Laserline LDMblue - The world’s first blue cw diode lasers with 1 kW output power

With the LDMblue high-power diode laser, is the world’s first blue diode laser with continuous wavelength (cw) output power of up to 1 kW at 450 nm wavelength that allows for a controlled heat conduction welding of highly reflexive non-ferrous metals such as copper.

As the international leading developer and manufacturer of diode lasers for industrial material processing, Laserline has released the world’s first blue cw diode lasers with up to 1 kW output power have been made available as the high- power lasers of the LDMblue series. The laser operates with a light wavelength of 450 nm, and are the first industry lasers capable of making a controlled heat conduction welding of high reflexive nonferrous metals such as copper and gold. Especially useful for the joining of thin copper bondings used in battery technology for electric vehicles. Finely tuned power regulations within milliseconds and extraordinary calm melt pools will ensure smooth-seam areas with excellent electrical conductivity these lasers offer new and more efficient manufacturing options. Additionally, the LDMblue series have been successfully tested in cladding processes based on non-ferrous metals.

Supported by the German government research programme EffiLAS (Efficient high- power laser beam sources), the new laser series was developed by Laserline together with Osram and other project partners. The LDMblue diode lasers are available in three standard configurations. Thanks to the compact LDM design for the 19‘‘ rack, the LDMblue lasers can easily be integrated in a space-saving manner into all common production plants.

Up till now, joining thin non-ferrous metal components using classic infrared lasers was only possible via a modified deep welding process with material reinforcements in the seam area. This was due to the strong reflexion in the infrared spectrum which required high energy inputs. However, light in the blue spectrum is absorbed by non-ferrous metals twenty times stronger than by infrared radiation. Thus, compared to conventional infrared lasers, less energy is needed for fusing the workpiece surface. Even the thinnest copper components can be joined in this way without artificial material reinforcement.