While you should never open your laser system due to safety and warranty restrictions, you might still be curious about the internal architecture and how its components work together. In this blog, let’s dive into the lasing process, skim through key technical terms, and look at some material processing applications in manufacturing and maintenance that fiber lasers are transforming.
- The Laser Beam Journey
- Fiber as Gain Medium & Conductor
- Ytterbium Doping
- Operation Mode
- Fiber Laser Applications
- More to Explore
The Laser Beam Journey
Fascinating things take place among the components of a laser system. In a nutshell, the energy source excites particles in the gain medium, leading to the generation of light and its amplification within the optical resonator; this is where a coherent laser beam is shaped and sustained. From here, light travels to the collimator, where it’s formed into a near-parallel beam, which then passes through the galvo-controlled mirrors and focusing optics as it exits.
Fiber as Gain Medium & Conductor
In a fiber laser, the optical fiber serves as both the gain medium that amplifies light and the flexible cable through which light travels to the scanhead and/or nozzle. Made of silica glass, fiber has excellent properties that enable high gain efficiency, short pulse generation, and flexible system design.
Inside the optical resonator, fiber is doped with a rare-earth element, which may be ytterbium (Yb), neodymium (Nd), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), or others. This doping is what takes electrons to a higher energy level, or excitation, in turn leading to Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation – or LASER.
Ytterbium Doping
Every doping element produces only the light of a specific wavelength. An optical fiber doped with ytterbium (Yb) produces light in the near-infrared wavelength range of 1030 to 1100 nanometers (nm). This light is very well-absorbed by most materials. Some exceptions include metals with very high reflectivity, such as gold, and materials that appear clear, such as glass and acrylic. Good absorption means greater efficiency – and that is why Yb is effectively used in fiber laser systems developed by Laser Photonics. Our fiber lasers emit light at 1064 or 1070 nm.
Operation Mode
MOPA Pulsed Laser
A MOPA laser is a fiber laser with variable pulse capabilities. MOPA stands for Master Oscillator Power Amplifier – this was a breakthrough that allowed for superior beam quality and extra flexibility in controlling pulse parameters: namely, a pulse’s duration, frequency, and energy. In a MOPA laser, the light produced is highly coherent, meaning its waves are traveling in the same direction and share one wavelength and phase – delivering precision and reliability unmatched by prior laser technologies. Some MOPA lasers are mode-locked, enabling the repeated emission of single, powerful, short pulses.
Continuous Wave Laser
A CW laser offers an affordable option for high-power industrial laser applications. Unlike a pulsed laser, whose pulse peaks can reach tens of times the system’s average power, the output of a CW laser over a set interval remains constant and stable. This is a great solution for heavy-duty, rugged metal processing applications that require high efficiency and speed. To prevent overheating, these high-power laser systems integrate water chillers; yet they are nevertheless compact, allowing for mobility in handheld laser applications.
Q-Switched Laser
In a Q-switched configuration, energy builds up in the gain medium while the formation of the laser pulse is intentionally delayed. When released, this stored energy produces short, high-peak-power pulses – ideal for marking, engraving, micromachining, and surface texturing. The technology is highly reliable, offering long operational lifetimes, excellent long-term beam stability, and minimal maintenance requirements.
Fiber Laser Applications
Cleaning
A laser’s controlled thermal impact is widely used in surface preparation uses in replacement of abrasive blasting and chemical treatment. A non-contact, no-consumables process, laser cleaning removes rust, coatings, paint, carbon residue, oil, and more, from a wide range of materials. In fact, we continue to discover new cleaning applications that laser cleaning facilitates across manufacturing and maintenance. Learn more about How Laser Cleaning Works.
Laser Photonics’ portfolio offers laser cleaning products in various configurations, from handheld, mobile models to standalone, enclosed systems for high-volume production environments. Highlighted below are just a few of our CleanTech products with different operation modes and setups:
- A mode-locked MOPA type of laser is integrated into our MLCF-1020 models. These compact pulsed laser systems are used in auto restoration, boat maintenance, and small-scale rust removal on-the-go, to name a few use cases.
- Our continuous wave (CW) transportable laser systems such as the CTIR-3050 have demonstrated strip rates of up to 360 ft² per hour, offering high-efficiency surface treatment. These are used in industrial maintenance applications including non-destructive testing (NDT) servicing, energy facility MRO, and metal roughening.
Discover the Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Your Laser Cleaning Blaster
Marking
Laser Photonics integrates fiber laser technology into high-precision, permanent marking and engraving systems. Our offerings range from handheld units to stationary systems, with configurable options to accommodate different materials and production line requirements. From tracking and traceability to serialization, 2D codes, and decorative marking, our industrial-grade systems improve production time and marking processes across all industries.
- On the handheld side, our MarkStar series, featuring the MSIM-1030 operating in Q-switched mode, delivers a true mobile marking tool that can be used on-the-spot for metals and beyond. This system is ideal for field service, repair shops, or adding traceability codes onsite.
- Our subsidiary Beamer Laser Marking Systems develops a wide range of standard, engineered, and inline fiber laser solutions for marking and engraving. Here is a standard solution for large-part marking in an enclosed, operator-safe workcell with three-axis movement and smooth front gliding panel: Beamer L-Series Laser Marking Machine.
Download flyer for Beamer L-Series here
Cutting
CW fiber lasers have become essential for the high-speed cutting of metals and alloys. Automotive, aerospace, defense, medical device manufacturing, and other industries are upgrading their lines with high-power laser setups to achieve cleaner edges, minimize material loss, and save time and labor on post-processing.
Click here to explore how fiber laser cutting compares to CO2, green, UV, and ultrashort pulse lasers: What Laser Cutting’s Good For.
Welding
For welding delicate and complex components, manufacturers often turn to laser technology for its high precision and controllability. A focused laser beam with the right parameters can produce seams of micron-level tolerance – which is difficult to achieve with conventional welding techniques. Laser Photonics and its subsidiary CMS Laser offer a comprehensive range of laser welding solutions.
- Here’s our handheld CW laser welding system for quick welding at a small scale: The WTCW-6010, supporting a wide range of different materials, is a versatile tool for any workshop. It can join metals with or without filler material and integrates a wire feeder for wires of various widths.
- If you are looking for a fully automated laser welder for your production line, consider custom-engineered solutions by CMS Laser.
See How Laser Welding Refines Micro Manufacturing.
More to Explore
As you can see, fiber laser systems power a wide range of applications, outperforming less precise mechanical-impact technologies. In this blog, we focused on the fundamental technologies behind Laser Photonics’ Yb-doped fiber laser systems rather than diving into every possible configuration. Yet there is much more to learn. For example, a frequency-tripled fiber laser generates ultraviolet (UV) light with the wavelength near 355 nm. This type of fiber laser is even more precise and generates less heat – perfect for ultra-precise tolerance requirements in microelectronics, semiconductors, and medical devices. We supply UV laser systems to our clients through CMS Laser.
But that’s a story for another time. Follow us on social media for more stories like this.
And feel free to reach out if you’re wondering how you can upgrade your operations with fiber lasers.
Speak to a Laser Specialist