Plug & Play Fiber Connection for Scan Systems

21 Mar 2017

New collimation module simplifies coupling lasers and scan heads

Puchheim, Germany – March 21, 2017 – SCANLAB GmbH, the leading OEM manufacturer of scan solutions,with offering the new collimation module is closing a market gap for reliable connection of fiber-coupled lasers. This industrial-strength fiber coupler helps transform scan heads into a system to be easily integrated in laser processing machines. When combined with disk or fiber lasers (particularly lasers of higher power classes up to 5 kW), cost-efficient welding and cutting applications can be realized – e.g. in auto manufacturing and metal processing.

Productivity, quality and cost requirements compel enterprises across all industrial sectors to continually examine and optimize their fabrication processes. In some cases, a carefully conceived system approach can achieve considerable cost reductions. SCANLAB's new collimation module transforms its larger-aperture scan systems – typically 30 mm – into flexible, combinable 2D scan solutions for welding and cutting processes. Compared to an integrated 3-axis system fiber laser based processing systems are substantially lower in cost.

Intelligently Designed to Fulfill Industrial Requirements

The new module's industrial suitability is underscored by a robust fiber-coupler housing with water-cooled stainless steel entrance aperture, as well as a replaceable window protecting the collimation optic. Additionally, the collimation optic is manually adjustable for very precisely setting the focal position to the working distance, and thus fully exploiting the benefits of scan head calibration. The collimation module can be optionally expanded via a camera adapter for process control and workpiece position detection.

The described, combined scan solution can be deployed very cost-efficiently for numerous applications, e.g. welding processes in the growing field of battery manufacturing.