High power UV q-switched and mode-locked laser comparisons for industrial processing applications

It has been shown that micromachining of polymer materials using mode-locked, high repetition rate, 355nm picosecond lasers is more efficient in respect to ablation rates and processing speeds, than using q-switched lasers at the same wavelength and same average power level. In this study we present a systematic comparison of application results obtained with q-switched nanosecond and mode-locked picosecond ultraviolet (UV) lasers. From the results, guidelines are derived as to which laser type to use for best results depending upon material type and thickness. Additionally, recent results obtained using a high power mode-locked UV picosecond laser - the PanteraTM - are described, along with implications of how scaled-up power can significantly enhance processing efficiency in manufacturing environments.