High-power, nanosecond-pulse Q-switch laser technology with flattop beam-shaping technique for efficient industrial laser processing

High-power, nanosecond-pulse Q-switch laser processing has become commonplace in both existing and emerging high-tech industries. As these industries grow and mature, there is increased need for low-cost, high-quality manufacturing techniques. This translates to a need for increasingly precise and efficient laser processing capabilities. In this work, Newport/Spectra-Physics’ latest Q-switch diode pumped solid state(DPSS) laser technology is combined with optical beam-shaping techniques to explore the role of intensity distribution in improving efficiency of laser machining processes. Results for laser micro machining processes in technical materials are compared for the case of Gaussian and uniform (“flat top”) beam intensity distributions. The affects of beam intensity distribution on both the resulting feature geometry and overall processing efficiency are characterized, with the underlying goal of maximizing the benefits of Q-switched DPSS laser technology to industrial manufacturing processes.