Laser-assisted cutting device

A laser-assisted cutting device for separating a slice of wood from a block of wood along a line of controlled failure in the block of wood through a simultaneous application of force and laser light without any other structure for cutting, comprising:

• a separating means for applying force to the slice of wood and the block of wood to separate the slice of wood from the block of wood along the line of controlled failure, the separating means including a wedge-shaped blade having an upper surface and a lower surface which converge toward each other and terminate, before they meet, along a planar leading surface, said planar leading surface intersects and is connected to the upper surface and lower surface of the blade, wherein the upper surface exerts force against the slice of wood while the lower surface simultaneously exerts force against the block of wood to advance the line of controlled failure in front of the planar leading surface edge when the separating means is advanced into the block of wood;
• a means for weakening the block of wood along the line of controlled failure while the separating means is advanced into the block of wood by simultaneously directing laser light from at least a portion of the planar leading surface onto the line of controlled failure as the separating means is advanced into the wood towards the line of controlled failure such that the laser light simultaneously weakens the wood along the line of controlled failure with laser light to weaken the wood without burning the wood, while the upper surface and lower surface of the blade apply force to the block of wood and slice of wood, separating the weakened wood at the line of controlled failure and advancing the line,
• a laser source for providing the laser light;
• and
• a means for directing the laser light from the planar leading surface of the blade forward onto the line of controlled failure.