Light source module, processing machine, and processing method

A light source module that emits a combined laser beam, the light source module comprising:

• a plurality of semiconductor laser elements;
• and
• a control circuit that controls power of a laser beam emitted by each of the plurality of semiconductor laser elements, wherein
• the plurality of semiconductor laser elements include:
• a first element group that includes one or more first semiconductor laser elements and emits a first laser beam;
• and
• a second element group that includes one or more second semiconductor laser elements and emits a second laser beam,
• the combined laser beam includes at least one of the first laser beam or the second laser beam,
• the control circuit controls power of the first laser beam and power of the second laser beam to maintain an average combined-beam wavelength constant for a change in power of the combined laser beam, the average combined-beam wavelength being an average wavelength of the combined laser beam,
• when the power of the first laser beam and the power of the second laser beam are equal to each other, an average wavelength of the first laser beam is longer than an average wavelength of the second laser beam,
• the average wavelength of the first laser bean increases as the power of the first laser beam increases,
• the control circuit controls the power of the first laser beam and the power of the second laser beam to increase a ratio of the second laser beam in the combined laser beam as the power of the first laser beam increases, and
• λ12−λ11>λt2−λt1 is satisfied, where:
• λ11 denotes the average wavelength of the first laser beam and λt1 denotes the average combined-beam wavelength, when the power of the combined laser beam is first power;
• and
• λ12 denotes the average wavelength of the first laser beam and λt2 denotes the average combined-beam wavelength, when the power of the combined laser beam is second power higher than the first power.

A processing method of processing a material using a combined laser beam emitted from a light source module,

• the light source module including a plurality of semiconductor laser elements,
• the plurality of semiconductor laser elements including:
• a first element group that includes one or more first semiconductor laser elements and emits a first laser beam;
• and
• a second element group that includes one or more second semiconductor laser elements and emits a second laser beam,
• the combined laser beam including at least one of the first laser beam or the second laser beam,
• the processing method comprising:
• controlling power of the first laser beam and power of the second laser beam to maintain an average combined-beam wavelength constant for a change in power of the combined laser beam, the average combined-beam wavelength being an average wavelength of the combined laser beam, wherein
• when the power of the first laser beam and the power of the second laser beam are equal to each other, an average wavelength of the first laser beam is longer than an average wavelength of the second laser beam,
• the average wavelength of the first laser beam Increases as the power of the first laser beam increases, and
• in the controlling, the power of the first laser beam and the power of the second laser beam are each controlled to increase a ratio of the second laser beam in the combined laser beam as the power of the first laser beam increases.