LASER

LASER
Cutting
sheet
metal
with a
laser
beam
Introduction
LASER = Light Amplification by Stimulated
Emission of Radiation
an electronic-optical device - coherent light
radiation.
narrow, low-divergence monochromatic,
beam with a well-defined wavelength.
 where:

where:

c = 300,000 km/s (speed of light in vacuum)

h = 6.626 10-34 m2kg/s (Js) (Planck's constant)

Properties of Laser

Laser light are

monochromatic,
directional, and
coherent.
Properties of Laser
Monochromatic
monochromatic = one wavelength (color).
ordinary white light = combination of many different
wavelengths (colors).

If light is passed through a prism,

the colors contained in the light can
be recognized.
Sunlight, or the light from an
incandescent bulb consists of many
colors.
Laser light consists of few.
 Properties of Laser
Directional
narrow beam in a specific direction.
ordinary light, from the sun, a light bulb, or a
candle, emitted in many directions away from the
source.
Properties of Laser
Coherent
wavelengths
of the laser
light are in
phase in
space and
time
SPONTANEOUS EMISSION
E4

E3

E2 EXCITED STATE

E1

PHOTON
PHOTON

E0 GROUND STATE
 spontaneous emission
In an excited atom (or molecule), electrons at
the ground energy level travel up to a higher
energy level and become unstable. Eventually,
they fall back to the ground energy level by
emitting energy (photon) after maintaining for a
very short period of time (~10-8 seconds). This
process happens in random directions and at
random times generating an incoherent light.
Spontaneous Emission
The spontaneous emission occurs
completely randomly.
Stimulated Emission
Light waves are copied in this process of
stimulated emission.
 STIMULATED EMISSION
e-
EMITTED PHOTON
BOMBARDING
PHOTON

E0

E1

ENERGY OF THE = E1-E0

BOMBARDING PHOTON
 stimulated emission
When a photon strikes an excited atom, the atom is
stimulated as it falls back to a lower energy state to emit
a second photon of the same (or a proportional)
frequency, phase and direction as the bombarding
photon.
The bombarding photon and the emitted photon may
then each strike other excited atoms, stimulating further
emission of photons, all of the same frequency and
phase. This process produces a sudden burst of coherent
radiation as all the atoms discharge in a rapid chain
reaction.
 POPULATION INVERSION
POPULATION POPULATION

POPULATION
INVERSION

ENERGY ENERGY
Key Elements in Laser
Lasing Medium
This can be a solid, liquid, gas, or
semiconductor material which can be
pumped to a higher energy state.
E.g.: ruby, He-Ne, CO2, Ar etc.
Key Elements in Laser
Resonator
A pair of mirrors, one at each end of the laser,
which allow stimulated light to bounce back
and forth through the lasing medium.
Usually, one of the mirrors is totally reflective
while the other is partially transparent to allow
the laser beam to escape.
The mirrors are either perfectly flat (plane) or
one or both may be very slightly concave.
 FUNDAMENTAL OF CO2 LASER
Laser medium

- 9.5% CO2 - 13.5% N2 - 77% He

CO2 is the primary lasing medium. N2 help to excite CO2
while He acts as a buffer heat to transfer heat. Both are
additional gasses to improve efficiency and extend lifetime.
Electron collisions raise CO2 molecules to higher energy
level
Lasing wavelength: 9 - 11 m (far infrared spectrum)
 Fundamental of CO2 Laser
Electron collisions raise CO2 molecules to higher
vibrational energy level from which they decay to a
metastable vibrational level. This has a lifetime of
about 2 milliseconds at a gas pressure of a few Torr.
The strongest and most common lasing wavelength is
10.6 m but depending on the specific set of energy
levels, the lasing wavelength can also be at 9.6 m
(which is also quite strong) and at a number of other
lines between 9 and 11 m - but these are rarely
exploited in commercial CO2 lasers.
 Symmetric Bending Asymmetric
stretching stretching
ENERGY

10.6 m
9.6 m

Ground State
Laser Cutting Head
How Does Laser Cutting Work?
Laser beam

Focusing lens
Assist gas inlet

Focused laser nozzle

work piece
LASER Laser beam or high
monochromatic energy
of light will be focused
by lens to melt and
evaporate the work
piece
It converts electrical
energy into light energy
and then into thermal
energy
Assist gas will help to
flush out the molten
material
Laser Cutting
Laser cutting machines can accurately produce complex
exterior contours. The laser beam is typically 0.2 mm
(0.008 in) diameter at the cutting surface with a power of
1000 to 2000 watts.
Lasers work best on materials such as carbon steel or
stainless steels.
Metals such as aluminum and copper alloys are more
difficult to cut due to their ability to reflect the light as well
as absorb and conduct heat. This requires lasers that
are more powerful.
Laser Cutting
Laser Cutting produces exact cuts in virtually any shape,
at any angle, and through materials that would destroy or
be destroyed by contact cutting tools. Features include:
Flat sheet cutting
Extremely sharp edge definition
5-axis laser control
Ability to cut complex three-dimensional shapes, corners, slots,
and holes with high repeatability
Minimum kerf width
Ultra-low distortion
No variations due to tool wear
Alternative to cutting dies for low volume production
Laser Cutting
Advantages
No cutting lubricants required
No mechanical force on workpiece
No tool wear
Very fine cut width
Narrow heat affected zone
Low thermal input
Laser Cutting
Limitations
Uneconomic on high volumes compared to stamping
Limitations on thickness due to taper
High capital cost
High maintenance cost
Assist or cover gas required
Laser Cutting Process
Example of laser cutting
Example of laser cutting
LASER
MARKING AND
ENGRAVING
Laser Marking
is a state-of-the-art technology, permanently applies
computer-generated text, graphics, and machine-
readable code on many materials

reduced operating costs and high throughput under

complete computer control

3 primary reasons laser marking is popular

1) mark is extremely durable,
2) fast, sharp, and accurate,
3) marks can be changed quickly by computer
without re-tooling
Laser marking

Medical Product
Laser Marking
WHAT IS LASER ENGRAVING?

marking process where material is ablated or

melted and recast to create depth in the material

typically done at high power densities and high

peak power (low frequency)

provides flexibility, permanence, precision,

affordability, quality and a quick turnaround time
 Laser Engraving

Laser Engraving of Mold Cores Laser Engraving on Plastic-injection Mold

Laser Engraving on Plastic-injection Mold Cores

"Lord of the Rings" collector rings
Laser Drilling
Drilling Range
 Thermal Process
1. Work be heated, melted and
vaporized by laser
2. Vapor build up a pressure cause
a flow flush the vaporized and
molten material towards the exit
aperture of crater.
3. Crater - hitting same area of
target will create HOLE.
The material removal rate depend on
laser power level
thermal properties of the material
whether or not an assist gas jet is
used
Laser drilling equipment Laser diagram
 Drilling of Sapphire

a hole in 1 mm thick
sapphire, drilled with
pulsed laser.

pulse power - 300 W

pulse time - 0.2 ms
repetition rate - 1 kHz
 Drilling of Metals

Trepanning of a
stainless-steel
sheet.
average power -
15 W
pulse repetition
rate - 12 kHz
Taper Hole
Taper (cont)
 Resolidification
Continuous laser beam Pulsed laser

Molten metal resolidify at entrance of hole Better finishing

Crater
Crater
LASER TRANSFORMATION
HARDENING
 INTRODUCTION

Laser transformation hardening (LTH) can

be define as modification of surface
microstructure by rapid quenching in air to
produce martensite but not melting.
It makes use of the rapid heating and
cooling rates produced on metal surfaces
exposed to scanning laser beams.
 MECHANISM
A shaped laser beam is scanned across the component,
which causes surface regions to heat rapidly.
The surrounding material acts as an efficient heat sink,
leading to rapid quenching and hardening phase
transformations.
In starting state, material surface is Pearlite and
Cementite.
During heating, it becomes Austenite.
For fast cooling rate, material surface becomes
Martensite (hardened); for medium cooling , it become
Bainite; for slow cooling, remain Pearlite.
A hard surface region is thus produced, whilst desirable
bulk properties, such as toughness and ductility, remain
unaffected.
 SUITABLE MATERIALS
Low Carbon Steel (0.08% to 0.30%
carbon)
Medium and High Carbon Steel (0.35% to
0.80% carbon)
Alloy Steel
Tool Steels
Martensitic Stainless Steel
Pearlitic Cast Iron
The finer microstructure
of the untempered
martensite formed during
the cooling part of
thermal cycle
experienced as the laser
traverses.

Higher
magnification
image
A steel bottle-opener hardened by rapid
heating and cooling of the surface