LASAL Equipment [ Return towards Equipment ]
Why use equipment specially designed for laser applications ?
Gas lasers of the carbon dioxide type are now becoming increasingly widely used in industry for the working of materials: such as welding, cutting and surface treatment. The laser is a productivity tool and this means that it is has to stand up to long operating times. It is therefore essential to take into account all factors which can help to limit malfunctions.
In particular, we will be focusing on damaging impurities contained in lasing gases and the various ways of reducing their contamination.
When we consider the impurities that may be present in industrial gases, two factors play a decisive part: content levels of humidity and hydrocarbons. In order to satisfy this requirement, the parameters taken into account for gases in the LASAL™ range include the following:
the choice of product sources
purification treatments
the production method ensuring that
the required quality is achieved
Other requirements concern the preparation of cylinders: surface treatment of inside walls to prevent any dust being collected. In addition, every precaution must be taken to obtain homogeneous and accurately proportioned mixtures.
Once the lasing gas has been packaged, it must be transferred into the cavity without increasing its content of damaging impurities. Of course, the term "damaging impurities" also includes the humidity contained in the ambient air. Humidity separated out in the cavity destabilizes the electric discharge which decreases the output power level as well as the quality of the beam. Furthermore, mirror coatings are highly hygroscopic. As for the oxygen in the ambient air, this gas is formed naturally in the cavity as a result of the dissociation of the carbon dioxide, and nitrogen is one of the lasing gases.
It is absolutely essential to avoid any contamination by humidity in the ambient air.
Equipment for laser welding and laser cutting
for further information, download the Acrobat PDF document
When we consider the impurities that may be present in industrial gases, two factors play a decisive part: content levels of humidity and hydrocarbons. In order to satisfy this requirement, the parameters taken into account for gases in the LASAL™ range include the following:
the choice of product sources
purification treatments
the production method ensuring that
the required quality is achieved
Other requirements concern the preparation of cylinders: surface treatment of inside walls to prevent any dust being collected. In addition, every precaution must be taken to obtain homogeneous and accurately proportioned mixtures.
Once the lasing gas has been packaged, it must be transferred into the cavity without increasing its content of damaging impurities. Of course, the term "damaging impurities" also includes the humidity contained in the ambient air. Humidity separated out in the cavity destabilizes the electric discharge which decreases the output power level as well as the quality of the beam. Furthermore, mirror coatings are highly hygroscopic. As for the oxygen in the ambient air, this gas is formed naturally in the cavity as a result of the dissociation of the carbon dioxide, and nitrogen is one of the lasing gases.
It is absolutely essential to avoid any contamination by humidity in the ambient air.
Equipment for laser welding and laser cutting
for further information, download the Acrobat PDF document
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