| abstract |
The invention concerns a laser beam apparatus for removing surface layers from workpieces, the apparatus comprising a manually guided beam-output head (11) which is provided with a focusing lens system (10), is connected in a light-delivering manner to a beam-generating laser arrangement, has a beam-deflection device which moves the laser beam in an oscillating manner on a predetermined track, covers the laser beam radially with a tip, allows the laser beam to pass through an outlet opening on the workpiece side, and comprises a spacer for setting the distance between the beam-output head (11) and the workpiece. In order to enable the apparatus to be guided free-hand with high average output such that acceptable surface rates and machining times are attained, the laser beam apparatus is designed such that the spacer is the tip of the beam-output head (11) and radially covers the laser beam. The laser beam can be oscillated by the beam-deflection device on a predetermined track through a spacer outlet opening which is adapted to the track. The focusing lens system (10) can vary the focusing of the laser beam as a function of the beam deflection in terms of a focus on the workpiece surface. |