Method for remote controlled actuation of laser processing head

A laser processing head remote control method for laser processing a work-piece, comprising:

• electronically measuring a distance between the work-piece and the laser processing head;
• electronically determining the required distance between the work-piece and the laser processing head;
• communicating an adjustment to a motor drive that is remotely located and not connected to the laser processing head;
• actuating by the motor drive a cable in sliding communication with the laser processing head to adjust the distance between the laser processing head and the work-piece;
• and
• repeating the above steps.

A remote controlled laser processing method for processing a work-piece with a laser processing head, the method comprising:

• sensing with a capacitive height sensing system the distance between the work-piece and the laser processing head wherein a capacitive height sensor is disposed in the laser processing head and substantially all of the electronics for the capacitive height sensing system are remote and not connected to the laser processing head;
• operating a motor drive by the capacitive height sensing system wherein the motor drive is remote and not connected to the laser processing head;
• actuating a translation mechanism by the motor drive wherein the translation mechanism is remote and not connected to the laser processing head;
• and
• linearly actuating the laser processing head by a cable connected on one end to the translation mechanism and in sliding communication with the laser processing head on the other end.