HIGH-POWER CO2-LASER WITH A GAUSS-CORE RESONATOR FOR HIGH-SPEED CUTTING OF THIN METAL SHEETS

Authors
TAKENAKA Y NISHIMAE J TANAKA M MOTOKI Y
Citation
Y. Takenaka et al., HIGH-POWER CO2-LASER WITH A GAUSS-CORE RESONATOR FOR HIGH-SPEED CUTTING OF THIN METAL SHEETS, Optics letters, 22(1), 1997, pp. 37-39
Citations number
11
Categorie Soggetti
Optics
Journal title
Optics letters → ACNP
ISSN journal
01469592
Volume
22
Issue
1
Year of publication
1997
Pages
37 - 39
Database
ISI
SICI code
0146-9592(1997)22:1<37:HCWAGR>2.0.ZU;2-G
Abstract
A novel resonator, the Gauss-core resonator, based on a stable resonat or configuration designed to yield a highly focusing beam operating in a large-volume TEM(00) mode, is presented. A 6.2 kW linearly polarize d output beam with an M(2) factor of 1.7 is obtained experimentally fo r a high-power cw CO2 laser. The capability of the Gauss-core resonato r to process laser materials is also studied. We can cut l-mm thick mi ld (soft) steel with a maximum cutting speed of 58 m/min at 5.6 kW and 0.2-mm-thick steel 145 m/min at 2.8 kW. (C) 1997 Optical Society of A merica