Cambridge, England—In a move that could be a major step toward commercializing single-fiber technology for kilowatt power applications, while expanding the applications space through the use of high beam quality lasers, Southampton Photonics Inc. (SPI) has provided a 1.0kW fiber laser to the Institute of Manufacturing at the University of Cambridge.
The University's Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre (IMRC) will use this laser to explore novel processing applications and tailor the laser to speed throughput and reduce cost of ownership on behalf of industrial sponsors. The laser's ultra-high brightness will enable the IMRC to investigate leading-edge applications such as high-speed cutting and welding, deep section cutting, and a range of other processes that are capable of taking advantage of this intense source of energy.
Dr. Bill O'Neil, director of the IMRC (and a valued contributor to ILS) comments, "We chose SPI as the source...as it can offer the mix of parameters we need, including superior beam quality. We believe that such a laser combined with our materials processing expertise will allow a number of novel techniques to be developed and exploited by our various sponsors."