SPI LASERS' new MOPA-based fiber laser technology breaks new ground In high performance laser marking and machining
SPI Lasers launched its next generation MOPA-based pulsed laser technology at LASER 2007 - World of Photonics. New features of the upgraded product range include: a fully-integrated single-unit laser controller, direct pulse triggering allowing on-the-fly variations, an enhanced package of 25 pre-set waveforms, faster analogue control enabling grayscale and bit map applications, hardware control for faster communications and an improved beam delivery optic with fully integrated isolator.
Master oscilator power amplifier (MOPA) technology offers improved processing over traditional q-switched systems because a single laser is used to create pulse widths from 10 to 200ns with a sharp rise and fall, and a repetition rate from 1Hz to 500Khz. The same laser can also be used in continuous wave mode.
Development of the new product is based on SPI Lasers’ two years of field experience in the marking market, and feedback from its global customer base of more than 50 marking equipment system integrators. The new range offers even better control of the pulse width, for more controllability of the marking operation to give faster, more precise results. Significantly, the advent of this product means that a single SPI fiber laser can now be used for all types of marking applications, in place of Nd YAG, YAG Vanadate and fiber laser q-switched systems.
SPI fiber lasers are already used commercially for a wide range of marking applications including metal marking, plastic marking, silicon cutting, solar cell scribing, ITO removal, resistor trimming, foil drilling, general layer ablation and cleaning. This new upgrade will improve marking and machining speeds as well as enabling fast on-the-fly parameter transitions from what is already the market’s most flexible and wide-ranging fiber laser solution.
The new MOPA-based pulsed laser delivers around one mJ of pulse energy and up to 15KW peak power, with an average power of about 20W. The unit can be controlled in continuous wave (CW) or nano-second pulsed mode with pulse width variations from 20-200ns and repetition rates from one to 500Khz. These parameters can be changed very rapidly, for on-the-fly adjustments, and the system can be used with a wide selection of metals, plastics, silicas and ceramics.
Special high temperature variants of the SPI system specified to 55°C are available for use in hot countries in non air-conditioned environments.