Working materials with laser beam - using high power laser diodes, for welding, drilling, cutting, soldering and heat treating various materials

摘要

Material is worked using a laser beam produced by focussing the emitter beams from several laser diodes. The diodes are arranged in bars or vertically in wafer formation with cooling element located between the diode bars. Holes in the diode bars can also assist in the cooling process as liquid or gas coolant flows through them to remove the heat generated. Pref. to focus the beams a microlens located in front of each diode acts as a collimator lens. A coupling optic lens then directs all the beams onto the required working surface. The collimator lens is built as a cylinder lens. The focussed beam may have a linear, spot, oval or rectangular shape. At least 1000 and pref. more than 20,000 individual laser diodes are used emitting a beam of wavelength in the visible to almost infrared range (750-950 nm). USE/ADVANTAGE - For welding, drilling, cutting, soldering and heat treating various material such as metallic or organic material. This laser system is more efficient and has a longer working life than prior art systems. The system also takes up less space.