Cutting of metal sheets is a key application in material processing and high power diode lasers gain further importance in this field due to their exceptionally good current to light conversion efficiency. Both, power scaling and process optimization are under investigation to improve the performance of this application. We report first results of a laser system combining these approaches. The presented diode laser power scaling is realized by means of an asymmetric, noncircular beam shape. The beam parameter product of the laser light is manipulated accordingly. In addition, the power scaling of this approach allows the generation of spot geometries which inherently support the interaction processes of the laser light with materials as metals. The setup is based on conventional, highly reliable and well tested principles and components, as they are passively cooled laser diode bars, coarse wavelengths coupling and fiber delivery. First results of material processing with stainless steel of 6 mm thickness are presented.

Date Published: 13 March 2015
PDF: 9 pages
Proc. SPIE 9348, High-Power Diode Laser Technology and Applications XIII, 934808 (13 March 2015); doi: 10.1117/12.2076265

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9348:
High-Power Diode Laser Technology and Applications XIII
Mark S. Zediker, Editor(s)