A laser machining method and a laser machining apparatus superior in hole
position accuracy and hole quality. An outgoing beam outputted as short
pulses is shaped by a pulse shaping unit so as to form a #1 branch beam.
The #1 branch beam is supplied to a portion to be machined, so as to
machine the portion. In this case, the #1 branch beam may be controlled
to synchronize with the outgoing beam. When a piece to be machined is
made from a metal material and at least one of an organic material and an
inorganic material, the metal material is machined with a laser beam
shaped to have a pulse width not shorter than 100 ns, and at least one of
the organic material and the inorganic material is machined with a laser
beam shaped to have a pulse width shorter than 100 ns.