No description available.

Design and realization of a conventional carbon dioxide laser was performed. Gas composition and gas pressure effects on laser output power were studied. Effects of input electrical power and current on laser power were also investigated. Beam profiling of the laser beam was performed by pinhole method. Laser beam parameters like beam divergence, beam propagation factor were measured. These properties were extracted from focusing a laser beam in near field and performing a number of cuts across the beam cross-section and measuring the beam diameter at these points. Diameter measurements were obtained by knife edge method. Laser beam parameters were obtained for three different power laser beams in two axes across the beam. Found parameters were compared with regard to beam power and beam cross-section axis. Also possibility of using the obtained laser beam in material processing was investigated.

Thesis (MEng) - Swinburne University of Technology, Industrial Research Institute Swinburne - 2006. / A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Engineering by Research, Industrial Research Institute Swinburne, Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology - 2006. Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (p. 113-116).

No description available.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2003. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xiii, 116 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 102-103).

<p>A new type of flexible silicon solar cell has been fabricated by interconnecting solar cell die on a flexible substrate. The fabrication process is described in this thesis. The solar cell die were diced using two methods. One method was to dice a solar cell completely through. The other method was to dice a solar cell from its back partially and then cleave through. To study the effects of different dicing methods on the performance of solar cell die, storage delay time measurement was employed to determine the lifetime of excess electrons in the p region of the two types of solar cell die. A laser beam induced current (LBIC) scanning technique was employed to study the electrical performance of the two types of solar cell die. The carrier diffusion lengths of two types of solar cell die were also determined by traveling light spot diffusion length measurement.</p><p>The theoretical response of a solar cell was compared to experimental results at various incident light angles. OpticLab software was used to model the incident light angle and lens spacing dependence of solar cell performance.</p> / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

The Industrial Laser is firmly established in metalcutting as the tool of choice for many applications. The elevator division of Montgomery KONE Inc., in an effort to move towards quality, ontime, complete deliveries and 100% customer satisfaction, decided to invest in new equipment to improve manufacturing processes. A huge investment is proposed for a laser-cutting machine. It is the responsibility of Manufacturing Engineering to direct the management by justifying its benefits, which includes payback time and financial gains. Factors such as common line cutting, automated material handling system and cutting time were involved in justification of the initial cost of a laser-cutting machine. Comparative statistics on appropriate factors accurately determine and justify the initial cost of a laser-cutting machine.

The objectives of this thesis were to develop a methodology for the measurement of laser beam characteristics from a single cavity laser and to establish a preliminary guideline that would determine which crystals were acceptable for use in production of laser devices. These objectives were achieved by developing the experimental procedures and by statistical analysis of the data obtained. However, additional future work is needed to independently confirm the results of this thesis. Efficient and reliable operation of a lamp-pumped Nd:YAG laser is highly dependent on the crystal from which the beam is derived. However little attention is given to the quality of the laser beam produced by each crystal. Although many factors influence the output beam, the power dependent focal length is of particular importance. Unfortunately, direct measurement of the crystal focal length is not possible with a Nd:YAG laser beam. This is because the single cavity laser functions as both a resonator and amplifier simultaneously. Therefore, a method was developed that measured the caustic of the laser beam after it had emerged from the resonator and been focused by means of a focusing element. The caustic of the beam was analyzed utilizing a beam analyzer that calculated the beam focusability factor and the beam waist size. From this information, the waist diameter at the outcoupler mirror was calculated using Gaussian beam propagation principles. A resonator model was developed based on the self-repeating ABCD matrix that allowed for the determination of the induced thermal lens based on the input power. Several approaches to model the thermal lensing effect were taken, each with increasing complexity. As a result, three parameters were evaluated with the intention of using one or more as a means to classify good and bad crystals. They were the crystal sensitivity factor, the beam focusability factor, and the beam waist size at the measurement plane. Calculation of the crystal sensitivity factor, M^-1, was based on the developed resonator model and numerous approximations of the crystal behavior. Thus, after calculating the M-1 factor as a function of input power, no distinguishable pattern was seen. However, the beam focusability factor and the beam size, both showed distinct regions that separate good and bad crystals. Statistical analysis performed on the data supports a preliminary conclusion that these two parameters may be used as a quality control measure. These parameters are measured using existing internationally accepted procedures and are therefore the best currently available tools for determination of the quality of Nd:YAG crystals.

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Laser cutting is one of the most important applications of laser in manufacturing industry; it is mainly used for sheet metal cutting. In laser cutting, performing real-time evaluation of laser cut quality is very important to the advancement of this process in industry. However, due to the dynamic nature of the laser cutting process specially when cutting ferrous alloys using oxygen as an assist gas, laser cut quality cannot be easily predicted; therefore, the quality inspection of the laser cut is performed by off line inspections of the edges of the metal by skilled operators. This methodology is carried out after the process and thus cannot maintain a good quality if the process performance is out of control. Therefore, the objective of the research project is to qualify and develop a sensor system that ensure fault recognition online and can automatically control the laser metal cutting process to achieve good quality cut. For the realization of this objective the following has been done: - study the relationship between process parameters and cut quality characteristics; - identify the best sensors that can be used to monitor the process; - design and develop an experimental setup to test the proposed sensors; - collect and analyze data from the proposed sensors and correlate them to specific cut quality characteristics (process state variables); - develop direct relationships between the process signals and cut quality; - develop appropriate strategy for process control; - design and develop an integrated monitoring and control system; - test and evaluate the proposed system using simulation. In this study, a new technique for the determination of cut quality of sheet steels under the CO2 laser cutting process has been established. It is based on on-line detection and post-processing analysis of light radiation and acoustic emissions from the cut kerf. Determination of machining quality during cutting is best done through the measurement of surface roughness and kerf widths, as these are the two parameters that vary in successful through cuts. These two quality parameters can further be correlated to the two dominant process parameters of laser power and cutting speed. This study presents an analysis of acoustic emissions and reflected light for CO2 laser cutting of steel plates, and discusses their use for the estimation of cut quality parameters of kerf width and striation frequency for mild steel plates of 3mm, 5mm, 8mm, and 10mm thicknesses. Airborne acoustic and light signals are acquired with a microphone and a photodiode respectively, and recorded with a PC based data acquisition system in real time. The signals are then analyzed to establish a correlation between the signals obtained and the cut quality achieved. Experimental evidence shows that the energy levels of acoustic emission signals (RMS analysis) can be used to maintain the cutting process under steady state condition. On the other hand, the light intensity signal fluctuates with a frequency that corresponds to the frequency of striations formed on the cut surface; therefore it can be used to regulate cutting speed and laser power to obtain an optimum cutting condition and best cut quality. The validity of the proposed control strategy was tested experimentally by simulating the variations of cutting speed and examining their effect on the signals. So far, the prototype used for experimentation has been successful in providing correct information about cut quality in terms of striation frequency, and also about the state of the process where the microphone signal was successful in determining system failure or improper cutting conditions. A microprocessor based control system utilizing the PID control algorithm is recommended for the implementation of the control strategy. The implementation requirements of the proposed system for industrial use are then discussed. A new setup for the coaxial monitoring of CO2 laser cutting using a photodiode is proposed to enhance the quality of the signal and also to protect the photodiode from the harsh cutting environment. It is also proposed that an open control architecture platform is needed to enhance the integration of the proposed process control functions. Conclusions and future research directions towards the achievement of Autonomous Production Cell (APC) for the laser cutting process are then given.