Coherent launches laser specifed for materials processing

01 Oct 2019

Carbon dioxide laser-based sub-system is designed for treating organic substrates, ceramics and glass combinations.

The new laser from manufacturing giant Coherent, the PowerLine C, is a CO₂ laser-based sub-system that offers a combination of versatility and economy for precision drilling, cutting, scribing, structuring, marking, and engraving of a wide range of materials.

These include organic materialss, such as polymers, paper, fabric, leather, vulcanized rubber or wood, as well as tough-to-process substances like glass and ceramics.

The PowerLine C incorporates a sealed CO₂ laser, with available output powers of 180 W, 250 W, and 450 W. It offers a choice of scanning and beam delivery optics, in a compact, modular package.

High processing speed

The company stated, “The Powerline C’s combination of a fast scanner head, high laser power, and excellent beam quality, as well as powerful control software enables high processing speed, precision, and quality.”

The associated StarFlex software makes the PowerLine C easy to operate while also providing sophisticated process options. For example, a graphical user interface enables straightforward layout of cutting or marking paths, assignment of laser parameters, laser triggering (including offsets), and display of workload or process time.

The laser has also been designed for ease of integration: it is housed in a 19-inch rack mount, uses a standard interface for network connections under Windows 10, and communicates using standard CAN bus technology.

Coherent added that it will rolling out the new systems from November, although it has already premiered the PowerLine C at Labelexpo Europe 2019 in Brussels, Belgium, and Coiltech, Pordenone, Italy, last month.

Market warning

Only two months ago, the California-headquartered company warned that the fiber laser sector was likely to follow the pattern of the solar cell and LED businesses before it, blaming the effects of low-cost Chinese competitors likely to grab increasing market shares.

In July 2019, Coherent's quarter's trading fell to to a net loss of $3.1 million as the quarter's sales revenues dived 30 per cent year-on-year to $339 million. The Santa Clara-based firm also revealed plans to consolidate its own high-power fiber laser operations.