavelength in said areas, whereby the efficiency of subsequent working of said first laser in said areas is improved.

Claim 14

A method of processing a material by a first laser emitting radiation of a first wavelength by directing radiation of a second wavelength emitted from a second laser to an area of the surface of the material to be processed to reduce the reflectivity of that area to radiation of first wavelength and subsequently directing radiation from said first laser to said area to process said material, translating said material during impingement by said second laser to impart a pattern of reduced reflectivity on the surface of said material, and applying a mask to said surface, said mask having an aperture therein corresponding to the pattern to be produced on said surface wherein radiation of said second wavelength impinging on said surface passes through aperture.

Claim 15

A method of processing a material by a first laser emitting radiation of a first wavelength by directing radiation of a second wavelength emitted from a second laser to an area of the surface of the material to be processed to reduce the reflectivity of that area to radiation of first wavelength and subsequently directing radiation from said first laser to said area to process said material, translating said material during impingement by said second laser to impart a pattern of reduced reflectivity on the surface of said material, and applying a mask to said surface, said mask having an aperture therein corresponding to the pattern to be produced on said surface wherein radiation of said second wavelength impinging on said surface passes through aperture.

Claim 16

A method of laser working a workpiece by a first laser operating at a first wavelength, said method comprising the steps of establishing areas of the surface of the workpiece to be worked, irradiating those areas with a second laser operating at a second and different wavelength to said first wavelength, said second laser exhibiting a significantly reduced reflectivity at said surface compared with said first laser and thereby decreasing the reflectivity of said surface to radiation of said first wavelength in said areas and, subsequent to formation of said areas of reduced reflectivity, irradiating those areas by said first laser to work said workpiece, said areas of reduced reflectivity enhancing coupliing between said first laser and said workpiece.

Claim 17

A method of laser working a workpiece by a first laser operating at a first wavelength, said method comprising the steps of establishing areas of the surface of the workpiece to be worked, irradiating those areas with a second laser operating at a second and different wavelength to said first wavelength, said second laser exhibiting a significantly reduced reflectivity at said surface compared with said first laser and thereby decreasing the reflectivity of said surface to radiation of said first wavelength in said areas and, subsequent to formation of said areas of reduced reflectivity, irradiating those areas by said first laser to work said workpiece, said areas of reduced reflectivity enhancing coupliing between said first laser and said workpiece.

Claim 22

A method according to clai 13 including the step of translating said material during impingement by said second laser to impart a pattern of reduced reflectivity on the surface of said material.

Claim 23

A method according to clai 13 including the step of translating said material during impingement by said second laser to impart a pattern of reduced reflectivity on the surface of said material.

Claim 26

A method according to clam 13 wherein the process performed by said first laser is cutting.

Claim 27

A method according to clam 13 wherein the process performed by said first laser is cutting.

Claim 32

A method of preparing the surface of a material for subsequent processing by radiation of a first laser of a first wavelength by directing radiation of a second laser of a second wavelength different from said first wavelength to impringe upon said surface and decrease the reflectivity thereof to radiation of said first laser, said second wavelength being shorter than said first wavelength, and said material being a metal selected from the group comprising copper, aluminum, brass, silver, titanium, and stainless steel.

Claim 33

A method of preparing the surface of a material for subsequent processing by radiation of a first laser of a first wavelength by directing radiation of a second laser of a second wavelength different from said first wavelength to impringe upon said surface and decrease the reflectivity thereof to radiation of said first laser, said second wavelength being shorter than said first wavelength, and said material being a metal selected from the group comprising copper, aluminum, brass, silver, titanium, and stainless steel.

Claim 34

A method of processing a material by a first laser emitting radiation of a first wavelength by directing radiation of a second wavelength emitted from a second laser to an area of the surface of the material to be processed to reduce the reflectivity of that area to radiation of first wavelength and subsequently direction radiation from said first laser to said area to process said material, and the process performed by said first laser being welding.

Claim 35

A method of processing a material by a first laser emitting radiation of a first wavelength by directing radiation of a second wavelength emitted from a second laser to an area of the surface of the material to be processed to reduce the reflectivity of that area to radiation of first wavelength and subsequently direction radiation from said first laser to said area to process said material, and the process performed by said first laser being welding.