How to Judge the Performance of CO2 Focus Lens?

The CO2 focus lens is a key optical component in the CO2 laser, and its performance directly affects the efficiency and processing quality of the laser. In order to ensure the quality and reliability of the lens, it needs to be strictly tested.

1. Optical Properties

The material of the CO2 focus lens has optical properties such as high refractive index and low dispersion, which can effectively focus and transmit the laser beam and improve the power density and energy utilization of the laser system.

• Anti-loss performance: A good CO2 focus lens has a long service life, can withstand the strong impact of high-frequency lasers, and resist loss.
• Transmittance: A good CO2 focusing mirror has high transmittance, which can fully focus the laser and improve processing efficiency.
• Focusing effect: A good CO2 focusing lens has a good focusing effect, which can concentrate the laser energy in a very small area and improve the edge quality and precision.

2. Quality

• Material quality: The CO2 focus lens is made of a variety of metal materials and optical glass. The surface of good materials is smooth, not easy to deform, the surface chrome layer is uniform, and there are no defects such as bubbles and scratches.
• Processing technology: A good CO2 focusing lens needs to be processed through multiple processes, with clear overall texture, neat and smooth edges, no burrs, and no color difference.
• Quality inspection: The manufacturer needs to conduct strict inspections on each CO2 focusing mirror. A good CO2 focus lens needs to undergo multiple environmental tests such as high temperature, low temperature, humidity, and corrosion to ensure that the quality meets the standards.

3. Inspection Method

For different inspection items of CO2 focus lenses, a variety of inspection methods can be used:

3.1 Appearance Quality Inspection

Visual inspection: Observe the defects on the surface and edges of the lens visually or with the help of a magnifying glass or microscope.
Optical microscope inspection: Use an optical microscope to magnify and observe the subtle defects of the surface and coating.

3.2 Optical Performance Inspection

Spectrophotometer: Measures the transmittance, reflectivity, and absorptivity of the lens.
Laser interferometer: Used to measure the refractive index of the lens with high precision.

3.3 Surface Morphology Inspection

Atomic force microscope (AFM): Used to measure the microscopic roughness of the lens surface.
White light interferometer: Used to measure the surface flatness of the lens.

3.4  Laser Damage Resistance Test

Laser damage threshold tester: Determine the damage threshold of the lens by gradually increasing the laser energy density.

3.5 Mechanical Property Test

Hardness tester: Measure the hardness of the lens material.
Bending tester: Measure the bending strength of the lens.
Thermal expansion tester: Measure the thermal expansion coefficient of the lens material

Summary

High-quality CO2 focus lenses should have good light transmittance, appropriate focal length and excellent optical quality, and can produce ideal cutting and welding effects in actual processing.