Pulsed laser system LASAG with maximal average power 150 W is used in our laboratory for experiments with various kinds of materials, process parameters optimisation for cutting, welding, drilling and surface treatment. Alignment of optical elements and good laser beam quality is critical parameter for successful result of laser treatment. Active medium - crystal in solid state laser is warmed up during laser action, because only some percent of input electrical power is turn to optical energy. Warm crystal has properties like a thick lens, which optical power is dependent on process parameters and kind of resonator. Also some defects in optical system - dirty or damaged mirrors or lens must be detect. Properties of non-visible near infrared beam can be tested by means of laser beam analyzer SPIRICON. In our system there are movable and changeable end mirrors and diaphragms to obtain five different types of resonators - basic one for welding and fibre applications and four ones for fine cutting and drilling. Measurements of beam profile for all these resonators were made with safety values of pulse length, energy and frequency. Control of losses in optical system was made to inspect quality of optical elements. Also measurement of laser beam outputting from three different fibre processing heads was realised. Control measurements on continual industrial Nd:YAG laser system were made. All data and capture pictures are stored and practical lessons for students in next school years were prepared.

Date Published: 13 June 2005
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 5856, Optical Measurement Systems for Industrial Inspection IV, (13 June 2005); doi: 10.1117/12.612007

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 5856:
Optical Measurement Systems for Industrial Inspection IV
Wolfgang Osten; Christophe Gorecki; Erik L. Novak, Editor(s)