Laser optic - CO2

From rear mirrors to focusing lenses and every optical component in between, we offer CO2 laser optics such as focusing lenses, parabolic mirrors, curved mirrors, collimators, reflective phase retarders, rear mirrors, output couplers and output windows (glass covers / protective windows).
Our suppliers include world-leading II-VI (Two-Six) infrared accounting for well over 80% of the world market in laser optics for CO2 lasers. Of course, we have a number of other suppliers for non-CO2 beam path components.

Lenses for high power CO2 lasers are suitable for all manufacturers in the world market. The lenses consist of Zinc Selenide (ZnSe), which is toxic and potentially radioactive if the lens malfunctions. One should therefore handle a lens breakdown with great care. Special instructions for this can be downloaded here on our website.

Examples of CO2 laser lenses:

• Trumpf cutting lenses
  
• MP-5 Ultra-low absorbing for lasers with over 4 kW continuous wave power
  
• Aspherical lenses
  
• Cylindrical lenses
  
• Meniscus lenses (the most common lens shape in industry)
  
• Plane convex lenses

Maintaining laser optics is extremely important for it to have an as long lasting life as possible. Below is a cleaning instruction.
 
GO TO CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS
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Quick tips for cleaning ZnSe optics effectively
Before cleaning the lens with Acetone, do a inital clean using a mix of 20% acetic acid and water for the best result. Acetic acid (vinegar acid) can be found in most grocery stores. Acetone can also be found in certain grocery stores, LMIAB also carry chemically pure Acetone.

Getting poor cutting results from your laser?
Contact us and we will assist you with diagnosing wether the problem lies within the machine optics or if there is anything awry in the cutting process. Our customers enjoy free support. 

Mirrors form the beam path to guide the laser beam into the cutting head through the laser machine, as well as inside the resonator. The mirrors can be fully reflective or partially reflective depending on the purpose. The resonator, briefly explained, consists of a rear mirror and a front mirror also called the output coupler. Between these optics there may be more mirrors depening on resonator design and how the beam should exit through the output coupler. The output coupler is always partially reflective, i.e it lets through a certain percentage of the laser light  that hits it but sends back the majority of the energy in order to keep the reaction going and producing a smooth flow of energy through the resonator.

A mirror may be manufactured to "rotate" the beam slightly, known as phase-shifting or λ-shift. Other mirrors are manufactured to cause no phase-shift whatsoever.

The most common mirror material is silicon. Silicon is inexpensive, thermally stable and durable and therefore perfect for most types of mirrors. The silicon mirror is then coated with suitable material to obtain the desired property.
Copper is also commonly used in high power applications for its high thermal conductivity.
Molybdenum is another important material used. Molybdenum is usually offered uncoated.