Open AccessCO 2 ‐Laser – The ultimate laser power
Author(s) -
von Borstel Michael,
Zefferer Hartmut,
Ederer Sven
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
laser technik journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1863-9119
pISSN - 1613-7728
DOI - 10.1002/latj.200790041
Subject(s) - laser , laser beam welding , welding , materials science , laser beams , laser power scaling , power (physics) , optics , beam (structure) , laser cutting , optoelectronics , computer science , composite material , physics , quantum mechanics
Since the introduction of laser cutting technology for sheet metal at the end of the 1970s, CO 2 lasers have developed into the most successful high‐powered beam sources. Laser cutting of steel requires 1 kW of laser power, which was a considerable challenge back then. Today, 6 kW is state‐of‐the‐art; CO 2 lasers with up to 20 kW are available for laser welding and for other applications that require high power. Although the fundamentals of the CO 2 laser concepts have remained unchanged for nearly two decades, today's beam sources have technically very little in common with the first generation of lasers.