Laser processing system, and laser processing method

A laser processing system configured to perform a laser process on a workpiece, the laser processing system comprising:

• a laser processing head configured to emit a laser beam generated by a laser oscillator;
• a robot configured to move the laser processing head relative to the workpiece;
• a distance measurement sensor configured to measure a distance between the laser processing head and the workpiece;
• a controller configured to control a laser emission operation of operating the laser oscillator to emit a laser beam from the laser processing head, and a movement operation of operating the robot to move the laser processing head relative to the workpiece;
• and
• a mode selection switch configured to select a drive mode of the laser process,
• wherein the controller is configured to, when an automatic drive mode, in which the laser emission operation and the movement operation are automatically executed in accordance with a processing program, is selected as the drive mode by the mode selection switch, and when the distance measured by the distance measurement sensor is within a predetermined range, execute the laser emission operation and the movement operation as the automatic drive mode.