High-power direct-diode laser successes

Abstract

Direct diode laser will become much more prevalent in the solar system of manufacturing due to their high efficiency, small portable size, unique beam profiles, and low ownership costs. There has been many novel applications described for high power direct diode laser [HPDDL] systems but few have been implemented in extreme production environments due to diode and diode system reliability. We discuss several novel applications in which the HPDDL have been implemented and proven reliable and cost-effective in production environments. These applications are laser hardening/surface modification, laser wire feed welding and laser paint stripping. Each of these applications uniquely tests the direct diode laser systems capabilities and confirms their reliability in production environments. A comparison of the advantages direct diode laser versus traditional industrial lasers such as CO₂ and Nd:YAG and non-laser technologies such a RF induction, and MIG welders for each of these production applications is presented.