Fiber lasers operating at near IR wavelengths are fast emerging as material-processing tools in the industry today. Single mode ytterbium lasers with diffraction limited beam quality offers many advantages such as small spot, high radiance, enhanced cutting speeds and reduced heat-affected zone for cutting applications. In this work, we present an overview of single mode fiber lasers and several industrial cutting applications including fine cutting of thin metals, high-speed cutting of sheet metal, silicon wafers and processing of some non metal and ceramic substrates with the single mode lasers. In conclusion, the versatility of these single mode fiber lasers for other material processing applications is also reported.
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© 2004 Laser Institute of America.
2004
Laser Institute of America
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