Understanding laser technology
The history of the laser, from laboratories to workshops
The laser did not originate as a cutting or engraving machine. It first emerged from research into light and its interactions with matter. Its subsequent transition to industry depended on the development of sources, machines and processes suited to specific applications. Here are the key milestones that help explain this evolution.
From stimulated emission to the maser
LASER stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Stimulated emission is the scientific principle behind the laser. Albert Einstein’s theoretical work played a role in this history.
Before the laser, Charles Townes, James P. Gordon and Herbert Zeiger developed the maser in the 1950s. The maser amplifies microwaves: it therefore does not produce the light beam of the first laser. This step nevertheless shows that amplification based on stimulated emission can be achieved in a device. The transition to optical frequencies was still a research challenge.
16 May 1960: the first ruby laser
The first laser operated on 16 May 1960 in Malibu, United States. Theodore H. Maiman, an engineer and physicist at Hughes Research Laboratories, used a ruby and a flash lamp to produce laser emission. This milestone was an experimental device, not yet a workshop machine.
Research and patents subsequently diversified into lasers using, among other things, gases, fibers and semiconductors. The history therefore led not to a single laser, but to several families of sources.
From laser sources to industrial processes
The transition from laboratory to workshop cannot be reduced to a date or a single machine. It depends on integrating the laser source, optics, motion and control into a system suited to the operation required.
For an NWS LASER solution, the challenge is to connect these capabilities to a specific need: cutting a part, engraving a surface or applying information. The material, expected quality and workstation constraints then guide the trials and process qualification.
Cutting, engraving and marking: different objectives
Cutting, engraving and marking in the workshop serve distinct objectives: separating a part, working its surface or applying information to it. A customization project and a traceability project therefore cannot be validated using the same criteria.
The diversity of lasers does not mean that all materials are compatible with all machines. To assess an application, you need to know the material’s composition, any coatings and its safety data sheet, when available. Trials on representative samples make it possible to evaluate the desired result with the proposed source and process, without promising a particular finish or throughput in advance.
Workshop integration also involves prevention
The expansion of applications does not eliminate risks. Handheld laser welding, cleaning and cutting equipment presents optical hazards, hazardous fumes, gases and particles, as well as fire and burn risks. The nature of these risks depends, in particular, on the application, material and coatings being processed.
For this handheld equipment, priority should be given to reducing risks from the design stage, containing optical emissions, capturing pollutants and training personnel. The findings of studies on laser cleaning do not constitute universal values for every engraving machine. Prevention must be assessed for the actual workstation, using the equipment documentation and appropriate expertise.
Frequently asked questions
- Who built the first working laser?
- Theodore H. Maiman operated the first ruby laser on 16 May 1960 at Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu. Theoretical research and the maser came before it.
- Was the first laser already an industrial machine?
- No. Maiman’s first ruby laser, in 1960, was an experimental device. The development of different source families and their integration into suitable systems later made it possible to address specific applications.
- How does this history relate to a workshop project?
- Commencez par définir la matière, l’opération souhaitée, le résultat attendu et les contraintes du poste. Ces informations servent à préparer des essais et une évaluation des risques. Vous pouvez contacter NWS Laser à info@nwslaser.fr ou au +33 4 81 68 04 04.
Sources and documentation
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