OPTICAL ELEMENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR VARYING BEAM PARAMETER PRODUCT IN LASER DELIVERY SYSTEMS

1 - 35 . (canceled)

36 . A laser delivery system for receiving and altering a spatial power distribution of a radiation beam from a beam source and focusing the radiation with the altered spatial power distribution onto a workpiece, the system comprising:

a triplet collimator for increasing a divergence of the radiation beam, the triplet collimator comprising three lenses;

disposed optically downstream of the triplet collimator, a focusing lens for receiving the radiation beam and focusing the beam toward the workpiece;

disposed optically upstream of the focusing lens, at least one optical element for receiving the radiation beam and altering the spatial power distribution thereof;

a lens manipulation system for changing a position of the at least one optical element within a path of the radiation beam; and

a controller for controlling the lens manipulation system to achieve a target altered spatial power distribution on the workpiece.

37 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the triplet collimator consists of three lenses.

38 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the at least one optical element comprises a lens having (i) a first surface having the shape of a truncated sphere, and (ii) opposite the first surface, a second surface that is substantially planar.

39 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the at least one optical element comprises a meniscus lens.

40 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the at least one optical element comprises at least one of a double-concave axicon lens or a double-convex axicon lens.

41 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the at least one optical element comprises at least one of:

a first lens having (i) a first surface that is substantially planar, and (ii) opposite the first surface, a second surface having (a) a first portion that is convexly curved and (b) a second portion that is substantially planar; or

a second lens having (i) a first surface that is substantially planar, and (ii) opposite the first surface, a second surface having (a) a first portion that is concavely curved and (b) a second portion that is substantially planar.

42 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the beam source comprises:

a beam emitter emitting a plurality of discrete beams;

focusing optics for focusing the plurality of beams onto a dispersive element;

a dispersive element for receiving and dispersing the received focused beams; and

a partially reflective output coupler positioned to receive the dispersed beams, transmit a portion of the dispersed beams therethrough as the radiation beam, and reflect a second portion of the dispersed beams back toward the dispersive element,

wherein the radiation beam is composed of multiple wavelengths.

43 . The system of claim 42 , wherein the dispersive element comprises a diffraction grating.

44 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the controller is configured to control the lens manipulation system based on one or properties of the workpiece.

45 . The system of claim 44 , wherein the one or more properties of the workpiece comprise at least one of a distance to the workpiece, a composition of the workpiece, or a topography of the workpiece.

46 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the controller is configured to, with the radiation beam, at least one of weld the workpiece, cut the workpiece, or drill the workpiece.

47 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the triplet collimator and the at least one optical element are disposed within a processing head.

48 . The system of claim 47 , further comprising an optical fiber disposed between the beam source and the processing head.

49 . A laser delivery system for receiving and altering a spatial power distribution of a radiation beam from a beam source and focusing the radiation with the altered spatial power distribution onto a workpiece, the system comprising:

a triplet collimator for increasing a divergence of the radiation beam;

disposed optically downstream of the triplet collimator, a focusing lens for receiving the radiation beam and focusing the beam toward the workpiece;

disposed optically upstream of the focusing lens, at least one optical element for receiving the radiation beam and altering the spatial power distribution thereof;

a lens manipulation system for changing a position of the at least one optical element with respect to the triplet collimator; and

a controller for controlling the lens manipulation system to achieve a target altered spatial power distribution on the workpiece.

50 . The system of claim 49 , wherein the triplet collimator comprises three lenses.

51 . The system of claim 49 , wherein the triplet collimator consists of three lenses.

52 . The system of claim 49 , wherein the at least one optical element comprises a lens having (i) a first surface having the shape of a truncated sphere, and (ii) opposite the first surface, a second surface that is substantially planar.

53 . The system of claim 49 , wherein the at least one optical element comprises a meniscus lens.

54 . The system of claim 49 , wherein the at least one optical element comprises at least one of a double-concave axicon lens or a double-convex axicon lens.

55 . The system of claim 49 , wherein the at least one optical element comprises at least one of:

a first lens having (i) a first surface that is substantially planar, and (ii) opposite the first surface, a second surface having (a) a first portion that is convexly curved and (b) a second portion that is substantially planar; or

a second lens having (i) a first surface that is substantially planar, and (ii) opposite the first surface, a second surface having (a) a first portion that is concavely curved and (b) a second portion that is substantially planar.

56 . The system of claim 49 , wherein the triplet collimator and the at least one optical element are disposed within a processing head.

57 . The system of claim 56 , further comprising an optical fiber disposed between the beam source and the processing head.