Posts Tagged ‘burning laser pointer’

When the Tactical Laser Weapons on the Battlefield?

火曜日, 12月 13th, 2016

Although the laser from the date of birth, by the military’s widespread attention, especially in the field of strategic anti missile. But because of the difficulties of the atmosphere, the optical attenuation, the heat dissipation and the target guidance, the development speed of the strategic high power laser pointer weapon is very slow. But since twenty-first Century, the U.S. military once again starting to focus on the development of high power solid state laser, which is used to perform short-range air defense and Antimissile Defence, warship tactical mission, and the U.S. military said a mysterious weapon again ahead of competitors.

In high power solid state laser fiber tactical laser weapon, because of its obvious advantages in efficiency, laser beam quality, system size, weight, firmness and cooling etc., is becoming the main source of tactical laser weapon. Recently, the U.S. military developed a variety of laser weapons prototype, all fiber laser weapons. Such as the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) regional defense against ammunition system of “rapier” project, the Navy tactical laser weapon system with laser weapon system project, the “army” (ADAM) and “Zeus Hummer laser ammunition to destroy the system” are used in fiber laser.

Among them, the “sword” is an airborne burning laser pointer weapons project, the goal is to reflect electricity or infrared-guided surface-to-air missiles, combat altitude of 15 km. The US Navy’s Mk38 shipborne laser cannon combat target is a large number of intensive small vessels, sea ships, air vehicles and so on. In 2011, the laser gun fired on air and surface targets. The US Army’s Regional Defense Anti-Ballistic System is primarily a threat to ground-based short-range air defense targets (rocket and unmanned aerial vehicles). In the 2012 and 2013 tests, the system successfully destroyed the UAV And small-caliber rockets. The “Zeus – Hummer laser ammunition destruction system” is installed in the famous “Hummer” car, with anti-mine and the ability to deal with roadside bombs.

In addition to the above, the US military there are some optical fiber tactical laser project. Now the US military tactical laser weapons for the development of very enthusiastic, in the “large area network” stage. The Pentagon in 2014 launched the third “offset strategy”, the core is the development of disruptive advanced technology weapons, continue to occupy an absolute advantage in the military competition. US Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Walker believes that the third “offset strategy” is to establish the core of the advantages of precision-guided weapons in the successful escape of enemy precision-guided attacks while destroying each other. Many US military experts also believe that tactical 2000mw laser pointer weapons, is clearly the third “offset strategy” should focus on the development of the project.

China’s research and development of 20,000-watt (20KW) fiber laser, can be applied to China’s tactical laser weapons research and development? It is estimated that there is a distance. First of all, one of the key components of fiber laser weapons is single-mode fiber lasers. Its representative is the United States IPG photon 10KW single-mode fiber laser. In addition to being widely civilian, but also by the US military procurement of a large number of tactical laser weapons for the basic module. As mentioned above, the United States is developing and testing tactical laser weapons are mostly used by IPG’s this product. The company first developed in 2009, after 10KW single-mode fiber laser, also made no secret of their interest in the weapons market.

China’s Wuhan Branch sharp fiber laser developed 20KW fiber laser, should still be multi-mode fiber laser. From a technical perspective, the high-power fiber laser pointer single-mode and multi-mode. Combining several lower-power single-mode fiber lasers to produce a kilowatt output should be far easier than single-mode output in the kilowatt range. Previously the company developed the largest multimode fiber laser 4KW. If China’s production of 20KW fiber laser is a single-mode laser, then it is not to break the monopoly of foreign issues, to become the world’s first laser artifact. Because the world’s leading IPG company is also difficult to single-mode fiber lasers to 20KW, the technical community generally agreed that the upper limit of single-mode fiber laser is 10KW.

Then the field of tactical laser weapons, can not use high-power multi-mode fiber laser instead of the single-mode fiber laser is difficult. The answer is no. Because multimode laser power is large, but the beam quality is poor, it can not be applied to laser weapons, but only in industrial applications. Therefore, China’s 2 million-watt fiber laser main purpose is to break the monopoly, reduce the cost of imports, making laser manufacturing technology can be more applied to China’s high-end manufacturing.

However, we are quite confident that China will develop IP-based 10KW single-mode fiber lasers. China’s Wuhan Rui Branch, for example, in the company’s lead, China has initially achieved a 100% domestic fiber laser industry chain. In 2011, IPG company 10KW single-mode fiber green astronomy laser main technology founder, with 24 international patents and milestone “double-clad fiber laser” invention patent professor, had to Wuhan Rui Branch company inspection, China China has been able to have their own property rights of localization, industrial fiber laser shock and excitement, and expressed willingness to cooperate with the sharp Branch, to promote its accelerated development.

Once Chinese companies can develop 10KW single-mode fiber lasers, then almost immediately through the non-coherent synthesis of tactical laser weapons developed. The so-called “non-coherent synthesis” is to bundle multiple fiber lasers in parallel to guide them together in the same direction so that they can be superimposed in space, increasing total power. The development of laser weapons is the successful development of this method.

But only high-power single-mode fiber laser, is not able to break through all the tactical laser weapons? Obviously not. Because of this built-up laser weapons can not improve the brightness of the synthetic beam, and poor beam quality, range is limited, bulky. This fiber laser weapons can only be loaded on ships such a large platform, and to be loaded on fighters and ground vehicles, you need to produce a higher brightness, better beam quality laser, energy utilization higher, which requires Beam coherent synthesis and optical phased array technology.

For example, we said earlier that the US airborne 1000mw laser pointer weapons, “sword” project, using the 21-unit optical phased array, the 21 fiber laser beam synthesis of a single beam, the power efficiency of more than 35%, but also with atmospheric compensation , The influence of atmospheric turbulence disturbance on the laser beam can be avoided. In the test, this low-power array can be accurately hit the target 7 km distance, than the existing laser weapons increased by 4 km.

In addition, the United States also launched the “lightning” project, its operational objectives are reflective or infrared-guided air-to-air missiles and surface-to-air missiles. The project uses a fiber laser array to develop a laser weapon system that is 10 times lighter and lighter than existing laser weapons and is mounted on aircraft platforms in a small volume and mass for aircraft self-defense and medium-range ballistic missiles defense. Therefore, only China in the high-power single-mode fiber lasers, beam coherent synthesis and optical phased array technology in these areas have made breakthroughs in the near future China’s tactical laser weapons will appear in the People’s Liberation Army warships, chariots and even like the Jian -20 such combat aircraft.

Laser weapons from the date of birth, had been regarded as anti-satellite strategic weapons. During the Cold War, it was reported that the Soviet Union used laser weapons to attack the US satellites, and later the United States is to test their own laser weapons, anti-satellite effect. October 18, 1975, the United States North American Air Defense Command Control Center reported that in the Indian Ocean over the 647 early warning satellite infrared detectors from the Soviet Union in the west of the strong infrared flash interference, can not work. November 17, 1975, two days, the US Air Force’s two data relay satellites, due to interference from the Soviet Union, infrared, and stopped working. According to the investigation, is the infrared attitude control device failure. May 22, 1980, the United States Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Thomas Roth in a news conference, said: “The US Central Intelligence Agency and other intelligence agencies have been identified, the Soviet Union is developing a laser capable of destroying satellite weapons systems “But the study is also going on in the US The Soviet Union may be a little ahead in terms of power consumption,” he added.

In addition, on October 17, 1997, the United States launched a laser beam with a surface chemical laser launcher to the US military weather satellite to be scrapped. This infrared chemical laser, known as MIRACL, first used high power lasers to illuminate airborne MSTI-3 satellites in low earth orbit in two separate shots. The green laser pointer beam hit the target point – the mid-range infrared camera. Irradiated, the infrared camera did not produce images, indicating that the satellite sensor has been attacked. Then the US Army and the use of low-power chemical laser for the second shooting satellite test, the infrared camera on the satellite 3 times. The success of this test is an important milestone in US Army laser ASAT weapons. But there is little public reporting on the subsequent development of MIRACL lasers.

http://www.generaccion.com/usuarios/119549/new-progress-in-fiber-bragg-grating-sensing-demodulation

http://laserman123.blogcu.com/analysis-of-china-s-3d-printing-industry/27863828

http://eyes123456.page.tl/SLS-Laser-Sintering-Technology.htm

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Fiber Laser Cutting Drive Power Revolution

金曜日, 10月 14th, 2016

For more than 30 years, the power and performance of carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers has appeared to be at an extreme level, and most consumers buy CO2 laser equipment in the range of 4-5 kW (and occasionally 6 kW). It took about 15 years to make 3kW CO2 blue laser pointer sales become common, and then spent five years to make 4kW products become the mainstream choice for end users. In fact, higher power CO2 lasers (6kW and above) have been available for many years, dating back to the 1990s. Although sales of high-power CO2 lasers have increased slightly in the 21st century, they have never been able to match sales of products that are close to 4-5kW.

For more than 30 years, the power and performance of carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers has appeared to be at an extreme level, and most consumers buy CO2 laser equipment in the range of 4-5 kW (and occasionally 6 kW). It took about 15 years to make 3kW CO2 laser sales become common, and then spent five years to make 4kW products become the mainstream choice for end users. In fact, higher power CO2 lasers (6kW and above) have been available for many years, dating back to the 1990s. Although sales of high-power CO2 lasers have increased slightly in the 21st century, they have never been able to match sales of products that are close to 4-5kW.

First of all, with the technology of chopper, electronically controlled shutter, polarization element, beam collimation and better control elements, CO2 laser technology has been greatly improved in the process of development and evolution. As these developments have greatly improved the performance of CO2 lasers, giving the product better usability. Before, industry demand is not to emphasize today’s multi-style, small batch trend-based, until 2000, this strategy has changed. However, the industry is still undergoing a variety of changes, and manufacturing productivity is also improving. As the CO2 burning laser pointer has been improved, but also driven the demand for products and sales. But in any case, CO2 lasers are still relatively expensive, and require a lot of power and maintenance needs.

The mid-90s, laser technology has gradually entered a strong growth phase, until 2000, laser technology has surpassed the stamping technology has become the preferred processing of the mainstream manufacturing “weapon.” Therefore, the manufacturing strategy to change rapidly, streamlining as a keyword, and “multi-species, small batch” and then become a new efficient manufacturing standards. This standard requires “just-in-time production”, and lasers are ideal because the machining technique reduces or eliminates set-up times during workpiece transformation.

4-5kW power laser for 99% of the cutting workpiece is very suitable choice. So, why 6 kW power or more CO2 lasers do not dominate the market? It is difficult to get a clear answer, but it is certain that multiple factors contributed to this phenomenon. We know that these high-power machines use nitrogen cutting when the processing speed is higher than low-power lasers. The higher power point density enables faster vaporization of the material, which in turn results in a faster movement of the machining head and speeds up the cutting process. The direct result is faster cutting of parts with nitrogen, which improves overall productivity and eliminates the secondary treatment of the oxidizing layer from downstream painting or welding operations.

Oxidation is a common by-product of the use of oxygen (O2) as an auxiliary gas. To help illustrate the advantages of using a 6kW CO2 3000mw laser pointer and a 4kW CO2 laser using nitrogen as an auxiliary gas to cut 1/4 inch mild steel, the 4kW laser cuts about 60-80 parts per minute of material Inch, while the 6kW lasers have a material removal rate of 110-120 inches per minute. In addition to faster processing speed, high-power CO2 lasers can also increase the processing thickness of the material, giving the workshop processing thick stainless steel, low carbon steel and aluminum better ability. In view of this, it seems that the technology is moving in a more efficient and more productive evolution of a metamorphosis of a logical step.

However, it also reflects the fact that CO2 lasers seem to have reached the well-known upper limit. With the increase in CO2 laser power, the machine’s operating costs, the number of parts, power consumption and overall maintenance costs have also increased. There is a trade-off between capital investment and increased operating costs, Vs. Production efficiency and increased capacity, which in turn leads the purchaser to return to the CO2 lasers with a 4-5 kW power range.

Fiber laser technology usher in a breakthrough

After 2000, sales of the laser 5000mw triumph, and a long time in the market share beyond the punch. In 2005, fiber-optic technology became a fashionable term for laser cutting, although fiber laser equipment in the United States part of the market share of sales, but early sales and more concentrated in the European manufacturing market. In fact, major laser Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) have not introduced fiber laser technology into their production lines. From 2005 to 2010, fiber laser technology and equipment sales in the United States is very small, selling products, the maximum power of about 2kW. Until 2010 EuroBLECH in Hannover, Germany, and Fabtech in 2011, several large OEMs demonstrated their newly developed fiber laser technology , The fiber laser in the United States ushered in its debut of the event.

Even so, in 2011, fiber lasers accounted for only about 5-10% of all lasers sold for cutting applications. However, some manufacturers have begun to introduce 4kW power products. At the Fabtech show in Atlanta in 2014, fiber lasers were the only laser cutting equipment exhibited at the show, and the power of the exhibits ranged from 2 to 12 kW (Figure 1). At the same time, sales of fiber lasers have risen sharply compared to CO2 lasers, and sales of fiber lasers have surpassed CO2 for the first time in 2015. From 2005 to 2010, sales of fiber lasers are still moderate. There may be several reasons, but the most need to enhance the familiarity and comfort level. During this period, to provide this option is very small OEM manufacturers, and end-users are not sure whether the fiber laser technology will be really accepted or just flash in the pan. As more and more OEM manufacturers began to launch fiber laser equipment, this technology is really ushered in the orthodox.

A new era of fiber laser

With the gradual development of fiber lasers to today’s scale, its advantages are self-evident. When first introduced, one of the main selling points of the product is the low operating costs realized compared to CO2 lasers. Fiber 20000mw laser operate at a fraction of the cost of CO2 lasers and are less costly than alternative cutting methods, primarily because fiber lasers require no maintenance costs. But more importantly, the design simplicity means that the increase in power does not significantly increase the consumables, power loss or maintenance costs.

In fact, the limiting factor for improving power is mainly around the ability to improve laser diodes and modules while maintaining high quality laser beams. In doing so, the power is increased, enabling quicker processing of thicker materials. Today, 6kW fiber lasers use nitrogen to process 1/4-inch low carbon steel at 200 IPM. If you remember, 6kW CO2 laser per minute material cutting rate of only 110-120 inches.

Therefore, we can assume that the power of fiber lasers is strongly driven by the market. Fiber lasers are also preferred over other types of cutting methods such as plasma cutting and water jetting because fiber lasers can effectively cut thick plates and their wavelengths are also beneficial for cutting copper and other unique materials. Today, fiber laser cutting heads Only a small number of optical components, coupled with a cutting nozzle. Fiber lasers typically run at a cost of between $ 1 and $ 1 per hour, depending on the processing elements included in those costs and how they are calculated. With the first generation of fiber lasers to enhance the comprehensive capacity, making the fiber laser almost all of the current cutting process is an attractive alternative solution.

Consider the elements

Of course, there are some additional points to note that high-power fiber lasers are struggling to maintain the balance in the manufacturing process. Many people may think that these are “positive” level, but they still need to get more planning. A 6kW fiber laser 2000mw is significantly faster than the 4kW and 2kW fiber lasers, and at a faster rate than any CO2 laser series. If a plasma cutting and water cutting unit is integrated into the production line, the machine will be twice or even three times as productive as the previous process, with the same or less floor space. This ability to overload production has forced manufacturers to reconsider downstream processing such as material handling and bending operations. A balanced production process management system can be easily changed by a high-performance machine, which often means that the next capital investment may need to focus on the bending process, such as automatic tool change bending machines and robotics and other fields. So what about materials handling? These are issues that have not been carefully considered before, but there is no doubt that high-power fiber lasers will increase the overall production capacity of the production line.

To sum up, high-power fiber lasers have been through the continuous development and evolution of the rapid find its position in the manufacturing industry. They are as easy to operate as low-power products. Any additional capital investment in fiber lasers can be offset by significantly higher throughput and lower operating costs than CO2 lasers in the same power range. In addition, the ability of fiber red laser pointer to process thick plates makes them an ideal alternative to processes such as plasma cutting and water cutting. The industry has gradually opened the veil of fiber laser technology in this layer, and shows the fiber laser is used for blanking processing of a viable solution, so that it has become the capture of small quantities between orders and high productivity increasingly space Reduce the difficulty of the efficient solution. Today’s fiber lasers offer all these advantages to manufacturers with high power, higher throughput, lower cost, greater flexibility and higher margins.

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