Pulsed Laser Materials Processing, ND-YAG versus CO2 Lasers

Pulsed laser materials processing is widely applied in fine cutting, welding and hole drilling. In this paper pulsable CO2-lasers and ND-YAG-lasers are compared for pulsed laser cutting, welding and hole drilling. In laser cutting the performance of a superpulsed CO2-laser in Aluminium cutting is described and compared to typical ND-YAG-laser cutting data. In pulsed laser welding, experimental investigations in welding AISI 316 stainless steel, where hot cracking sensitivity has been addressed, applying a ND-YAG-laser and a superpulsed CO2-laser, will be described. Finally metal, polymer and ceramics laser drilling applying different CO2-lasers will be described and compared to ND-YAG-laser performance.