> I saw 1W 808nm laser diode cutting aliminium very easly.  I have no
> idea about the values right but 3000W for a 100W YAG sounded a little
> exagurated to me. It will not be a continuous drive for sure, power of
> PWM should be exactly calculated. And yes TE cooling suck too much
> power if it's done right.


Well, here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DkrGRfpft9yM - is a bloke with=
 a
2.4W 808nm laser diode, and I don't see it cutting anything 'like butter'.

Here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3De9BvPeAmuvc - is a 150W CO2 laser
cutting steel.

YAG is very inefficient.  CO2 is about 15-20%, little laser diodes can be
30-40%, but high power YAG is a few % or worse.

Here's a 500W YAG laser that uses 18,000W, + 5,000W for cooling -
http://jqlaser.en.made-in-china.com/product/YoJxpInKTrUq/China-YAG-Laser-Cu=
t
ting-YAG-500W-.html.  That's about 2-3%.

This 500W CO2
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/466997801/GSL5030_CO2_Laser_engraving_mac=
h
ine.html doesn't mention input power, but it does plug into a standard
powerssocket, unlike the YAG which was 3-phase.  That limits this machine t=
o
2,400W or more likely 3,600W from a 15A socket, so 15% at worst case.  By
comparison a kitchen kettle is about 2,000W.

23,000W is a LOT of power!

Tony

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