Hamamatsu cooperates with ILT Research Institute of Germany to develop the spati

Recently, the Fraunhofer Institute of Laser Technology (ILT) announced the cooperation with Hamamatsu Group of Japan to jointly launch an ultra short pulse (USP) laser radiation advanced laser material processing application laboratory in Germany. At the same time, the two sides jointly developed a spatial light modulator (SLM) head for industrial processing. It is reported that this SLM head can be used in a wide range of fields and scenes with customized dynamic beam shaping and high average laser output power. The average output power of the new SLM head from Hamamatsu can reach 150 W.

Ultrashort pulse (USP) laser radiation can process almost any material with the highest accuracy. In order to increase the economic benefits of ultrashort pulse processing, researchers use different hardware methods to process the high average laser power of more than 100 W, so as to improve the processing speed and reduce the unit cost.

The phase mask is used to generate a parallel beam pattern with one incident beam, which can work with SLM dynamically or with diffractive optical elements statically. According to the Institute, SLM can dynamically change the phase mode and therefore the beam matrix, while static diffractive optical elements can withstand higher average power. Both parties can use the scanning based process head and integrated high-power SLM to study the manufacturing process.

SLM is particularly suitable for developing manufacturing processes using USP laser radiation, because the characteristics of the beam can be easily adapted and customized. This applies to both the profile of the beam and the arrangement of individual beams in a pattern. In large-scale production, when the beam shape must be dynamically changed, SLM can better play its advantages; If the beam parameters are known and static, the diffractive optical element is a better choice because it is insensitive.

In the joint application laboratory, both parties have created a prototype of industrial application, which will be used to promote the development of manufacturing process. In addition, the teams of both sides also specially studied surface and volume ablation with different beam profiles and focusing diameters.

Source: private enterprise website