World’s first 4 kW fibre laser

This next-generation machine, named FOL-F, claims to be the first fibre laser oscillator with output as high as 4 kW with linear drives and high speed cutting head to provide the world's fastest processing speeds. The first models are expected to be available for delivery in June 2011. The FOL-F fibre laser is able to process materials that are seen as difficult to work using conventional CO2 laser technology, such as copper, brass, titanium and non-metals. Speed is the key attribute of Amada's FOL-F laser. A high grade laser beam with long focal depth at a wavelength of 1 µm allows ultra high processing speeds, up to three times faster on stainless steel and aluminium sheet in comparison with CO2. Stainless steel sheet of 1 mm thickness can be cut at an impressive 60 m/min, for example. The 4 kW milestone has been achieved using an innovative method of amplifying light in a fibre. Light generated by laser diodes is conducted into a fibre with an outer diameter of just 200 µm. A total of 90, 10 W laser diodes are grouped together into a module, with seven modules stacked together to generate 4 kW of power. This gives the FOL-F the ability to process thicker materials than other non CO2 Lasers. The machine has been developed with the use of telecommunications-grade diode and fibre laser technology supplied by JDSU, a US-based specialist in optical networking products for high-tech applications. Running costs are 70 per cent less compared to CO2 lasers due to the elimination of machine warm-up operations, no requirement for laser gas and no requirement for consumables such as reflecting mirrors.