Adapter for laser cutting head

A unitary adapter for electrically energizing a cutting nozzle of a laser cutting head to enable capacitive gap measurements, the unitary adapter comprising:

• a cylindrical ceramic body having an opening through the center thereof from a first end termination to a second, opposing end termination;
• and
• a plurality of electrical connection components including:
• a threaded conductive holder sintered to the opening of the cylindrical ceramic body at the first end termination, the sintering forming a permanent connection therebetween;
• an outer conductive shield formed as a cylindrical sleeve, the outer conductive shield disposed around and sintered to the cylindrical ceramic body so as to form a permanent connection therebetween;
• a coaxial socket connector located at and sintered to a portion of the second, opposing end termination of the cylindrical ceramic body so as to form a permanent connection therebetween, the coaxial socket connector including a central conductor and an outer ground shielding layer insulated from the central conductor;
• and
• a pair of electrical conductors embedded within and sintered to the cylindrical ceramic body to form a permanent connection therebetween, the pair of electrical conductors including a first conductor sintered within a first portion of the cylindrical ceramic body that forms a signal line electrical connection between the central conductor of the coaxial socket connector and the threaded conductive holder, and a second conductor sintered within a second portion of the cylindrical ceramic body that forms a ground plane electrical connection between the outer ground shielding layer of the coaxial socket connector and the outer conductive shield,
• wherein the sintered attachment of the plurality of electrical connection components to the cylindrical ceramic body forms a unitary adapter configuration with the plurality of electrical connection components permanently affixed to the cylindrical ceramic body.