Laser Machines & Components

A new Fiber to Fiber Coupler (FFC) from Coherent (formerly Optoskand AB) enables the use of replaceable, process fiber optic cables so that integral components of the fiber laser – most notably the feeding fiber – are not exposed to opto-mechanical damage, even in harsh industrial processes. Damage to the feeding fiber means long and often costly down time. But the new FFC enables the use of a separate fiber interface, and this separate delivery fiber can be exchanged in minutes in the case of damage.

Coherent (formerly Optoskand AB) has introduced RQB Fiber Optic Cables – new air-cooled, beam delivery, fiber optic cables with a standard QBH interface, for use with fiber lasers operating at CW power levels up to 1.5 kW (and pulsed lasers as high as 1 MW). This makes these new cables an attractive option for cost sensitive applications level, and also enhances system simplicity when utilized with air-cooled fiber lasers.

Coherent says the AVIA LX 355-20 is an economical new q-switched, diode-pumped solid-state (DPSS) laser offering substantially longer operating lifetime than competitive products at similar power levels. The AVIA LX 355-20 delivers 20 W (at 50 kHz repetition rate) at 355 nm, a diffraction limited (M² <1.3) beam, and an expected lifetime of 20,000 hours.

A new 10 kW fiber laser from Coherent is a part of the HighLight product family. HighLight products are high-power fiber, direct diode and fiber-coupled diode lasers that combine innovation and reliability into solutions for industrial materials processing applications.

SCANLAB GmbH is introducing its high-dynamics excelliSHIFT z-scanner to the marketplace. Unlike conventional z-axes, the underlying patented concept fully eliminates use of transmissive elements.

Amada Miyachi America Inc. announces the availability of the updated LMWS pulsed fiber laser welding system, a highly configurable, compact unit designed for lean manufacturing. The system features a versatile high-power, high-speed laser, available in 20- to 70-watt (W) powers for welding metals and plastics.

A new range of Thulium-doped fiber optic components from Coherent | Nufern enables construction of fiber lasers and oscillators operating at ~ 2 µm with higher output power than was previously possible. Specifically, advances in Thulium doping technology deliver significantly improved pumping efficiency, yielding higher power output (>1 kW) for gain fibers.