Introduction

Fiber lasers, a hot topic in laser physics research, are unanimously regarded as the new generation product poised to comprehensively replace solid-state lasers. These lasers offer numerous unique advantages, such as low laser thresholds, high gain, versatile tunable parameters, broad absorption and radiation spectra, strong compatibility, and a compact form factor. Since the turn of the millennium, a branch of fiber lasers known as pulsed fiber lasers has emerged, making significant strides in the field of industrial processing. Driven by their exceptionally high peak power, they swiftly captured the laser marking market. Over the past two decades, the power of pulsed fiber lasers has surged from tens of watts to hundreds of watts, and their applications have diversified to encompass marking, cutting, welding, cleaning, and more.

As optical fiber manufacturing and semiconductor laser technology mature, pulsed fiber lasers have rapidly evolved. However, the demand for practical applications now exceeds the capabilities of low tens-of-watts average power. Many industries now require average powers exceeding 200W. Han’s Laser development of the 500W high-power pulse width adjustable fiber laser has significant advantages in industries such as metal laser marking, cutting, cleaning, and lithium batteries, with the market demand continuing to grow.

Breaking Key Technological Barriers

With the accelerating development of the new energy industry, laser processing, known for its relatively environmentally friendly attributes, is gradually replacing traditional mechanical and chemical processes. Simultaneously, it is constantly striving to achieve high efficiency, speed, and low carbon emissions. The critical elements and technological challenges of the high-power pulsed fiber laser industry lie in the domains of optical fiber and electronic-electrical technology. Optical fiber technology primarily focuses on the preparation of gain fibers, coupling techniques, pumping mechanisms, and the implementation of MOPA technology. The employed MOPA master oscillator power amplifier technology facilitates adjustable laser frequency, pulse width, and peak power. These attributes can be freely combined to produce various laser output waveforms to meet different customer application needs.

Through extensive research and repeated experimentation, Han’s Laser has achieved significant breakthroughs, both in terms of technology and processing efficiency and stability. The 500W high-power pulse width adjustable fiber laser has reached an industry-leading level, with multiple critical technologies achieving substantial breakthroughs.

Different Angles of the 500W Adjustable Fiber Laser

Technological Innovations

• Elimination of photon darkening phenomenon, resulting in high light-to-light conversion efficiency.
• Optimization of seed source output signal, with a 4-fold increase in seed source drive current accuracy and output frequency.
• Waveform width control of seed source input current, allowing variations from 20-240ns and a repetition frequency of up to 3MHz.
• Over 50% increase in the rising and falling edge speeds of the seed source waveform, resulting in more precise output pulse width.
• Resolution of weak initial points and tailing phenomena through laser technology control, leading to improved process effectiveness.
• High-power output with excellent beam quality.

The laser produces a total of 7 pulse waveforms, with pulse widths ranging from 20-500ns (full width at half maximum 20-240ns), and a repetition frequency range of 1 to 3000kHz, with peak power in the range of 7-12kW.

Waveform Graph

Overcoming Development Challenges

Han’s Laser has achieved complete autonomy in the development of high-power fiber coupling technology. This technology efficiently couples pump light and signal light into the same optical fiber. By adjusting various indicators of the coupling technology according to the relevant parameters of the selected gain fiber, pump light is transformed into signal light seamlessly.

The in-house fiber coupling technology employs a unique tapering process to optimize the laser beam quality through internal process control. It also enhances the efficiency of light-to-light conversion, effectively addressing the heat generation issue associated with high power through rational packaging technology. The coupler, a frequently used component in lasers, is specialized for amplification in fiber lasers. It synthesizes multiple pump energies and a single signal energy into a dual-clad fiber, allowing pump energy and signal energy to be jointly transmitted in the output fiber.

This laser consists of three fundamental elements: the pump source, gain medium, and resonator cavity. It is built on the foundation of MOPA technology—Master Oscillator Power Amplifier—specifically the fiber amplifier variant. Under the influence of pump light, the optical fiber easily attains high power density, leading to the phenomenon of “population inversion” of laser energy levels. By introducing a positive feedback loop and forming a resonator cavity, laser oscillation output is achieved.

Vast Market Development Prospects

The 500W high-power pulse width adjustable fiber laser employs water-cooling for heat dissipation, offering effective cooling capabilities. It operates comfortably without demanding high ambient temperatures, ensuring ease of use.

Low-power marking is no longer sufficient to meet the new demands of the market. As an entry point to break through past technological bottlenecks, it gradually accumulates customers and explores broader application markets. Beyond laser marking, the markets for laser welding and cleaning eagerly anticipate the breakthrough of high-power lasers. Particularly in the field of laser cleaning, the rising environmental consciousness and the call for low-carbon, green industrial development are propelling a swift transition from traditional chemical methods to laser cleaning.

The advantages of the 500W high-power pulse width adjustable fiber laser will be more pronounced in high-speed marking applications, with a specific focus on cutting lithium battery tabs and cleaning battery pole pieces. As electric vehicles gain traction as the future mainstream, and the lithium battery, a core component of electric vehicles, witnesses rapid development, the demand for more efficient, cost-effective, and high-volume production leads an increasing number of automotive manufacturers to opt for high-power pulse lasers for cutting and cleaning battery tabs and pole pieces.

Application Fields

• Cutting of positive and negative terminals of power batteries
• Cleaning of positive and negative terminals of power batteries
• Cutting and drilling of metal materials
• Laser paint removal, plating elimination, cleaning, and rust removal
• Micro-welding of metal thin sheet materials
• Deep engraving of metal materials

Conclusion

Based on the current market and diverse user needs, Han’s Laser has successfully developed a 500W 50mJ high-power single-point energy laser. Additionally, the company is actively pushing forward a research and development project aimed at achieving an average power as high as 1000W. In the future, Han’s Laser will continue to develop in the directions of lightweight, high power, high energy, and integration. Simultaneously, the company will maximize the value of its products at the application level, assist downstream equipment manufacturers in developing new processes, and further expand the scope of product applications to provide customers with outstanding solutions.