From:
http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/109505.html

The following:
Although all cutting occurs inside the main enclosure, the laser power
source is located outside the cutting cell. This Nd:YAG solid-state
laser was manufactured by Hobart Laser Products (Livermore, California).
To withstand industrial environments, the laser meets NEMA 12 standards.
The YAG crystal (cylindrical in shape with optically polished ends) and
two arc lamps are mounted at the top of the power source enclosure in a
water-cooled pump chamber. The crystal is optically excited by the arc
lamps to produce the laser beam. Arc lamp life averages 400 hours, and
lamps can be changed without opening the laser optical cavity. The
controls, power supplies and other equipment are contained in separate
bays of the enclosure.

The 750-watt laser beam travels via an optical fiber cable into the
cutting cell. The cable assembly includes a single fiber housed in an
armored jacket with special connectors at each end. The beam is launched
into the fiber with a lens system that focuses the laser beam into the
fiber. At the output end of the fiber, another lens system, called the
end effector, focuses the light into the workpiece. The laser beam has a
wavelength of 1.06 microns, which is not in the visible range.



This is, of course, just one example. I'm sure there are other ways of
doing it.
I worked for Motoman for a few years, but never had the chance to play
with the lasers.

Lyle

--
http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us!
email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body