PROCESS FOR PRODUCING FILTERS USING A LASER BEAM WITH ADJUSTMENT OF THE DIAMETER OF THE LASER BEAM; FILTER PRODUCED; INSTALLATION FOR CARRYING OUT THE PRODUCTION PROCESS

摘要

The invention provides a process for producing filters, in particular food filters, in which process at least one filter hole is made in a metal surface (7) by means of laser machining. In the production process, a laser beam (2) is produced along an axis z by means of a laser source (1). The diameter of the laser beam is adjusted in a direction x and a direction y, which are perpendicular to one another and to the axis z, by means of a diameter control unit (5). The laser beam evaporates metal material from the metal surface (7) over a time interval T until the metal surface (7) is cut through and a filter hole is produced. According to the present invention, the diameter of the laser beam (2) is changed over the time interval T by the diameter control unit (5) in the direction x and/or the direction y, and a filter hole is produced having a diameter which changes along a hole axis.