Beam delivery for Nd:YAG lasers

Peter Verboven

doi:10.1117/12.201810

1 September 1995 Beam delivery for Nd:YAG lasers

Peter Verboven

Author Affiliations +

Optical Engineering, Vol. 34, Issue 9, (September 1995). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.201810

Abstract

The beam parameter product is the most important characteristic value of a materials-processing laser. Known formulas lead to expressions that show its relevance to kerf width, depth of focus, and taper. These new expressions are then applied to fiber optic beam delivery. A formula is presented to minimize reflection losses by specifying antireflection coatings with the right spectral and hence angular bandwidth. These optical principles were used in the engineering of two improved processing heads to image the fiber end face onto the workpiece. A welding objective offers 106 mm of free working distance for reliable welding at high power. A cutting objective offers a 0.3-mm spot size with a 400-μm fiber. Both objectives consist of three lens elements only, thus minimizing cost, mass, and reflection losses. They are corrected to transverse aberrations less than 1/5 and 1/20 of a 400-μm fiber core diameter, respectively.

Citation Download Citation

Peter Verboven "Beam delivery for Nd:YAG lasers," Optical Engineering 34(9), (1 September 1995). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.201810

Published: 1 September 1995

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available