Laser-assisted cutting method

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for cutting wood or other materials by separating the material along a line of controlled failure through the application of mechanical force in combination with laser light to break molecular bonds holding the material together along the line of controlled failure. The method includes the use of a generally broad wedge-shaped blade having planar lower and upper surfaces which converge toward each other to terminate along a leading edge. The blade is generally hollow with a cavity for passing optical fibers carrying laser light to a transparent window attached to the leading edge of the blade. Laser light passes through the window and is directed to a line of controlled failure in the material being cut to break the molecular bonds and locally weaken the material while mechanical force is applied to the blade to separate the material and advance the line of controlled failure into the material thereby separating a slice of the material.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.