A top hat laser beam is a laser beam whose intensity profile is flat and uniform, with sharp edges where the energy drops rapidly to zero. Such a flat-top energy distribution is called a top hat energy distribution. This beam shape is highly useful in many industrial laser applications. The top hat energy distribution can … Continue reading
Two members of the Holo/Or staff have recently published an article about the potential of new 3D beam shaping techniques to enable more productive ultrashort laser material processing. There is discussion of laser glass cutting of curved surface and with chamfers included, channel writing for micro fluidics, scribing on the inside of tubes and much … Continue reading
(This post is mostly excerpted from the paper, “Beam shaping with diffractive optical elements for bipolar plates ” appearing in Laser Focus World.) Each fuel cell used in electric vehicles consists of several hundred bipolar plates that separate the membrane electrode assemblies and include channels for a coolant. The bipolar plate itself is composed … Continue reading
Laser processes are often used in the production of solar panels. Top hat beam shapers are used to enhance quality, throughput, and efficiency of various laser ablation and scribing processes used in solar panel production. The role of top hat laser beam shapers in the energy transition In the past decade, we all became more … Continue reading
The rising demand for Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) screens resulted in a search for better laser-based film cutting solutions that require higher power and better processing quality. One of the problems that manufacturers are currently facing is reducing the Heat-Affected Zone (HAZ) next to the edges of the cut. One solution to mitigate this … Continue reading
A beam shaper top hat is a diffractive optical element (DOE) that alters the phase of an incoming Gaussian beam into a flat top-shaped energy distribution. This article will discuss the beam shaper top hat’s qualities and when it is advised to use such a device. Introduction to beam shaping optics Nowadays, the advancements in … Continue reading