Extremely Low Absorption One Micron Optics for Fiber Lasers

The use of fiber lasers for cutting applications in the metal processing industry is becoming increasingly common due to the faster cutting process which delivers comparable edge quality to that achieved by carbon lasers. Ophir Optics, LLC (North Andover, MA) offers the Fiberlens™ series of innovative collimating lenses, focusing lenses and protective windows for use with high-power fiber lasers. Fiberlens are designed for use with high-power fiber and disk lasers and feature extremely low absorption fused silica substrates and high laser-damage-threshold, long-lifetime coatings on the lenses and windows. Absorption is extremely low at < 50 ppm, ensuring the highest cutting quality when using multi-kilowatt fiber, disk, and YAG lasers. Low absorption ensures that these optics avoid phenomena such as thermal lensing and focus shift, which degrade cutting efficiency – quality and speed.

“We introduced our high power 1 micron industrial lenses with great success,” said Inbar Yaffe, a product manager at Ophir Optics. “Local customers realized that they can achieve a much higher level of productivity with Ophir 1 Micron optics.” The full range of 1 Micron Lenses and protective windows includes units designed for low power lasers under 2.5 kW that are typically used for cutting paper or cardboard, up to high power 6 kW to 8 kW lasers typically used for metal cutting and welding. To guarantee the high quality and low absorption of these one micron laser optics, measurements are based on standards developed by PRIMES Optical Quality Monitor (OQM) to measure the absorption rate of the lenses and windows. The OQM, which measures the temperature rise of the optics when exposed to one micron laser radiation, can reliably and accurately measure extremely low absorption levels.

Ophir Optics is one of the largest suppliers of high-power industrial laser optics to OEMs in the world, designing and producing a full range of optics for high power CO2 Laser and Fiber Laser cutting, welding, drilling, and 3D printing systems, as well as precision IR optics for defense, security and commercial markets. The company has facilities totaling 128,500 sq ft in Bucharest, Romania; Jerusalem, Israel; and its U.S. affiliate in North Andover.

Ophir Optics, LLC, 1616 Osgood Street, North Andover, MA 01845, 978-657-6410, Fax: 978-657-6056, optics@ophiroptics.com, www.ophiroptics.com.