Small-power-pulsed and continuous longitudinal CO2 laser for material processing

A small average power CO 2 laser for some industrial applications is presented. The laser might operate both in a continuous regime and in a pulsed one or in a combination of two. Average power up to 20 W and peak power of several hundreds of kW has been achieved. The advantages of the good optical quality bema of a longitudinal discharge laser and of a high peak power pulsed regime are simultaneously achieved. A high voltage capacitor, which is switched on by means of a rotary spark gap, sustains the pulsed regime. The commutation between the two regimes might be easily done and a mixed operation is obtainable. By superposition of the two regimes, a continuous heating of the materials by the continuous beam as well as an evaporation due to high peak power are obtainable. Drilling, cutting and marking of different types of glasses as well as different plastic materials were performed.