1 kW CO2 laser
The DIAMOND E-1000 from (Coherent Inc., Santa Clara, CA; www.coherent.com) is reportedly the most compact 1kW CO2 laser available at this power level, measuring less than 1500 mm x 500 mm x 400 mm, including its integrated power supply. This design is ideally suited for use in space-sensitive applications involving cutting, drilling of paper, plastics, glass, carbon composites, and metals. The only connection to the laser is a power cord, allowing it to be easily mounted onto a moving robot arm.
Picosecond laser micromachining
Time-Bandwidth Products (Zurich, Switzerland; www.time-bandwidth.com) has introduced the FlexBurst™ technology for its 10W Duetto and 50W Fuego lasers, enabling new processing possibilities in picosecond micromachining. The term “burst” refers to a group of 10 ps pulses with a temporal spacing on the order of tens of nanoseconds. Recent demonstrations have shown that such bursts have the potential to improve materials processing speed as well as quality. The leading pulses pre-condition the material such that trailing pulses hit the material in a different state, which can benefit the process performance. The FlexBurst technique allows for the generation of bursts with full user control of the pulse energy distribution to better match the process requirements. As the energy of each pulse can be arbitrarily set, it is possible to equalize pulse energies, obtain controlled increasing or decreasing pulse energies, blank intra-burst pulses, and so on, with virtually no restrictions.
Cost-efficient, compact pump modules
LIMO (Dortmund, Germany; www.limo.de) offers the reliable 60 W module (with 100 µm fiber; NA: 0.22) as well as one-bar-system within a particularly space-saving and competitive FG housing. This laser module is optimized for pumping of solid-state and fiber lasers and convinces the user by its outstanding cost-performance ratio. Moreover, the product is also a favorable option for laser materials processing solutions users, who are in search of a cost-saving alternative.
Green laser welder
The 5W LW5AG green laser welder from Miyachi Unitek (Monrovia, CA; www.muc.miyachi.com) offers increased weld speed (2.5x), penetration (~30%) and integration flexibility (2 energy- or time-share outputs) over the previous 2W model. It utilizes a 532nm wavelength in the visible (green) spectrum, which is better absorbed by highly reflective materials enabling precision micro-welding of gold and copper alloys—applications that cannot be done with a traditional 1064nm YAG laser. Benefits include the following: microwelding conductive parts; green laser beam in the visible spectrum is better absorbed by highly reflective materials enabling precision microwelding of conductive materials like gold and copper alloys; non-contact welding process; real time power feedback ensures extremely stable pulse-to-pulse energy; single phase power and air cooled; enables quick set-up and integration into current production line.
Dual wavelength large field 3-axis scan head
Nutfield Technology Inc. (Windham, NH; www.nutfieldtech.com) announces the 3XB Dual Wavelength Large Field 3-Axis Scan Head. 3XB Dual Wavelength technology allows system designers to employ a single scan head for use with both 532nm and 1064nm lasers. This provides a significant economic advantage by reducing scan head inventories for production installations where both wavelengths are used. Job shops save money and expand their application envelope by employing a 3XB Dual Wavelength scan head that works with both 532nm and 1064nm lasers. Laser systems designers benefit from small spot diameters and large scan field sizes. Capable of producing scan fields of up to 2m x 2m, typical 3XB Dual Wavelength specs are: 532nm: 7µm spot diameter at 150mm x 150mm field; 1064nm: 14µm spot diameter at 150mm x 150mm field; 532nm: 19µm spot diameter at 500mm x 500mm field; and 1064nm: 38µm spot diameter at 500mm x 500mm field.
The user can adjust scan field and spot size by simply turning a knob. This allows system designers to experiment with and dial in the optimum field/spot size combination for the application. The Z-axis (third axis) corrects for focus, in real-time, within the scan field, allowing the use of large aperture input beams for scanning large scan fields and small spot diameters.
Fume extraction
The Xbase extraction and filtration system from Purex International Ltd. (South Yorkshire, UK; www.purexinternational.com) connects to the engraving laser in minutes using a short length of flexible hose and extracts hazardous fumes using powerful flow controlled blowers. The fumes are then drawn through a patented, specialized filter system before clean air is returned to the workplace. Because the product returns air to the workplace there is no need to cut any holes for ducting in walls or ceilings and no heated or conditioned air is lost. The system is easy to move around, so if the laser moves, the Xbase goes with it. It is quiet in operation and because no holes in walls are required it is ideal for use in shops, malls, kiosks, schools, engraving workshops and offices. The extraction rate is fully adjustable so problems like drag marks on the work can be avoided and the system can be configured to filter fumes from most engraving materials.
Fiber laser marker
Fast and flexible describe the TruMark 5020, a new fiber laser marker from TRUMPF (Farmington, CT: www.us.trumpf.com). It is the first fiber laser marker from the TruMark Series 5000 and is ideal for applications on metals and plastics with high speed and excellent edge quality requirements, thanks to the high pulse frequencies and its superior pulse-to-pulse stability. The TruMark 5020’s highly dynamic scanner module is able to convert pulse frequencies of up to 1 megahertz into a correspondingly high processing speed. In turn, thanks to MOFPA technology (Master Oscillator Fiber Power Amplifier), the pulse duration can be adjusted so that laser processing is perfectly adapted to the application. A focal point adjustment ensures that the laser’s focus point adjusts to the different component heights. For metals, the system delivers high-quality customized marking or engraving in short processing times.