Abstract
The laser is clearly the most critical component of any laser machining system. This chapter provides an overview of the operation of the various types of lasers used in machining. First, the basic mechanisms required to produce laser light, such as stimulation, amplification, and population inversion are explained. The unique properties of laser light, including monochromacity, coherence, diffraction, and radiance are also described. Lasers can be classified by the type of lasing medium used: solid, liquid or gas. The beam each type of laser produces has a characteristic wavelength and power range. The most common types of lasers used for machining are CO2, Nd:YAG, and excimer lasers. Possible configurations for these three laser types are detailed.
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© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media New York
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Chryssolouris, G. (1991). Lasers for Machining. In: Laser Machining. Mechanical Engineering Series. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-4084-4_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-4084-4_2
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