 |
|
|
| Exatron supplies laser systems
using four principal technologies: |
|
• Diode-pumped
Nd:YAG (Neodymium:Yttrium Aluminum Garnet)
• Diode-pumped Nd:YVO4 (Neodymium: Yttrium Vanadate)
• Fiber Laser
• CO2 |
| |
|
|
Nd:YAG
The Nd:YAG (simply called a “YAG” laser) is probably the
most widely used industrial laser in the world. It is used for cutting,
welding, marking, machining, etc. The YAG laser is a “solid state” laser
as the lasing material is a solid crystal of material. Light from a
flashlamp or diode laser (like a pointer laser, only much more powerful)
is shone on the crystal to get it to lase.
YAG lasers are used on metals, some plastics and some ceramics. They
are generally not recommended for organics like wood and leather.
There are two principal subgroups in the world of YAG lasers: Diode-pumped
and Flashlamp-pumped lasers. These are descriptions of how energy is
sent into the laser in order to generate the laser beam. For reasons
explained in the section on the differences between Diode- and Flashlamp-pumped
lasers, Exatron only sells systems using the Diode-pumped technology.
Nd:YAG
lasers are available in three frequencies:
1064nm (Infrared, sometimes just called “red”)
532nm (visible green, usually called “green”)
355nm (ultraviolet, sometimes called “blue”)
Each wavelength has different properties and effects materials differently.
Which is correct for a given application is often a function of merely
trying the different lasers to see which is better.
Exatron integrates Nd:YAG lasers from TRUMPF, Laservall, Rofin
Baasel,
and others. |
|
|
Nd:YVO4
The Nd:YVO4 laser (usually called a “Vanadate” laser) is
a very new type of laser on the market. The Vanadate emits in the same
wavelengths as the YAG laser, but it has different pulse characteristics
which allow it to interact with materials differently. In general, the
Vanadate lasers maintain greater power at higher pulse frequencies which
can be very useful in marking on plastics, etc.
Exatron integrates Nd:YVO4 lasers from Laservall, TRUMPF, Rofin-Baasel,
RMI
Laser and others. |
|
|
Fiber Laser
The Fiber Laser is a small class of lasers used for marking, drilling
and limited cutting applications. The Fiber Laser is just that, a fiber.
The Fiber Laser is made of a long fiber optic cable which has a core
doped with a rare element that creates a laser beam when it is excited.
Fiber Lasers typically use a diode laser (the same diode-pumps used
in the YAG lasers) to excite the cable by firing the diode
laser into
one end of the cable. Each end of the cable is polished into a mirror
and the whole thing is one big laser cavity.
Fiber Lasers emit around 1100 nm, in the infrared range similar to YAGs.
Until recently, the Fiber Laser was only available in a continuous
wave mode, so that it was not pulsed. This limited its applications,
primarily being useful in marking integrated circuits where the black
carbon-filled
plastic marks very well with fiber lasers. Newer pulsed models are coming
available now and can mark on metals and other materials formerly outside
the capabilities of the fiber laser.
Exatron integrates Fiber Lasers from JDS
Uniphase. |
|
|
CO2
The CO2 laser is the other most common industrial laser available today.
Most CO2s are used for cutting, from 2” steel plate to paperboard
and fabrics. Lower-power CO2s are available for marking applications.
The CO2 laser is a gas laser; it is essentially a bottle of CO2 gas
that is excited by radio-frequency electricity and creates a laser
beam.
The CO2 laser emits at 10,600 nm, or ten times the wavelength of the
YAG. This accounts for why it interacts differently with materials than
the YAG.
CO2 lasers are used for marking on some plastics and ceramics, some
metals, and on organics like wood and leather.
Exatron integrates CO2 lasers from Synrad. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|