Solid state lasers reach for higher powers

In the field of diode-pumped solid-state lasers Haas-Laser recently introduced two new developments: the diode-pumped rod systems and the diode-pumped disk laser.

The use of high-power lasers in industrial production has been steadily increasing for a number of years, especially in subcontractor, sheet metal, aerospace and automotive industries, where more than 10,000 cars are welded per day.

The high-power solid-state lasers of Haas-Laser are state-of-the art and their economic efficiency and reliability have been proven repeatedly by the numerous installations in heavy-duty industrial environments.

Up to now Haas-Laser has delivered more than 1,200 high-power solid-state lasers for various applications around the world and future prospects are excellent.

In the field of diode-pumped solid-state lasers Haas-Laser recently introduced two new developments.

The diode-pumped rod systems and the diode-pumped disk laser.

The diode-pumped solid-state laser represents a combination of two entirely different lasers a solid-state laser and a semiconductor or diode laser.

Although semiconductor (diode) lasers are highly efficient, their beam quality is not usually high enough for cutting or welding of metal.

If a diode laser is combined with a solid-state laser, however, the efficiency of the solid-state laser is increased several times over, with the benefit of constant beam quality.

Haas-Laser has developed a product family of diode-pumped rod lasers with laser output powers up to 6kW.

The excitation of the rods via laser diodes, increases machine efficiency by more than 10 %.

In common with other solid-state lasers from Haas-Laser, the beam from laser to workstation is guided by laser light cables.

Furthermore these laser devices feature the latest LCU control generation, and naturally, all key elements are continuously monitored.

Operating data can be accessed by the operator or via modem by a service expert from Haas-Laser at any time.

Problems are located rapidly and in most cases can be solved immediately.

The second introduction in the disk laser, that works according to an entirely new principle in combination with a diode-laser.

In this design, a disk is used instead of a rod as the laser medium.

The laser device has an output power of 1.3kW and a fibre core diameter of 0.15mm.

Having tested these units in the field, Haas-Laser was able to determine the critical, technical aspects of these units.

In general the lamp- and diode-pumped rod lasers have a problem with the thermal lensing being dependent on the laser power.

The disk laser easily solves this problem, as it has practically no thermal lensing.

Due to its excellent beam quality the output power can be scaled via fibre bundles.

As a consequence, compared to the rod laser a much higher power scalability is possible.

Given these characteristics, the disk laser has great potential and Haas-Laser is now developing the product commercially.

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