Precision laser machining program

Author

Durvasula, L.N.

Volume

1

fYear

2001

fDate

15-19 July 2001

Abstract

High brightness, diode pumped solid state laser technology has now progressed to a point that it is envisioned as the next-generation industrial laser. In response, the Precision Laser Machining (PLM) Consortium was formed as part of the US Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) Technology Reinvestment Project. The goal of PLM is to develop a new generation of laser machine tools and innovative manufacturing processes. To accomplish this, a 24-member consortium of industrial users, process developers, system integrators, and technology developers has been established. High brightness, high average power, diode pumped Nd:YAG lasers are being developed. The use of diode pump arrays in place of flashlamps, and zig-zag slab geometry allow lasers to be scaled to brightness levels beyond the current generation of lamp pumped rod lasers. The resulting tools offer improved precision and speeds and the potential of enabling processes that are not currently possible.

Keywords

laser arrays; laser beam machining; neodymium; optical pumping; solid lasers; DARPA; YAG:Nd; YAl5O12:Nd; brightness levels; diode pump arrays; diode pumped Nd:YAG lasers; high brightness diode pumped solid state laser technology; precision laser machining program; Brightness; Defense industry; Diodes; Laser excitation; Machine tools; Machining; Manufacturing industries; Pump lasers; Semiconductor laser arrays; Solid lasers;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Lasers and Electro-Optics, 2001. CLEO/Pacific Rim 2001. The 4th Pacific Rim Conference on

Conference_Location

Chiba, Japan

Print_ISBN

0-7803-6738-3

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/CLEOPR.2001.967976

Filename

967976