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Here are some more information for Optics Dpss:

Laser pointers have been around since visible red laser diodes have been on the market which means they're older than most of the teenagers who buy them. Laser pointers are typically made from direct laser diodes or diode pumped solid state ( DPSS ) lasers. Direct diode pointers are available in red or violet (made from Blu-Ray lasers at 405 nm WL "nanometers wavelength") and direct diode green will likely soon be available thanks to a company called KAAI who developed them for the laser projector market.

Red laser pointers are available in a variety of wavelengths such as 635 nm, 650 nm, 660nm, 670 nm.

DPSS laser pointers are typically available at the following wavelengths, (blue) at 473 nm, (green) at 532 nm and (yellow) at 589 nm and (orange) at 593 nm. Since the human eye is most sensitive to the color green with a peak apparent brightness at 555 nm this means all other visible colors appear less bright despite the same power level. The difference in apparent color brightness is basically expressed in this ratio with green at 514 nm being (1) then blue at 488 nm being (2.6 times less than green) and red at 647 nm being (4.6 times less than green). The previous ratios and wavelengths can all be found in an Ion mixed gas Argon/Krypton, white light laser used by professional laser show companies. The color brightness ratios will vary according to the wavelengths but the above ratios provided would give you proper white light color balance. To sum it up a 1 watt green laser at 514 nm appears to be as bright as a 2.6 watt blue laser at 488 nm and as bright as a 4.6 watt red laser at 647 nm. You would have to consult a color chart to compare apparent brightness of other laser wavelengths.

A few things to consider If you want to buy a DPSS laser pointer is the power level and the way the diodes are operated. What I mean about power levels, is the actual power level measured at the operating wavelength. Since a typical green DPSS laser pointer has several laser wavelengths involved to generate a frequency doubled visible output, unless the manufacturer provides good filtering, the power you measure at 532 nm might also be from the other 2 IR laser wavelengths. You can actually get cheap laser pointers that output infra-red light (808 nm and 1064 nm) almost as high as visible light, which can be very dangerous and deceiving to someone who thinks they bought a paper burning power house. The other thing about DPSS laser pointers is the way the pump diodes are operated, which can be pulsed (turned on and off at a fixed frequency) or CW constant wave (on constantly). It's very easy to determine If you bought a pulsed DPSS laser pointer as you will see a chopped up line if you move the beam quickly across the wall or ceiling.

The last concern with laser pointers is the biggest, which is safety due to the ever increasing power output available today. Typically laser pointers are limited to 5 milliwatts but there are manufacturers that seem to cater to clients who want more power like Wicked Laser in China who provide pointers which are more like flashlights, outputting power levels as high as 500 milliwatts in green or red. It also doesn't take a rocket scientist to buy a raw laser diode and driver to make their own higher than legal laser pointer.

To provide a perspective on power levels, a 5 milliwatt green laser at 532 nm would be enough to dazzle your night adjusted vision and possibly cause an automotive accident at say a hundred feet from the source. In contrast a 500 milliwatt green laser could easily cause permanently damage to your vision, start fires by burning paper or other combustible materials at short range and definitely distract an airline pilot approaching a runway at a distance of a mile or two. Safety is everything when it comes to laser pointers.

Since laser applications are so widespread, we cannot outlaw them but rather try to apply better controls over their use and distribution. Lasers are strictly controlled by the Food and Drug Administration, FDA in the United States and other governing bodies associated with countries that manufacture and sell them.

To be sure, lasers were inspired by science fiction and laser pointers attract not only Trekkies and Star Wars fans but people from all walks of life. Be it over zealous sports fans wanting to affect the outcome of a home game or granny getting her exercise and cheap entertainment while playing follow the red dot with her 10 cats, lasers are everywhere.

I've been working with lasers for over 20 years. I've been designing, building and operating laser projectors over 10 years. As a laser operator or Laserist I enjoy another avenue for creative expression using this amazing media to help charities of my choosing. I'm also a Stained Glass artist with over 20 years experience.

My skills and experience range from electronics, fiber-optics, astronomy, carpentry, machining, mechanics, pneumatics, welding, plumbing.

I have written an e-book titled " RGB Laser Projector Design Guide " which can be purchased at my website http://www.sniffinfo.com

I also provide free DIY instructions for making your own laser special effects devices as well as ILDA standard laser frames to download from my website.

If you have a laser based project but don't have the time or skills to make your Idea come to life I'm available to provide my R & D skills and make your dream a reality.

How Industries Increase ROI by Using Fiber Laser Marking for the Imaging Process

Most laser marking techniques involve either engraving the mark into metal or plastic components, or ablating a surface layer to reveal a contrasting material underneath. Both processes usually require high energy pulsed laser systems and of course involve process debris.

Fiber lasers are now a robust industrial tool with a unique series of capabilities that enable a wide range of precision materials processing manufacturing methods. Fiber lasers offer low running costs, a fast ROI, a small footprint and exceptional reliability, and are thus enjoy a growing acceptance within the laser-assisted manufacturing industry as a cost-effective alternative to conventional laser design.

Laser marking is able to generate high contrast, easily readable and durable identification on a wide variety of components for industrial use or consumer products. Computer generated vector or bitmap patterns (logos, barcodes or text) can be engraved or etched using a non-contact process onto metallic and nonmetallic materials, including metals, plastics, glass, electronics, PCBs, wafers, medical devices, sporting goods and packaging.

A combination of a reliable industrial laser, fast and accurate galvanometric imaging systems and convenient computer control provides manufacturers with a unique combination of speed, permanence and versatility that cannot be matched by any other marking technique.

Laser marking processes

Traditionally, laser marking involves either engraving a physical mark onto a surface just as for traditional engraving methods, generating a simple color change in surface, or etching of a surface layer of material to reveal another, highly contrasting layer underneath. Either technique can be used on a broad spectrum of materials, and in addition to generating identifying marks can also form part of an industrial process, for example in electronics manufacture.

The advantages of laser marking include speed, flexibility and the non-contact marking process, meaning that components parts are not stressed by the marking process. The non-contact nature of the process also contributes to low maintenance schedules, as tools do not need to be replaced. Additionally laser marking is also highly repeatable and easily readable (even machine readable).

Stringent Quality Control

A laser engraving process is often used for marking metal surfaces as it is swift, non contact and extremely durable, but is however also responsible for the production of debris - fine metallic particles removed from the surface as part of the engraving process.

Naturally for bearing manufacture there are stringent requirements for process debris. The marking of bearing housings using a laser has thus traditionally combined a “minimal” engraving process with an induced change in surface color. CMS had until recently accomplished this using Nd:YAG lasers, but customer demand was looking for a way around the cost, maintenance, lifetime and reliability issues associated with the Nd:YAG design.

For this application CMS engineers have pioneered the use of a fiber laser from SPI Lasers plc of Southampton, UK - more specifically a 100 W cw/modulated fiber laser usually used for welding and cutting tasks. SPI has been developing fiber lasers for the industrial market for several years, primarily for materials processing applications such as microwelding and microcutting, but also for marking applications.

Switching to the new fiber laser means generating the same thermally induced high contrast mark on the bearing housing, but doing so with less production of debris, at reduced raised recast, and at much greater convenience to the end-user - meaning almost no maintenance, increased lifetime and exceptional reliability.

The 100W fiber laser used in this application typifies the flexibility of fiber lasers as a tool for a wide variety of applications - marking applications are traditionally an application for high energy pulsed lasers, but the performance envelope provided by fiber laser technology allows systems integrators like CMS to redefine these domains.

Advantages of fiber lasers

Many different laser designs have found their way into materials processing applications. Fiber lasers are however revolutionizing many of these applications through a combination of improved optical performance, better system flexibility, high component yield, long up-time and exceptional reliability.

Critical to many marking applications, they do not exhibit the shortcomings in spot size performance found in other laser designs - at all power levels, across all pulse sequences and during the entire lifetime of the laser, the spot size remains small, predictable and consistent.

The small spot size and high beam quality also mean high irradiance at the focus, so manufacturing tools equipped with fiber lasers can produce better results faster and at lower power levels. The focused beam consistently treats only a very small area of material, with the benefit that very little heat is generated in the surrounding area. High quality precision marking, welding and cutting can be performed close (0.1 mm) to the most complicated and intricate component parts.

Factoring in the reliable operation and power modulation flexibility, fiber laser technology is now frequently chosen as an upgrade over conventional flash-lamp pumped solid state, or even DPSS laser technology in many other laser-assisted industrial manufacture segments. The consistent and improved marking performance means reduced maintenance costs, longer up-times and improved production quality with less scrap. Fiber lasers are also exceptionally physically robust and thus suitable for the most challenging of industrial environments.

All of these factors equate to a plug-&-play, maintenance-free architecture for systems integrators looking to cut development, production and servicing costs, with the added benefit of being able to provide the end user with a better, more flexible product. Last but not least, the end user will be able to focus on their business demands rather than having to become laser maintenance experts.

Advantages for industrial manufacturers

In general, the choice of tooling for any application comes down to determining the required performance followed by a trade-off between initial outlay, component yield, uptime and maintenance.

Not only are component assemblies becoming increasingly more complex but, at the same time, more and more demands are being placed on their quality and functionality. The deployment of manufacturing tools equipped with fiber lasers to enhance process control can thus bring important financial advantages for any manufacturer. Coupled with the small footprint, such tools can also open up processes that were previously out of reach for some manufacturers.

About the Author

Control Micro Systems, Inc., of Winter Park, Florida, USA, specializes in the engineering and manufacture of customized turnkey industrial laser systems, principally for laser marking, engraving and etching, but also for welding and cutting metallic and nonmetallic materials. CMS uses a selection of pulsed or cw/modulated solid-state Nd:YAG & Nd:Vanadate lasers, as well as CO2 lasers for these diverse tasks - each laser type and its associated wavelength has advantages for particular applications.

Square Core Optical Fibers suit material processing/astronomy.
Non-circular core silica optical fibers offer good image scrambling and low focal ratio degradation to improve image processing. When used with diode lasers that give square-shaped output, fibers provide homogeneous power distribution on output end. Square output beam reduces need for beam shaping optics. Products are available with square cores with edge lengths from 50-1,000 microns and ...

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