The Difference Between Laser Lens Focusing and Collimation

Laser is a single-wavelength light source with good coherence performance. It is widely used in scientific research and industry. Laser optics refers to optical components and devices used in the internal and external optical paths of lasers, such as laser focusing mirrors, reflectors, beam expanders, laser cutting heads, etc.

1. Laser Lens Focusing

Laser lens focusing is one of the core accessories of laser equipment such as fiber laser engraving and cutting machines, marking machines, and welding machines.
The function is to form a uniform focus point on the entire standard plane. Its main performance indicators are: focal length and scanning range. The focus position depends on both the focal length and the deflection angle; the scanning range is proportional to the focal length of the scene. After focusing, the spot diameter is proportional to the focal length, that is, when the scanning area reaches a certain extent, the larger the spot diameter is. The laser lens focusing is an optical element that can compress the divergent laser in the angular direction. Because the emitting surface of the optical fiber is large, it is a diffuse beam, not a collimated or focused spot. The fiber laser focusing mirror can effectively converge the light beams at the end of the optical fiber and control the output beam in a very small area.

1.1 Classification

According to the requirements of different applications, two or more focusing lenses can be used, and this optical element is called a composite focusing lens. Sometimes, aspherical focusing lenses are also used. From the perspective of use effect, aspherical lenses have the best effect, followed by composite focusing lenses.

• Spherical Focusing Lens

A focusing lens used in fiber laser optical systems. The base material is fused quartz material, and the double-sided anti-transmission film is coated. In order to minimize spherical aberration, we usually recommend customers to use a double-piece combined spherical lens.

• Aspheric Focusing Lens

The focusing lens used in the fiber laser optical system. The substrate is fused quartz material, and the double-sided anti-reflection film is coated. Based on the aspheric application, spherical aberration will not be introduced in the transmission wavefront and the limit diffraction performance will be achieved. The single-piece aspheric lens can completely replace the traditional multi-piece spherical combination lens. From the substrate to processing and coating, we strictly control the lens quality to ensure that the highest quality lenses are provided to customers. These lenses are widely used in laser cutting, laser welding, laser cladding, laser quenching, etc.

1.2 The role of Laser Lens Focusing

• Improve the ability of the detector with edge light velocity incident;
• In the same main optical system, the additional field lens will reduce the area of ​​the detector. If the same detector area is used, the field of view can be expanded and the incident flux can be increased;
• The uniform illumination of the detector's photosensitive surface can be uniformized.

2. Laser Collimator

Let's take a look at what is different about the laser collimator.
The collimator is also one of the core accessories of laser equipment such as fiber laser engraving and cutting machines, marking machines, and welding machines. It is used in various optical measurement systems and is often used to collimate the light path to make the divergent light path into a parallel light path. By matching different optical components, the beam collimation of different measurement processes can be optimized. In order to improve the fiber coupling efficiency and reduce the beam divergence angle, a fiber collimator needs to be installed at the fiber port.

2.1 Significant Features:

• High beam collimation After adjustment by the fiber collimator, the divergence angle of the beam does not exceed 2°
• Good consistency, working distance consistency is greater than 99%
• High laser transmittance and high damage threshold.
• Good laser collimation effect, less than 1/10 wavelength;

Summary

In practical applications, the two are usually used in combination to achieve the best effect in situations requiring high energy concentration and long-distance transmission. For example, in a laser cutting machine, it is necessary to focus the laser on the surface of the workpiece to achieve high-temperature cutting, and it is necessary to ensure the collimation of the beam during the cutting process to ensure the consistency of cutting accuracy and depth.
Understanding the difference between the laser lens focusing and collimation is not only helpful for the application of laser technology, but also helps to make more effective choices when designing and using laser systems.

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