Product News

A line of CO2 laser optics optimized for cutting and etching thin metals when fabricating filters, strainers and related applications is available from Laser Research Optics. Laser Research CO2 Optics include lenses that feature coatings with < 0.2% total absorption values to keep them cooler and silicon turning mirrors which have an enhanced DMBR coating to provide up to 99.6% reflectivity.

A full line of OEM-quality drop-in replacement CO2 optics for lasers used in etching monuments, signs and other stone products is available from Laser Research Optics. Laser Research CO2 optics for popular monument and sign etching lasers are available in 0.75” and 1.5” dia. sizes and feature 4” to 7.5” focal lengths to provide deeper cuts.

Coherent says the AVIA LX 355-20 is an economical new q-switched, diode-pumped solid-state (DPSS) laser offering substantially longer operating lifetime than competitive products at similar power levels. The AVIA LX 355-20 delivers 20 W (at 50 kHz repetition rate) at 355 nm, a diffraction limited (M² <1.3) beam, and an expected lifetime of 20,000 hours.

Trotec is offering the MOPA fiber laser source as an option for its SpeedMarker galvo laser marking systems. MOPA technology opens up a new world of possibilities for marking metals and plastics because it allows the user to select pulse durations (between 4 and 200 ns), which provides a much wider range of laser parameters, more options for creating high-contrast, homogeneous markings, and the ability to mark colors on some metals.

Coherent (formerly Optoskand AB) has introduced RQB Fiber Optic Cables – new air-cooled, beam delivery, fiber optic cables with a standard QBH interface, for use with fiber lasers operating at CW power levels up to 1.5 kW (and pulsed lasers as high as 1 MW). This makes these new cables an attractive option for cost sensitive applications level, and also enhances system simplicity when utilized with air-cooled fiber lasers.

A new Fiber to Fiber Coupler (FFC) from Coherent (formerly Optoskand AB) enables the use of replaceable, process fiber optic cables so that integral components of the fiber laser – most notably the feeding fiber – are not exposed to opto-mechanical damage, even in harsh industrial processes. Damage to the feeding fiber means long and often costly down time. But the new FFC enables the use of a separate fiber interface, and this separate delivery fiber can be exchanged in minutes in the case of damage.

A new 10 kW fiber laser from Coherent is a part of the HighLight product family. HighLight products are high-power fiber, direct diode and fiber-coupled diode lasers that combine innovation and reliability into solutions for industrial materials processing applications.

SCANLAB GmbH is introducing its high-dynamics excelliSHIFT z-scanner to the marketplace. Unlike conventional z-axes, the underlying patented concept fully eliminates use of transmissive elements.

Amada Miyachi America Inc. announces the availability of the updated LMWS pulsed fiber laser welding system, a highly configurable, compact unit designed for lean manufacturing. The system features a versatile high-power, high-speed laser, available in 20- to 70-watt (W) powers for welding metals and plastics.

A new range of Thulium-doped fiber optic components from Coherent | Nufern enables construction of fiber lasers and oscillators operating at ~ 2 µm with higher output power than was previously possible. Specifically, advances in Thulium doping technology deliver significantly improved pumping efficiency, yielding higher power output (>1 kW) for gain fibers.

PhotoMachining, Inc. and LightFab GmbH announced a collaborative effort to promote selective laser etching using femtosecond lasers in the U.S. market.

Laser Institute of America (LIA), the professional society for laser applications and safety, announces its release of the LIA Guide to High Power Laser Cutting. In the guide, students, engineers and scientists alike will gain a more in-depth understanding of the science behind laser cutting. Written by a team of specialists led by industry experts Dr. John Powell and Dr. Dirk Petring, this 136-page guide is a comprehensive resource that touches on all features of laser cutting machines and materials.

Amada Miyachi America Inc. announces the availability of the LMF70-HP, an addition to its popular LMF series of lasers. The 70-watt LMF70-HP is suitable for welding small components and thin metals up to 0.01-inch (0.25 mm) thick. It is particularly well-suited for welding battery tabs to cans (two thin sheets of metal), but can also weld thin wires (thermocouples, guide wires). In addition to welding, the unit is capable of engraving, deep engraving and cutting metal, plastic welding and general-purpose high-speed marking.

To address the need for high-quality hole drilling of turbine engine components, Synova and Makino are joining forces to offer the HybridCell, which combines the power of Synova’s Laser MicroJet (LMJ) with Makino’s leading edge EDM capabilities. It is a fully automated, manufacturing-ready, work cell.

SCANLAB GmbH offers a new collimation module to reportedly close a market gap for reliable connection of fiber-coupled lasers. This industrial-strength fiber coupler helps transform scan heads into a system to be easily integrated in laser processing machines.

A 1 kW (average power) pulsed fiber laser from Coherent | Rofin offers a high beam quality for this power level, thus enabling high throughput, precision ablation for a variety of industrial and solar applications. Specifically, the FP 010 delivers a maximum pulse energy of 100 mJ, at pulse widths between 10 ns and 100 ns, and with repetition rates ranging from 10 kHz to 30 kHz.

Amada Miyachi America announces the release of four new higher power models to the LF series family of fiber laser welders. The addition of the new models will address thicker materials or increase processing speed for a given application. The company now offers an LF series fiber laser in power levels ranging from 250 watts to 1000 watts in the same form factor and with the same features.

A full line of ZnSe (zinc selenide) focusing lenses that are optimized for use with steel cutting lasers up to 4 kW and suitable field replacements by users is available from Laser Research Optics. Laser Research Optics CO2 Laser Lenses come in plano-convex and –meniscus configurations in 1” to 2” OD sizes with thicknesses ranging from 0.250” to 0.380”.

A new 120W CO2 laser from Coherent offers a 30 percent better power/volume ratio than most competitive lasers in this class, enabling the construction of more compact laser-based systems for space-constrained, industrial applications. Additionally, the Cx-10 offers a unique combination of performance and reliability features to deliver both superior processing results and lower total cost of ownership.

Tsugami Automation and Tsugami/Rem Sales offer their newest LaserSwiss, an SS207-5AX LaserSwiss with an integrated welding system. The 20 mm, 7-axis CNC machine integrates two SPI laser systems, one for cutting operations and a second one for welding.