Perfect Precision in Industrial Micro Machining

Abstract

Industrial applications have driven the commercial laser market for decades. The widespread usage of CW lasers in welding and cutting, in particular at kilowatt average powers, is complemented by the success of pulsed lasers in applications where excessive heat is undesired and where sublimation rather than melting provides ultimate precision in manufacturing. During the past years, ultrafast lasers have become established industrial tools for cold, yet efficient micro machining. They nowadays provide the desired tens of megawatt peak powers at average powers of several tens of watts as required to reach sufficient productivity, at a total cost of ownership below 10 cent (€ or $) per watt and hour of operation. TRUMPF has pioneered ultrafast machining with new lasers based on Yb:YAG disk modules since the beginning of this millennium. This article gives a brief review of the state of the art of ultrafast disk lasers, amplifiers and their industrial applications.

X-ray emission as a potential hazard during ultrashort pulse laser material processing

“…The atomic number Z of these materials covers a wide range of the periodic table. The selection represents common used materials in the laser-based industrial fabrication process [18]. Doses of the directional dose equivalent H′(0.07) were measured with the ionization chamber dosimeter OD-02 at a fixed distance of 420 mm and a fixed detection angle of 29°.…”

Towards a Compact Thin-Disk-Based Femtosecond XUV Source

“…It has a broad absorption line at 940 nm, as well as a zero-phonon line at 969 nm ( Fig.2.2(a)) suitable for pumping by wavelength-stabilized high-power diodes [63]. As a consequence of its low quantum defect, absence of excited-state absorption and good thermal conductivity Yb:YAG is mainly [64] …”