30 Watt RF Excited CO2 Laser

The laser beam from these low power lasers can be manipulated by mirrors attached to servo controlled galvanometer steering mechanisms, or mirrors attached to Cartesian coordinate high speed servo driven mechanisms. These lower power CO2 lasers are sealed units and do not need a continuous flow of laser cavity make-up gas for operation. The gas charge is generally good for about five to ten thousand hours of operation, or five years whichever is reached first.

The lower power CO2 lasers are used for marking, engraving, and cutting woods, plastics, and fabrics. Many of these lasers, at power levels up to 100 watts, are air cooled, and over 100 watts are water cooled.

CO2 lasers range in power output levels from 5 Watts to 10,000 Watts. they can be used for marking, engraving, cutting, welding and heat treating. This web site concentrates on the industrial and manufacturing applications for lasers, however, there is also an enormous quantity of CO2 laser used in the medical field for skin treatments, dental work, hair removal, and other surgical operations.

CO2 Lasers have been the workhorse of lasers for many years in the metal, wood, and plastic cutting and welding applications. Although the 10,600 nm wavelength laser beam that CO2 lasers produce is reflective on metals, the high power density of their focused laser beam is quickly absorbed once the metal surface has reached a certain temperature, and then reaction with the metal is very aggressive. The CO2 laser beam is absorbed and reacts best with organic materials such as wood, plastic, and fabrics. These organic materials also present an enormous plethora of applications.