Open AccessMetal Optics — New Chances for Laser Focusing Mirrors
Author(s) -
Lehndorff Michael
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
laser technik journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1863-9119
pISSN - 1613-7728
DOI - 10.1002/latj.201600026
Subject(s) - laser , optics , machining , focus (optics) , laser power scaling , power (physics) , computer science , subtractive color , laser cutting , materials science , mechanical engineering , physics , engineering , quantum mechanics
All reflective laser focusing heads have been in use for industrial high‐power laser machining systems for more than thirty years now. Originally inevitable for multi‐kilowatt “macro” lasers, now better metal mirror machining technologies open the field for metal optics to mid‐power and even to low‐power applications. Especially the advantage of cost effective flexible manufacturing of aspherical and free form surfaces even in lowest quantities gives the optical engineers the versatility to manufacture laser focusing systems for interesting new applications: Bessel beams will go beyond the diffraction limit, polygon scanners with smallest focus spots will deliver high power densities, e.g. for dicing, extremely compact focusing for 3D metal printing or remote welding is realized with a few mirrors only. Complete “focusing‐boxes” or just single mirrors as well as matched mirror sets are available and help laser machine builders and system integrators to realize never‐seen‐before products.