Industrial Applications For High-Power Lasers - An Overview

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Abstract
Industrial acceptance of the high power CO2 laser as a metalworking production system has led to increased awareness of the potential of this powerful tool as a cost effective alternative to conventional manufacturing processes. Awareness of the laser's potential developed ten years ago and now, due to the availability of production-rated industrial systems, the laser is on the verge of becoming a widely used high technology product in the manufacturing plant for productivity improvement. Illustrated examples present an overview of the current status of high power lasers in applications, such as: welding, cutting, heat treating, cladding, and alloying. In these examples the unique advantage of the laser beam as a highly controllable heat source is shown to produce cost benefits unobtainable by conventional processes. Other laser beam advantages such as remote source location, long working distance, no-contact processing, and relative insensitivity to the workpiece provide attractive options in manufacturing operations. New applications in controlled surface melting and laser assist machining provide a glimpse into the future of high power laser technology.

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