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The most remarkable thing about a Neodymium doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet
solid-state laser (Nd:YAG) compared to a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser is its narrow kerf of less than 0.001 inch
(25 microns). CO2 laser typically produce kerfs of 100-200 microns or more.
There
are more than 500 laser job shops in the United States. Most specialize in
CO2 lasers. Our speciality is Nd:YAG. Some of the differences between
CO2 and YAG lasers are:
- spot size: Nd:YAG is 10 times smaller resulting in precision cuts 10
times smaller than CO2. As mentioned above, we are at <1 mil (25 microns)
for cut width, AKA "kerf".
- peak power: YAG is 10-100 times higher peak power producing cleaner and
smoother cuts. Thermal effects are negligible.
- wavelength: YAG has a wavelength 10 times smaller resulting in slag
free cuts -- 30 times smaller for UV (tripled) YAG.
- average power: CO2 has 10-1000 times greater average power than YAG
resulting in cutting speeds 10-1000 times faster. As a result of the high
average power and wavelength, CO2 lasers trade-off precision for speed and
cosmetics. Our Q-switched YAG lasers, however, excel in high precision work.
Consider plated surfaces (a metallized coating -- gold for example) is easily scribed
or patterned. Gold actually assists in YAG laser removal. CO2
lasers cannot ablate gold. Interestingly, the rear 100 percent mirror
for most CO2 lasers is gold.
- frequency multiplication of YAG from IR to the green (1064 to
532nm--frequency
doubled to the first harmonic) and to the UV (355nm--frequency tripled to
the second harmonic) is routinely done with Nd:YAG.
You may call us, fax us or e-mail your
requirements. If you fax us a sketch or e-mail a dxf or dwg file, we can fax you
a quotation. In most cases you supply us the material. We will quote on a
turnkey basis, should you desire. Prototypes are welcome! We sell systems as
well as offering a laser processing service.
We look forward to working with you.
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