Oem Vi30/40 Design - Novanta vi30 User Manual

OEM VI30/40 DESIGN

OEM vi30/40 design
Laser Tube
OEM vi30/40 lasers were developed using modern technology patented by NOVANTA, Inc. This
patented "v" technology, based on a combination of free-space and waveguide resonator designs,
enables NOVANTA to economically produce a symmetrical laser beam from a small but powerful laser
capable of operating for many years with no maintenance. OEM vi30/40 unique extruded aluminum
envelope offers excellent heat transfer, long gas life, and low operating costs in contrast to other laser
tube technologies. In addition to being the vessel that maintains the lasing environment, the aluminum
tube is also the structural platform that integrates the laser's optical, electrical, and cooling components.
Because of their smaller beam diameter, vi30 lasers have significantly higher power densities than
previous NOVANTA lasers. This means that even a small amount of contamination on the laser's out-
put window (or on any optic in the beam path) can absorb enough energy to damage the optic.
Inspect the output window and other beam delivery optics periodically for signs of contaminants and
carefully clean as required. In dirty environments, purge laser optics using filtered air or nitrogen to
prevent vapor and debris from accumulating on optical surfaces.
Optical resonator
The optical resonator, in conjunction with the electrodes and the gas mixture, generates the laser beam.
vi30/40 optical resonators are comprised of four optical elements: a rear mirror, two turning mirrors, and
an output window. These optical elements are fastened to the tube's exterior and are exposed to its
interior through holes in the end caps. O-rings sandwiched between optical elements and each end cap
form a gas seal and provide a flexible cushion that allows the slight movement necessary for alignment.
All optical elements are aligned and locked into place by factory technicians before the laser is shipped.
The output beam, roughly circular as it exits the resonator, transitions to a Gaussian-like mode in mid
and far fields—three meters (9.8 ft) and beyond. The internal structure and optics of the resonator
combine to produce a Gaussian-like mode quality (M2 factor) of < 1.2. As shown in the following figure,
beam waist diameter is 2.5 mm ±0.5 mm at the output aperture and full angle divergence due to
diffraction is less than 7 milliradians (a 7 mrad full angle divergence means that beam diameter increases
7 mm over every one-meter distance traveled).
Caution: Possible Equipment Damage
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