Abstract

TRW is developing both 1 kW and 6 kW average power, diode-pumped Nd: YAG lasers for highbrightness laser machining. The 1 kW laser has been demonstrated both with stable and unstable resonators; the 6 kW laser is in final assembly. The 1 kW laser has so far produced 720 W at 20% diode duty cycle with a stable cavity, and 550 W at 20% duty cycle with an unstable cavity (Figures 1 and 2), in close agreement with model predictions. The diodes and laser are capable of operating at up to 30% duty cycle. The beam divergence from the unstable resonator was 1.7 times diffraction-limited at 20% duty cycle (Figure 3). The small focal spots and high workpiece power densities have already demonstrated very promising machining results for precision cutting and drilling, as well as very deep penetration welds in both steels and aluminum.

© 1996 Optical Society of America