Product Code: ICAL07_1206

New Applications with High Average Power Q-switched Nd:YAG Lasers
Authors:
Wolfram Rath, Rofin Sinar Laser GmbH; Hamburg Germany
Markus Rütering, Rofin Sinar Laser GmbH; Hamburg Germany
Presented at ICALEO 2007

For many years applications of Q-switched lasers are widely in use like marking, engraving, material removal, drilling cutting etc. The realization of large area processing, however, like cleaning, coating removal and surface modifications is limited for two reasons: First because of the relative low average power of the lasers available so far which can not realize the required processing rates and second because of the limited pulse energy of the available laser sources that makes the use of expensive TEA CO2 lasers or Excimer lasers necessary.
New application results of high average power Q-switched diode pumped Nd:YAG lasers are presented that overcome these limitations. The contribution describes applications techniques and examples of first industrial processes.