Patent ID: 6448534
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
A method for cutting a manufactured object with a thickness of about 0.1 to 2.0 mm that includes the steps of (a) using a laser having a cylindrical laser rod directly side-pumped by a plurality of arrays of laser diodes, wherein the laser has an average power output from about 2 to about 100 watts and delivers an average laser beam brightness of greater than 1012 W/m2*sr and a peak brightness of more than 1013 W/m2*sr to produce a laser beam;(b) focusing the laser beam to a plane between the upper and the lower surface of the object, to melts or vaporizes the material; (c) expelling the melted or vaporized material by the laser beam from the object by a pressurized fluid flowing coaxially with the laser beam.