Diode Laser mentor/info needed

what's the capabilities of existing co2 laser machining in electronics industry?

How's the performance of co2 laser as compare to solid state laser, please advise.

Mr. Wenshi, Unfortunately my concentration has been in materials processing associated with fabrication of sheet metal, not machining. Your question regarding Solid State (diode or lamp pumped) crystal lasers such as YAG, I would answer like this: These lasers are suitable and well accepted in the area of welding but the essence of my question is the acceptance of metal cutting applications in the area of 5mm and above. Utilizing these lasers (versions thereof: Disk, Fiber, direct diode) in areas that have been a strong hold of multi kW CO2 systems is what I see as the next big laser industry innovation. In answer to your second question, what I have learned thus far is that there are manufacturers out there claim a 1 for 1 ration compared to CO2 and newest FIBER laser capabilities. This I am very surprised and excited about. Again, any networking possibilities or contacts with companies currently building these systems would be greatly apprieciated. Companies like Air Liquide; SLTof India; Eagle Laser, Germany; Gasperini, Italy; Messer Cutting Systems; Ravasi Laser. Thanks, Mike

I'm pretty certain that no one offers direct laser diode metal cutting for a number of reasons, but especially that the diodes don't do well in the machining environment and the beam from a laser diode is not coherent.

You're correct that they have been especially used for pumping YAG right at its "happy-spot" (808 nm). Other than that, most of the research has been in achieving different wavelengths for relatively low power applications, such as cytometery.

Thanks Vermin for your input....It's very helpful as I try to educate myself a bit more. Regarding your comments on direct diode, as I have learned and is most definately subject to mis-information, direct diode systems are in use atleast as far as welding of metals are concerned. This point I am very certain about. Your mentioning of coherence is of interest as the way I understand direct diode systems, diode arrays are used without a gain media and coupled using fiber for beam delivery. Could it be the fiber itself that promotes coherence? My education of this point is very important as I am working with a European company that is marketing a direct diode system specifically for welding, and at this point my conversations with them have been fairly limited and the language barrier has been an issue at times, not to mention the normal salesman B.S. that a person has to muddle through to get real answers. So if you are able to comment, or anyone else for that matter, would direct diode have any other limitations to cutting metal (assuming that it's true that 1-2kW systems exist to at least weld metal)? Also what advantages/disadvantages might there be between direct diode systems and true fiber lasers such as those being produced by IPG (which have been proven to cut metals)? Thanks again Vermin! Mike