Laser machining apparatus

A laser machining apparatus for performing a machining operation of a workpiece, said apparatus comprising means supporting a workpiece, a working laser generator for focusing a laser beam on the workpiece to effect a machining operation thereon, an auxiliary energy generator for supplying auxiliary energy onto said workpiece of a magnitude to heat said workpiece without effecting machining thereof, means for radiating said auxiliary energy onto said workpiece at a location spaced from the focussed laser beam for preheating the workpiece in preparation for irradiation thereon of the focused laser beam whereby to minimize the magnitude of laser energy required for machining while also minimizing thermal distortion of the workpiece, support means supporting the laser generator and the auxiliary energy generator, means for providing relative movement between said support means and the means supporting the workpiece such that the laser beam machines the workpiece in a working progressing direction along a determined path and means for adjusting the position of the auxiliary energy generator relative to the laser generator in correspondence with the relative movement of said support means and the workpiece so that said location at which said auxiliary energy is radiated precedes the irradiation point of said laser beam in the working progressing direction during machining of said workpiece along said predetermined path.