Page 11 - AKL_Brosch_InnovationAward20_22

3 PRIZE
rd

UNLIMITED FLEXIBILITY FOR SHORT PULSE LASER APPLICATIONS

> Dr. Maik Frede
neoLASE GmbH
Hannover, Germany

A new machine generation that incorporates the functionality of several laser systems in only one This for example allows upgrading a picosecond application to a femtosecond one and therefore a
machine will determine the future in high precision, flexible and economic laser micromachining. technology adaptation to other, newer or upcoming applications and markets. Beside the major
High power ultrafast laser systems are the key technology to a wide range of scientific and technical advantages of its parameter flexibility and upgradability, neoMOS “SMAART” has a
industrial applications. Standard laser systems for these applications typically have a technology couple of economical advantages. A reduced investment risk and therefore a further push of short
depended fixed set of parameters limiting a flexible and cost efficient use. Different pulse durations pulsed laser technology are guaranteed by the upgradability of the system. The concept enables
or adapting to new applications often leads to change the laser system. The limiting flexibility in two or more different sets of laser parameters on one laser system for about half the price of two
combination with the high investment costs reserve new users to invest into ultra short pulsed systems which significant reduces the overall system costs. Depending on the laser parameter
laser applications, compared with buying a drilling machine with only one fixed driller. this can result in a cost saving of more than 100 k€. The modular design and well defined interfacing
enables a self-service concept and therefore higher system up-times which reduces the operating
The neoMOS “SMAART” laser system is an integrated and interchangeable ultra short pulsed laser costs. The technical and economical advantages to new applications and unknown flexibility is the
for material machining markets that offer pulse durations from nano- to femtoseconds or a way to further push short pulsed laser technology into industrial laser machining applications.
combination of pulse durations to be used in the same process. Based on a novel amplifier
technology the system allows linear pulse amplification over a wide range of different pulse
durations. In terms of output power and pulse energy the concept enables 100 W output power and
up to 1 mJ pulse energy levels. Combined to a modular MOPA platform the “open source”
philosophy enables to change only one part of the laser (seeder) to set up complete new laser
parameters. Different seed lasers will enable the change of pulse durations, repetition rates or
pulse shapes from the same laser system. Pulse durations of several nanoseconds down to < 700
fs and single-shot up to megahertz repetition rates are possible. With the general philosophy of
modularity an external pulse suppression module can be added to achieve sub 100 fs pulse
duration with more than 150 µJ pulse energy.

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