Systems, methods, and apparatuses for in machine profiling of a laser beam

A laser system comprising:

• an electronic control unit comprising a processor and a non-transitory machine readable memory;
• a manipulable support communicatively coupled to the electronic control unit such that control signals generated by the electronic control unit control movement of the manipulable support;
• a laser head configured to output a laser beam;
• a work bed positioned opposite the laser head such that the laser beam output by the laser head is directed onto the work bed;
• a power meter communicatively coupled to the electronic control unit and integrated within the work bed;
• a knife edge plate positioned between the power meter and the laser head, wherein the knife edge plate forms a blocked portion and a transmission portion defined by a knife edge extending across the power meter;
• and
• a machine-readable instruction set stored in the non-transitory machine readable memory that causes the laser system to perform at least the following when executed by the processor:
• position the laser head at a first distance from the power meter;
• cause the laser head to output the laser beam;
• translate the laser head across the power meter, wherein the laser beam is translated from the blocked portion across the knife edge into the transmission portion or the laser beam is translated from the transmission portion across the knife edge into the blocked portion;
• receive power signals from the power meter as the laser beam is translated across the power meter;
• and
• calculate a spot size for the laser beam based on the power signals received from the power meter.