CLEO 2000 Product Spotlight: Diode-pumped Nd:YAG generates 3 W at 355 nm
San Francisco, CA—Short-pulse lasers are known to be efficient and effective tools for precision manufacturing of microstructures in hard materials such as metals and ceramics. The Gator 355-3 (Lambda Physik; Ft. Lauderdale, FL) brings this technology to industrial applications by producing 0.3 mJ of energy in 15 +/- 3 ns pulses at 10 kHz from a diode-laser-pumped neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser. Operating at 355 nm (third harmonic), the system achieves more than 3 W of average power.
The 355 nm wavelength and TEMoo beam reduce the heat-affected zone, yielding aspect ratios up to 50:1—ideal for deep-hole trepan drilling. Average ablation rates approaching 1 cm/s with micrometer-range accuracy of microholes can be achieved in steel and ceramic samples up to 1 mm thick.
Peak powers greater than 100 J/cm2 at 15 ns short pulse duration result in high dimensional and surface qualities. This product is ideal for high-aspect-ratio microdrilling (thickness 0.250 µm – 0.750 µm) in stainless and steel alloys, titanium, nickel, aluminum, and copper alloys. By limiting the effects of thermal stress, the laser is able to cut and mill ceramic materials over 0.25mm thick, without cracks or stress fractures.
The system meets a 5,000-hour diode lifetime warranty, a hermetically sealed laser head, a remote/removable supply unit and hands-free operation for the life of the diode.
The product was selected by the CLEO/QELS 2000 committee as a notable product.