The present invention relates to lasers, and more particularly to a laser objective lens shield for protecting the objective lens of a laser from target ejecta by deflecting the ejecta away from the lens.
In a laser scribing machine a laser is used to etch scribe lines on a target object. The energy of the laser beam on the target object causes material from the target object to be ejected. Some of this ejecta flies back to the laser to impact the laser objective lens, reducing the useful life of the lens. A prior laser objective lens shield has a conical structure open at both ends with a port by which an air supply line is coupled to the shield. Air flow is introduced via the air supply line to the interior of the conical structure for deflecting target ejecta from impacting the laser objective lens. However the air flow from a single port creates a turbulent air flow such that some of the ejecta still impacts the objective lens at even greater velocities.
What is desired is a laser objective lens shield for preventing target ejecta from impacting the laser objective lens that has an improved efficacy in deflecting the target ejecta from the lens.