Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Bremer, Scholte J.L.
• Aarts, Ronald G.K.M.
• Römer, Gert-willem R.B.E.

Titel

Design and implementation of dynamic beam shaping in high power laser processing by means of a Deformable Mirror

Ist Teil von

• Optics and laser technology, 2024-10, Vol.177, p.111066, Article 111066

Ort / Verlag

Elsevier Ltd

Erscheinungsjahr

2024

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

Alma/SFX Local Collection

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Optimising the laser intensity distribution in high power laser processes, such as laser welding, laser cladding or laser hardening, can be used to tailor the local thermal fields and thermal cycles which, in turn, determine the final process results. Deformable Mirrors allow to dynamically shape the beam profile and previous studies showed their potential. However, only limited flexibility in achievable beam shapes is shown at higher power levels. In addition the relation between desired laser intensity profiles and required mirror surface profiles is nontrivial. In this work the design and implementation of a dynamic beam shaping system, capable of handling high laser powers (up to 1 kW), is presented and evaluated. To that end, several distinctly different laser intensity profiles are defined, corresponding mirror surfaces are determined and realised with the beam shaping system. Measurements of the laser intensity profiles were compared with laser intensity profiles simulated using a previously presented mathematical framework and showed a good agreement. From the measurements it was concluded that the setup is suitable for high laser powers (up to 1 kW) and is characterised by large depth of focus (<14% change in dimensions at a distance of 100 mm from the focal plane). •A Deformable Mirror based adaptive focusing optic was designed and implemented.•The design can handle high laser power and has large depth of focus.•Mirror profiles were derived to create various distinctive laser intensity profiles.•Experimental validation of intensity profiles shows good agreement with simulations.•Versatile and flexible tool for dynamic beam shaping in high power laser processing.