Understanding Laser-Based Processes Part 2 — Lesson 2

This lesson covers the second part of the laser-based process, focusing on the various types of lasers used in additive manufacturing (AM) and their properties. It delves into the system setup of AM machines, the fundamentals of laser theory, and the components of lasers. The lesson also explores different types of lasers, including solid-state, gaseous, fiber, and semiconductor lasers, and how they work. It further discusses the properties of laser beams and their impact on the AM process. For instance, the lesson explains how the choice of laser affects the melting or sintering process in AM, and how different laser modes can influence the quality of the output.

Video Highlights

00:46 - Discussion on various types of lasers including solid state laser, gaseous laser, and fiber laser
02:57 - Discussion on solid state laser and its applications in various industries
10:58 - Discussion on gaseous laser, specifically CO2 laser, and its applications
20:36 - Explanation of liquid dye laser and how it uses an organic dye solution as the lasing media
27:29 - Explanation of fiber optic laser and how it uses a fiber optic connected to a pump source and an optical resonator
35:44 - Discussion on the properties and characteristics of laser beam, including transverse electromagnetic mode
39:58 - Explanation of different modes of laser beam and how they affect the melting or sintering process in additive manufacturing

Key Takeaways

- Different types of lasers have their unique requirements in terms of lambda and peak power.
- The laser beam properties, such as the radius and beam quality factor, significantly influence the AM process.
- The choice of laser can affect the melting or sintering process in AM.
- Different Transverse Electromagnetic Modes (TEM) have different energies and patterns, which can dictate the quality of the output.
- Fiber optic lasers are gaining more importance in AM due to their small dimensions and scalable power.