Industrial Laser: What It Is And How It Works

Technology continues to evolve, and many industries now rely on industrial laser tools to achieve high accuracy and efficiency. These lasers are used in various manufacturing processes, with precision and effectiveness. Let’s explain how these tools work and explore the different industrial applications they serve.

Understanding Industrial Lasers

Industrial lasers are powerful tools that allow manufacturers to harness light energy for processes such as engraving, cutting, and much more.

Unlike ordinary light, laser systems emit beams that are highly collimated and monochromatic. Therefore, they can focus powerful beams on small surfaces to harness the energy of the light beams. This energy makes it possible to use lasers for cutting and other applications.

Industrial lasers offer a key advantage: they can handle very small surfaces that other tools might struggle with. Their versatility allows them to be used on a wide range of materials, including ceramics, metals, and glass.

Since laser beams perform the work, there’s minimal physical contact with the materials. This lack of contact helps reduce contamination risks. This is particularly important when working with delicate components like microchips.

How do They Work?

Industrial lasers come in many different forms depending on their specific utility. However, they all feature key parts that are central to how they operate. These are as follows:

Gain Medium

This is the component within the industrial laser whose role is to amplify the light. These materials can be crystals, special glass that is infused with rare-earth ions, or a gas such as helium-neon or carbon dioxide.

Some liquids are utilized in some of these industrial lasers. The choice of the gain medium determines the wavelength of the laser as well as the power output that these tools emit. This, in turn, determines what industrial process that they can be utilized in.

Energy Source

Energy source refers to the source of the energy that excites the molecules in the gain material to generate the laser beams. The process works because atoms are first moved to a higher energy state. When they return to a lower energy state, they emit energy in the form of light photons. These photons have a very specific wavelength.

Optical Resonator

Mirrors are placed on opposite ends of the gain medium to regulate the laser process. They reflect light photons generated within the system and encourage the production of more photons.

As the photons build up, they form a coherent beam. The beam is then directed onto a surface for cutting, engraving, or other applications.

Beam Focusing

Once this coherent beam is produced, the light is then focused on a surface to cut, wield it, or any other application that the industrial laser is being used for.

To allow for accurate operations, these laser tools use optical shutters to control the laser beams. These shutters turn the light on and off–a process known as modulation. This lets the cutting or welding follow a specific pattern.

Types of Industrial Lasers

Industrial lasers come in various types, each suited for different applications. One common type is the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser. It uses gases like nitrogen and helium as the gain material. CO2 lasers are often used in industrial cutting processes for materials like plastics, glass, and ceramics.

Another type is fiber lasers, which use a special fiber as the gain medium. These lasers are powerful, efficient, and used for cutting metals, welding, and marking surfaces. Their compact design allows them to be portable–ideal for use in industrial line processes.

Excimer lasers are another type. They use gases such as fluorine or chlorine as the gain material. These lasers produce ultraviolet (UV) light. For this reason, they are suitable for delicate tasks like fine engraving and micro-machining.

Which One is Ideal For Me?

As you can see, industrial lasers come in various types. Each type is designed for specific applications. The choice of laser depends on the nature of your work, the materials you use, and the precision required. It can be overwhelming to determine which industrial laser will best suit your needs, given the wide range of options available.

This is where NM Laser Products can assist you. We are an American company with years of experience in laser technology. We can help you evaluate your specific requirements and guide you toward the laser technology that will provide the best results.

All our laser products are made right here in the United States. That’s why you can always depend on us for support.

Contact us today and let us help you move your industrial process to the next level using industrial lasers.