TECHNICAL DIGEST

Understanding and
Optimizing Processes
– A Technical Look at
Three Common CO2
Laser Processing Topics
Understanding and Optimizing Processes
– A Technical Look at Three Common CO2
Laser Processing Topics” offers a closer,
objective look at three of the most common
and inquired-about topics in the world

SPONSORED BY: of materials processing with CO2 lasers.

Subjects covered provide quantitative
processing analysis data, laser configuration
settings and practical laser operation
guidelines for the purposes of gaining a
better understanding of how to make the
most of your laser processing system.

3 CO2 Laser
Marking Glass 14 Laser Polarization
Effects in Metals, 18 The Role of Assist Gases
in CO2 Laser Processing
Ceramics, and Acrylics
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2013-08-08 - ILS Full Page 16.indd 1 7/26/2013 11:20:22 AM

 Originally published August 22, 2013

CO2 Laser Marking Glass

T
HIS DOCUMENT IS designed to provide some understanding of glass
marking using a CO2 laser, but ultimately to successfully mark glass
using a SYNRAD CO2 laser, FH Series marking head and WinMark Pro
Laser Marking Software. Three glass marking methods are described in
this document along with best starting point conditions and information to allow
the end user to iterate towards the best possible mark.

Important Note: Instructions set out in this document are based on the default settings
for WinMark Pro software and the use of a 48-2 (25W) CO2 laser. The only settings
provided are those that differ from WinMark Pro’s default property values. Because each
laser has small differences in percentage power vs. actual output power, power settings
are specified in watts.

Glass Types
One necessary aspect of glass marking using a CO2 laser is categorizing the type
of glass to be marked:

Soda-lime glass
This is commercial-type glass whose primary characteristics include a low
temperature softening point, around 400°C, and a relatively high coefficient of
expansion. This glass, also referred to as float glass due to the manufacturing
method, and can be tempered, chemically strengthened, or plain. Traditionally
this has been the most difficult type of glass to laser mark; however, the methods
described in this document actually take advantage of the glass’s properties to
produce the laser mark.

Medium thermal-resistant glass

This category of glass has a medium softening point, around 800°C, and a
medium coefficient of expansion. Typically used for light-duty, heat-resistant
applications such as lab slides and some lens materials.

High thermal-resistant glass

3 High thermal-resistant glasses have a low expansion coefficient and high

Industrial Laser Solutions for Manufacturing :: TECHNICAL DIGEST

 CO2 Laser Marking Glass

softening temperature, around 1000°C. These are high-performance glasses such

as borosilicate, fused silica, and quartz.

Mark Types
The coefficient of expansion and softening point of a particular glass determines
the type of controlled fracturing that is achieved using a CO2 laser. Three types
of marks are described here: the Ring Fracture, Sandblast Fracture, and Stress
Relieved mark. Soda-lime glass marks using all three methods, medium thermal-
resistant glasses mark well using the Ring Fracture or Stress Relieved methods,
High thermal-resistant glass marks well, with no fracturing, using the Stress
Relieved technique.

Ring Fracture Marks

The ring fracture technique is based on WinMark Pro’s Spot Marking Style
property and is effective in marking barcodes, 2D DataMatrix™ codes, and text.
The ring fracture is best created using 80 mm, 125 mm, or 200 mm lenses. The
370 mm lens can be used to mark lower resolution text and larger DataMatrix
codes. The magnified image in Figure 1 clearly shows the ring nature of the
fracture.

FIGURE 1. Ring
fracture
mark comprises a readable
Code 128 barcode, a
DataMatrix™ code, and
human-readable text made
using a 125 mm lens with
less than 10 W of laser
4 power.

Industrial Laser Solutions for Manufacturing :: TECHNICAL DIGEST

 CO2 Laser Marking Glass

WinMark Pro mark file setup

For all marks, the Spot Marking Style property must be selected and set to “Yes”.
Barcodes are inverted (Barcode Inverted property = “Yes”), and for Data Matrix
codes, the 2D Barcode Bitmap property must be set to “No”.

Modifying parameters
Key parameters for glass marking are Spot Mark Duration, Power, Velocity,
and Resolution. The values shown in Table 1 below represent typical starting
conditions; however, due to variations in glass and laser power curves, these
specific parameters may not always produce the optimum mark so careful
experimentation is usually required to ‘fine-tune’ marking results.

The size of the ring fracture is a function of the beam’s spot size and power
input. Fracture diameters can range from 80% of the laser spot diameter up to
almost twice the focused spot size. The depth of ring fractures is approximately
the penetration depth of the laser, typically 30 to 60 microns using a 25 W laser
and the conditions listed in Table 1. Fractures smaller than the focused spot are
a result of the bell-shaped power density curve of the laser spot—more energy
per unit area is delivered at the center of the laser spot than at the outer edge.
The ring fracture requires a minimum energy density for formation, so ring

Lens / Power Velocity Resolution Number of Spot Mark

Mark Object (W) (“/s) (dpi) Mark Passes Duration (1/10 ms)
80 mm lens
1D Barcode 4 7 90 2 1
DataMatrix 2 7 50 2 1
Text 4 6 300 3 8
125 mm lens
1D Barcode 2 4 60 2 1
DataMatrix 2 4 50 2 1
Text 5 4 250 3 8
200 mm lens
1D Barcode 5 5 50 2 1
DataMatrix 5 6 50 2 1
Text 9 6 230 3 8
370mm lens
DataMatrix 25 5 50 2 25
Text 25 4 165 3 15
5 TABLE 1. Initial marking parameters

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 CO2 Laser Marking Glass

fractures can be adjusted to fit your marking requirements through careful

selection of focusing lens and Power settings.

The three variables used for controlling energy input into the glass are: Power,
Velocity, and Spot Mark Duration. All three properties are interrelated along with
mark Resolution.

Power – Changing power is the easiest way to affect the spot size. The example
settings given above provide ring fractures that form instantly after the laser
passes; however, smaller fractures can be made using lower power levels that
can take seconds or up 24 hours to form. A good method for making smaller
fractures is to make the first pass with 2% to 4% less Power than the second pass.
The first pass at a lower power level defines the area where the fracture will
form and the second pass provides the energy required for fracture formation.
The images in Figure 2 compare two DataMatrix codes made using a 125 mm
lens with a 180-micron spot size. The image on the left was made using the
property values described in Table 1, providing 300-micron ring fractures. The
2D code on the right was created using the same conditions except for a Velocity
of 25”/s and 18% Power on the first pass and 20% Power on the second. These
settings produced 200-micron ring fractures.

FIGURE 2. Comparison of power settings

and ring fracture size using a 125
mm lens. The code on the right was
completed with modified Power
and Velocity conditions giving ring
fractures 50% smaller.

Velocity and Spot Mark Duration - Increasing mirror speeds (Velocity) provides
marks with lower cycle times, but also increases the area where the laser energy
is applied, because the mirror does not stop for each spot. When adjusting
Velocity, the Spot Mark Duration must be taken into account. When the laser
pulse length is short and the Velocity low, the spot formed is circular. Increasing
6 speed will elongate the area lased giving an oval shape instead of a ring. 2D

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 CO2 Laser Marking Glass

Data Matrix and 1D bar codes work well using a Spot Mark Duration of 1 (0.1 ms).
Marking text works best with Spot Mark Durations of 3 or greater because of the
Pline Start Delay and Pline End Delay properties associated with text characters.

FIGURE 3.THE effect

of the Power, Velocity, Spot Mark Duration and Resolution. (a) The effect of
increasing Spot Mark Duration from 1, to 3, 5 and 8 (top to bottom), (b) The effect of Power
changes from 2.5 W to 7 W, 11 W and 14 W, (c) The effect of Velocity changes from 10”/s to 20”/s,
30”/s and 40”/s, (d) The effect of Resolution changes from 150 to 200, 250 and 300 dots per inch.
7 Constant settings were 3 Mark Passes, 7 W, 10”/s, Resolution of 250, and Spot Mark Duration of 8.

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 CO2 Laser Marking Glass

When changing Power, Velocity, and Spot Mark Duration properties, the Resolution
must be adjusted as well. During laser marking, the stresses that will create ring
fractures at the end of the mark build on the glass surface. If the laser spots are
placed without enough separation, the stress is released by fracturing from spot
to spot instead of within each individual spot. If Resolution is too high (spots very
close together) then elongated fractures form that connect spot to spot. Spots
separated by at least one-half the fracture radius work best.

Mark Parameter Effect of Increasing Value Effect of Decreasing Value

Power Enlarge fracture size Decrease fracture size
Spot Mark Duration Enlarge fracture size, though Decrease fracture size
fracture may elongate
Velocity Reduce fracture size, and possi- Increase fracture size
bly elongate fracture.
Resolution Decrease spot spacing, ideally Increase spot spacing, filled
should be around ½ of spot marks become difficult.
radius.
TABLE 2. Ring Fracture parameter summary:

Sandblast Fracture Marks

FIGURE 4. Sandblast fracture mark comprises a

readable Code 128 linear barcode. The magnified
image clearly shows the sandblast type nature
of the fracture. The Code 128 barcode and the
DataMatrix code were made with 15 W of Power
using a 370 mm lens, 45”/s Velocity and 250
Resolution. The human-readable text string was
marked using 18 W at a Velocity of 55”/s and 750
Resolution.

8
Industrial Laser Solutions for Manufacturing :: TECHNICAL DIGEST
 CO2 Laser Marking Glass

The idea of the sandblast mark is to produce a continuous fractured spot. The
sandblast mark is best made using a large spot diameter that has a diffuse
power distribution. The 370 mm lens provides a 520-micron spot and has a
20 mm depth of focus, which is the ideal lens to use in making the sandblast
mark. Although 80 mm, 125 mm, or 200 mm lens can be defocused to provide a
520-micron spot size, the depth of focus for each lens applies even when out of
the focal plane. The depth of focus for the 80 mm 125 mm and 200 mm lenses
are 0.8 mm, 3 mm and 5 mm respectively.

FIGURE 5. The sandblast mark prior to fracturing (left), and the same mark after fracturing (right).

Using the appropriate marking conditions, the CO2 laser will produce a stable
“bubble” that protrudes from the surface of the glass during marking. This
bubble has a lower density than the underlying material therefore setting up
tensile forces pulling the bubble back towards the original surface. A slight
amount of pressure forcing this low-density bubble back towards the surface is
sufficient to cause the glass to fracture, as highlighted in Figure 5. The fracture
will cascade along the low-density lines created by the marking process. These
fractures are perpendicular to the bubble surface and extend only to the bottom
of the low-density bubble into the glass; a depth around 30 to 50 microns. This
type of mark produces vertical fractures so that no loose chips are formed.

It is important to note that this type of mark requires a uniform marking surface
to produce stable bubbles that can be fractured. Therefore, the quality and
repeatability of this method is sensitive to the surface condition of the glass. A
pristine surface is optimal, with a scratched surface being worst because surface
9 scratches tend to cause fractures to form while marking. Glass uniformity must

Industrial Laser Solutions for Manufacturing :: TECHNICAL DIGEST

 CO2 Laser Marking Glass

also extend into the glass surface slightly beyond the penetration depth of the
laser in order to produce even marking.

Power and speed settings are fairly flexible, Figure 6 shows filled and unfilled
matrices produced using a 370 mm lens on soda lime float glass. As illustrated in
these photos, there is a large central area where the mark is stable. If the power
level is too low then intermittent marking occurs, and the formation of loose
scale like chips occurs. Setting Power levels too high results in deep fracturing
with heavy chip formation. Between these two extremes, the power input can
be adjusted to provide the desired contrast and readability. Figure 7 shows how
fracture size and density are affected by controlling power input through velocity

FIGURE 6. Shows the sandblast mark for

outline (left) and filled (right) matrices,
indicating the flexible nature of the mark
with large stable marking regions

370 mm Power (W) Velocity (“/s) Resolution

lens
1D Barcode 15 45 250
DataMatrix 15 45 250
Text 18 25 750
10 TALBE 3. Starting points for the sandblast mark:

Industrial Laser Solutions for Manufacturing :: TECHNICAL DIGEST

 CO2 Laser Marking Glass

FIGURE 7. 350 to 225 micron wide lines made FIGURE 8. 250

micron wide lines placed 250
using a 370 mm lens, 18 W, and with microns center to center.
Velocity settings of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and
60”/s.

variations. Naturally, power input is changed using WinMark Pro’s percent Power
setting. Overlapping laser scans with high Resolution settings also increases
power input into the glass.

Stress-Relieved Marks
A stress-relieved mark is effective for marking all three of the glass categories listed
in this document. The goal of this technique is to limit any random fractures that
extend beyond the laser-marked characters by creating a stress gradient. By using
multiple passes, the glass beyond the mark area is heated through conduction.
This heated glass acts as a buffer between the hot laser-heated glass and the room-
temperature material. As the glass cools, the stress of laser marking is spread
evenly over an extended area. Figure 9 shows 1, 3, 6, and 12 pass marks. The
resulting mark has chip formation similar to standard CO2 laser marking, but the
tendency for fracturing beyond the intended area is greatly reduced.

Soda lime and some medium-duty heat-resistant glasses will usually fracture
instantly, followed by secondary fracturing occurring seconds to hours later.
The initial fracturing is perpendicular to the direction of laser movement and
extends beyond the laser-heated area. These perpendicular fractures occur
11 instantaneously. The perpendicular fractures then join by fracturing parallel to

Industrial Laser Solutions for Manufacturing :: TECHNICAL DIGEST

 CO2 Laser Marking Glass

FIGURE 9. From top to bottom, 1, 3, 6 and 12 FIGURE 10. Comparison

of 1 pass (top) and 3 pass
pass stress relieved marks. (bottom) marks. Note large conical fracturing on 1
pass mark.

the direction of laser movement. The tendency of glass to form conical fractures
causes these parallel fractures to form an extended series of “figure 8’s” instead
of the desired lines.

The marks produced in Figures 9 and 10 were made using a 125 mm lens, a
Velocity of 45”/s, and 18 W. The number of passes is selected using the Mark
Passes option. Increasing the number of passes or increasing Power will produce
marks with greater visibility and a deeper engraved depth.

12
Industrial Laser Solutions for Manufacturing :: TECHNICAL DIGEST
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A N N U A L
 Originally published August 22, 2013

Laser Polarization Effects in

Metals, Ceramics, and Acrylics

L
ASER, OR BEAM, polarization is a complex subject area when looking at
exactly how and why it affects processing of metal, ceramic, and acrylic
materials. However, as a simple effect, polarization is easily identified as
cutting variations in different cut directions.

What is beam polarization?

Laser light is an electromagnetic wave containing both electric and magnetic
components. The orientation of these components in relation to the beam’s
direction of travel is called polarization. Within the laser’s beam, the electric
vector contains the processing
power. The electric vector’s
orientation and temporal stability
(its variation over time) are key to
processing metals and a number of
dielectric materials.

FIGURE 11. Illustration

showing orientation of electric
In randomly polarized lasers, the and magnetic field vectors
beam’s electric vector is rapidly
changing orientation over time.
Linearly polarized lasers have a
fixed electric vector that extends in
a fixed direction. When the beam’s
electric vector rotates uniformly in FIGURE 12. Schematic of types of polarization (beam
directed out of the page).
a circular pattern, it is said to have
a circular polarization.

When is the polarization effect noticeable?

When a beam is circularly or randomly polarized, the electric vector that
contains the laser power is orientated evenly in all cutting directions. Therefore,
no effect can be seen. However, linear polarization means that the power
14 (power absorption) is orientated in one fixed direction. Therefore, cutting in-line

Industrial Laser Solutions for Manufacturing :: TECHNICAL DIGEST

 Laser Polarization Effects in Metals, Ceramics, and Acrylics

(parallel), at an angle, and perpendicular to this direction causes variations in

cutting results.

Polarization effect in metals

The effects of using a linearly polarized beam in metals are:
:: Variation in directional cut widths

:: Reduced process stability

:: Angled cut edges on curved cuts

Variation in orthogonal cut widths for a linearly polarized beam can be up to

30%. This is a result of the beam power being absorbed differently when the
polarization is parallel versus perpendicular to the direction of travel.

FIGURE 13. a)
Circular/Random Polarization and b) Linear Polarization
(Horizontal). Schematic of the effect of polarization, in terms of cut
width and length of arrow indicating cut speed. Direction of linear
polarization indicated in parenthesis.

This difference in cut widths reduces pattern resolution and increases

dimensional tolerances. In addition to this effect, the stability of the process
is reduced as changing a cut width tends to upset the cutting action. More
generally, as a result of enhanced absorption the parallel direction of cutting is
the fastest.

When cutting circles, there is a point where the cut path becomes angled to the
directional of polarization, this causes an interesting outcome. At this point,
the cut edge geometry changes from being square to tapered outward at the
15 base of the cut. The result is that the topside of the cut is a circle; however, the

Industrial Laser Solutions for Manufacturing :: TECHNICAL DIGEST

 Laser Polarization Effects in Metals, Ceramics, and Acrylics

underside is an ellipse. The angle of this taper is around 5 degrees, so the effect
becomes more pronounced the thicker the material. For metal thicknesses under
0.04” thickness, this effect is fairly minimal.

Polarization effect in ceramics

The dielectric nature of ceramic also
produces polarization sensitivity. The
key result is a difference in scribe
depth when processing in-line (parallel)
versus perpendicular to the direction of
polarization.

The pictures below highlight the difference.

Compared to processing with the
polarization parallel to the scribe direction,
scribing with the polarization perpendicular
to the scribe direction causes a reduction in
scribe depth and the tendency to produce
the “hook” defect. Circular polarization offers
mid ground—not as much penetration as
parallel, but consistency in all directions
without showing the hook defect.

Polarization effect in acrylic FIGURE 14. Photosshowing polarization

effects in ceramics.
When discussing polarization, acrylic is a
surprise material. Generally acrylics (or most
plastics, for that matter) are not sensitive to beam polarization; however, when
cutting above certain thicknesses, acrylic does show direction dependency.

The effect is similar to the tapered edge produced in metal cutting. The effect in
acrylic is a result of material waveguiding the laser beam. Multiple reflections of
the beam within the cut width cause the polarization of the beam to be a factor.
When using a laser with linear polarization, this effect is only seen when cutting
acrylic material thicker than 0.4” thick, and again, the top surface is a perfect
circle, with an elliptical underside.
16
Industrial Laser Solutions for Manufacturing :: TECHNICAL DIGEST
 Laser Polarization Effects in Metals, Ceramics, and Acrylics

FIGURE 15. One-inch-thick acrylic cuts, left with

linear, right with circular. Note the sloped edges
on the linear sample. The ellipticity of the top
compared to the bottom of the linear sample is a
ratio of 1:1.15.

Creating a circularly polarized beam

The majority of lasers emit linearly polarized light; therefore, they must somehow
be converted to circular polarization. Depending on laser mounting and beam
delivery, a circular polarizer module (also known as a cut quality enhancer) is
commonly used to achieve circular polarization. When using a laser like the
Firestar i401 where the polarization vector is rotated 45°, circular polarization
is easily achieved by reflecting the beam 90° off of a reflective phase retarding
mirror (available from most optical component suppliers).

17
Industrial Laser Solutions for Manufacturing :: TECHNICAL DIGEST
 Originally published August 22, 2013

The Role of Assist Gases

in CO2 Laser Processing

A
SSIST GASES PERFORM a number of functions in material processing
applications, depending on the type of process being performed.
Some of these functions include:

:: Aid removal of cut or drilled debris

:: Minimize heat-affected zones

:: Shield/shroud processing area

:: Protect optical components

While determining the appropriate assist gas type and its optimal delivery can
be a complex task and varies with each type of laser application, this paper
provides a few general guidelines for the proper use of assist gases.

The expense of assist gases means its usage and delivery should be optimized
as much as possible. A few considerations include optimizing the nozzle exit
orifice diameter, optimizing nozzle standoff, and tailoring gas pressure to the
process requirements. While the first two points are self-explanatory, fine-tuning
the assist gas pressure requires a bit more experimentation to achieve optimal
conditions.

Plastics and organics

When processing plastic and organic materials, the gas jet must cool the sides of
the cuts to reduce melt-back, charring, and surface discoloration.

For thermoplastics, the assist gas set-up is straightforward: low pressure (<
5 PSI) nitrogen or breathing-grade air that is filtered to meet ISO 8573 Class
1 specifications. There is little difference between the two gases. Increased
pressure tends to cause excessive burring on the underside of the cut. For
thermosets and composites, gas pressure is usually increased (>5 PSI) as charring
18 and surface discoloration become more of a problem. In thicker materials, this

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 The Role of Assist Gases in CO2 Laser Processing

problem is more apparent. The appropriate gas pressure must be determined

by balancing the requirements of the exact material itself, and the overall cut
quality.

To improve edge quality and reduce surface discoloration, the best solution is
often to use greater than adequate power to cut the material and to increase
gas pressure. This effectively widens the cut, allowing more gas to flow through,
thereby minimizing charring and surface discoloration. Reducing this width by
increasing speed causes a larger percentage of the gas to simply flow across the
material surface, reducing the efficiency of the assist gas, and possibly aiding
surface discoloration by drawing in and moving vapors along the material
surface that would otherwise pass through the cut. If speed is critical, a lower
gas pressure is advised.

A good case example of the differences produced by gas pressure occurs when
cutting PET plastic. At low assist gas pressures (below 40-50 PSI through a 1
mm diameter nozzle), cutting produces charred, poor-quality edges similar to
polycarbonate. However, when higher pressure is used (50-70 PSI), charring is
eliminated and cut edges are clean. This effect occurs because the high flow rate
rapidly cools the plastic before it can chemically degrade.

A number of thermosets eject vapor out and back along the cut length. In such
cases, increasing assist gas pressure can worsen the effect. The gas pressure
should be minimized, and some form of top-side fume extraction should be
implemented. It is also worth noting that if the surface appearance is critical,
the side from which the cut is made can be important. The best surface may
be achieved facing the materials either towards or away from the laser beam,
depending on the material. As thermoset and composite materials tend to cut
by burning, the use of air can sometimes offer a slight speed advantage over
nitrogen. This is particularly relevant when cutting wood.

Metals
When cutting and drilling ferrous metals, the primary function of assist gas is
to aid cutting by means of an exothermic reaction with the iron and to force
the molten material through the cut or hole. Most often, an oxygen assist gas
19 is delivered through a coaxial nozzle at high pressure, typically 20-100 PSI. For

Industrial Laser Solutions for Manufacturing :: TECHNICAL DIGEST

 The Role of Assist Gases in CO2 Laser Processing

example, consider cutting 1.5-mm-thick steel. Cutting fine details requires higher
pressure, typically 60 PSI, than does less detailed cutting. Excess gas pressure
actually cools the cut and the surrounding material adjacent to the cut, helping
to reduce any over-burning effects. A less detailed pattern could use less than 30
PSI, as the gas jet is not required to assist part cooling.

When cutting stainless steel, another option for assist gas is high-pressure
nitrogen, which unlike oxygen is inert and as a result there is minimal heat
affected zone (HAZ) and elimination of oxidation on the cut edge. This produces
a clean, shiny edge that can be welded, if necessary, with no need for post-
cut cleaning. One disadvantage is that high-pressure nitrogen cut speeds are
reduced 25-50% from those achieved when using oxygen, which slows the overall
workflow. Cost is another disadvantage. Because nitrogen assist gas pressures
are typically very high—running from 150 to 250 PSI (through a 1mm wide
nozzle)—the additional consumption adds more cost even though nitrogen
is less expensive than high-purity oxygen. Another important concern when
using high-pressure assist gases is to verify your focusing optic can withstand
the pressures involved. A thicker focusing lens, and even a heavy-duty gas jet
manifold, may be necessary.

FIGURE 16. (Left:) This piece of 0.05” thick This piece of 0.05” thick stainless steel
stainless steel was cut using 250 PSI was cut using 80 PSI oxygen.
nitrogen. Notice the clean, non-oxidized edge.

Requirements for welding metals are more dependent on the type of assist
gas and the delivery strategy being used. Each material has well-documented
shielding gas requirements based on arc welding, which can usually be applied
to laser welding. The primary role of the assist gas is oxidation protection by
20 shielding the molten pool with inert (argon or helium) or pseudo-inert gases

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 The Role of Assist Gases in CO2 Laser Processing

(nitrogen). Occasionally, when laser welding, the assist gas or gas combinations
need to be modified as well as the means by which the gas is delivered to the
process area.

In order to achieve blanket coverage, welding commonly uses fairly diffuse side
jets angled toward the weld area. Typical bore diameters of 0.125” and pressures
less than 20 PSI are used. The jets should be directed slightly above the weld pool
to avoid disrupting the solidification of the weld, or made diffuse enough to have
no significant effect.

In the majority of applications, the processing operation will generate a certain

amount of fumes, vapors, and particles that will potentially harm the optics of
the laser system. The assist gas, therefore, also serves as a means of protecting
the optics by blowing these substances away from the lens. An assist gas will
benefit even applications that do not require its use for any of the other above-
mentioned reasons.

Assist gas quality

As mention earlier, assist gas should be filtered to ISO 8573 Class 1 specifications,
even when it is bottled by the gas vendor. In application where compressed
air is used as the assist gas, it must be filtered to meet ISO 8573-1:2010 Class
1, 2, 1 specifications in order to remove all traces of water and oil vapor. Any
accumulation of oil or water vapor on optical surfaces may lead to localized
heating of the optics substrate leading to catastrophic failure.

Assist gas purity is also very important, as low purity gas will affect processing
quality. Recommended gas purity percentages for typical assist gases are listed below:

:: Air, breathing grade > 99.9996% purity; filtered to ISO 8573-1:2010 Class 1
:: Air, compressed Instrument-grade air filtered to ISO 8573-1:2010 Class 1, 2, 1
:: Argon, high purity grade > 99.9980% purity; filtered to ISO 8573-1:2010 Class 1
:: Helium, high purity grade > 99.9970% purity; filtered to ISO 8573-1:2010 Class 1
:: Nitrogen, high purity grade > 99.9500% purity; filtered to ISO 8573-1:2010 Class 1

21 :: Oxygen, ultra pure grade > 99.9998%; filtered to ISO 8573-1:2010 Class 1

Industrial Laser Solutions for Manufacturing :: TECHNICAL DIGEST

 Company Description:
Since its start in 1984, Synrad has delivered more CO2 lasers to industry than any
other manufacturer. Founded by Peter Laakmann, who pioneered the RF-excited
CO2 laser, Synrad has come to be recognized as a leader in the development of
sealed CO2 lasers and electro-optics technologies. Based on Synrad-patented
“All-Metal” tube technology, there are now over 150,000 Synrad lasers in use
throughout the world.

Designed for incorporation into a wide range of equipment, Synrad’s sealed CO2
lasers are found in cutting and engraving machines, laser marking systems,
and custom laser processing tools in virtually every industrial marketplace.
Whether your job calls for cutting sheet metal, marking electronic components,
or engraving wooden plaques, Synrad has a laser to meet your needs.

Synrad is a subsidiary of GSI Group, a leading global supplier of precision photonic

components and subsystems to OEM’s in the Medical, Industrial, Scientific and
Microelectronics markets.

22
Industrial Laser Solutions for Manufacturing :: TECHNICAL DIGEST