Over the years we’ve gotten a lot of questions on everything from very specific application inquires to general requests for info. One of the questions we get occasionally is, “How do fiber lasers work?” We’ve got a really good, in-depth article that dives deep into the specifics but here we’ll take a shot at a quick answer for the merely curious.
How Do Fiber Lasers Work?
The most basic set up for fiber lasers include a laser, a lens, and a surface that the piece to be marked will be placed onto. Monochromatic laser light (meaning all one color or wavelength) is passed through an f theta lens and focused onto the piece that is going to be marked. If the material that you are marking is able to absorb the wavelength of the laser light, then there is a good match, and you will be able to mark the material.
This is the most basic explanation for how a fiber laser works. If it seems complicated, then think about it like this; on a sunny day, you take a magnifying glass outside. You set a leaf on the side walk and hold the magnifying glass over the leaf. You move the magnifying glass until you find the right spot (the focal point) to cause the concentrated sunlight to burn the leaf. This is exactly the same principle that laser marking systems use.
Fiber laser marking systems can use lasers with different wavelengths to mark different materials. The focal point is also a variable that needs to be taken into account. As is the speed with which the laser moves over the material. However, the basic principle still holds true.
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If you’d like to learn more, I’d suggest you check out this article. You can also always contact us for more information.