Product Code: ICA11_101

Laser Cutting From CO2 Laser to Disc And Fiber-Laser - Possiblities and Challenges
Authors:
Flemming O. Olsen, IPU; -
Presented at ICALEO 2011

Now, nearly a decade since the introduction of the high brilliance solid state lasers, an evolution of industrial high power laser materials processing is ongoing. In this paper will be focused on the largest market for high power lasers: metal laser cutting. The state-of-the-art of laser cutting with fibre- and disc-lasers will be compared to the benchmarking laser for metal cutting: The CO2-laser. The opportunities and challenges for the new laser sources in conquering this market will be discussed. Both classical cutting with gas assistance as well as
remote laser cutting will be discussed. State-of-the-art and new directions for the evolution of the laser cutting process will be presented.