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Advanced Welding Processes: Technologies and Process Control

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146<br />

<strong>Advanced</strong> welding processes<br />

8.3.2 Nd:YAG lasers<br />

The operating principle of the Nd:YAG laser is shown in Fig. 8.8. In this<br />

case, the active laser material is made up of a solid yttrium aluminium garnet<br />

crystal, which is doped with neodymium. Stimulation of the neodymium<br />

atoms is achieved by excitation with high-power flash lamps for pulsed<br />

operation or arc lamps for continuous wave output. Typically, the YAG rod<br />

has a fully reflective mirror at one end <strong>and</strong> a partially reflective mirror at the<br />

beam discharge end. The energy is amplified within the cavity <strong>and</strong> a beam of<br />

radiation in the near infrared range, 1064 nm in wavelength, is emitted<br />

through the partially reflecting mirror. Beam delivery can be made much<br />

simpler since normal optical glass can be used at Nd:YAG laser wavelengths.<br />

The cost of the optical components can be reduced <strong>and</strong> fibre optic cables<br />

may be used to provide efficient, flexible distribution systems.<br />

Fibre delivery offers considerable advantages compared with mirror systems;<br />

for example they reduce the need for accurate mirror alignment, allow safe<br />

delivery of the laser without bulky enclosures <strong>and</strong> enable variations in laserto-workpiece<br />

distance to be more easily accommodated. For this reason,<br />

Nd:YAG lasers are more suitable for robotic applications. In addition, the<br />

Nd:YAG radiation is absorbed more easily by most metal surfaces <strong>and</strong> allows<br />

improved process efficiency.<br />

Mirror<br />

Flash lamp<br />

Flash lamp<br />

power supply<br />

Cooling<br />

system<br />

Nd:YAG rod<br />

8.8 Principle of the Nd:YAG laser.<br />

Partially reflecting<br />

mirror<br />

Beam<br />

delivery<br />

system

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