A process for preweakening the inside of an automotive trim piece cover
layer of various constructions by use of a laser beam so as to enable
formation of an air bag deployment opening in the trim piece formed at
the time the air bag deploys. The laser beam impinges the inside surface
of the cover to form a groove scoring or spaced perforations to form a
preweakening pattern. A robot arm may be used to move a laser generator
so as to form the preweakening pattern. The laser beam can be controlled
in accordance with sensed conditions to achieve accurate preweakening,
and may also be used to trim substrate panels and to perform other
cutting operations.
