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Soft-Touch
™
Resonator Technology
For many years, LaserStar welding systems have provided users with a sharp, focused light beam
that melts a very small area of metal. The benefit of this technology is that very little heat is
generated at the weld point, allowing users to easily weld 0,05mm (.002”) away from the most
complicated and intricate component parts without damaging heat sensitive materials.
As the range of complex laser welding applications increases, LaserStar’s research and development
laboratory has continued its focus on accomplishing four major goals:
Design the highest quality laser resonator cavity
Produce a stable, clean, high-quality laser beam profile
Accomplish consistent, pulse-to-pulse stability
Optimize the laser beam shape to lower sensitivity to
thermal lensing
High quality laser components (laser crystals, resonator reflectors, lens, lamps, etc.) continue to
accomplish our goals. Nevertheless,
thermal lensing
still exists due to the nature and design of
Nd:YAG laser systems.
Thermal lensing
is common in high-power laser systems. The heating of the gain medium (peak
energy) is hotter on the beam axis compared to the outer regions. Consequently,
thermal lensing
can often cause inconsistent results when applied to small, micro-welding applications.
LaserStar’s Soft-Touch
™
Beam Enhancement Resonator Technology minimizes the impact of
thermal lensing
and greatly reduces the effects on the beam axis, producing an improved beam
shape that can be focused to very small spot sizes while enhancing the overall weld quality.
The following BeamView Analyzer illustrations demonstrate the benefits of Soft-Touch
™
Technology.
One can see from the Soft-Touch
™
Technology image that a softer beam profile is generated, greatly reducing the effects of the peak
energy on the beam axis which often can splash metal, blow holes or damage heat-sensitive materials.
Soft-Touch
™
Technology, combined with LaserStar’s other state-of-the-art features and benefits allow today’s operators to unleash
the power of hot light, benefit from a comfortable, ergonomic design and ensure optimal platform technology.
Please review your specific application with a LaserStar Specialist to determine if the benefit of Soft-Touch
™
Technology is
appropriate for your LaserStar welding system.
Soft-Touch
™
Technology is an optional feature.
3-D Illustration
3-D Illustration
2-D Illustration
2-D Illustration
Complex Micro-Welding Energy Setting
(micro porosity, hollow parts, micro wire assembly, complex micro welding repairs, heat sensitive materials, etc.)
Standard Resonator BeamView
Soft-Touch
™
Resonator BeamView
FOCALPLANE
WELDINGZONE
CONVERGING
BEAMENERGY
DIVERGING
BEAMENERGY
+2.0mm
-2.0mm
90° or 105° Delivery Systems
ENHANCED BEAM TECHNOLOGY
(Standard Feature)
0% Beam Diameter Variance
TECHNOLOGY
Soft-Touch
TM