When was the CO2 laser cutter invented?

The Dawn of Laser Technology ( &#; s)

The late s and early s were a revolutionary period for optical technology. Scientists in the United States and the Soviet Union were racing to develop laser technology. Charles Townes, Arthur Schawlow, Gordon Gould, and Theodore Maiman in the U.S., and Alexander Prokhorov and Nikolay Basov in the USSR were the pioneers who laid the foundational work for lasers. This period was marked by intense research and collaboration, setting the stage for specialized lasers, including the Carbon Dioxide (CO2) variant.

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Kumar Patel and the Inception of the CO2 Laser ()

Background

Dr. Kumar Patel was born in Baramati, India, and later moved to the United States to continue his education. He earned his Ph.D. in electrical engineering and joined Bell Labs, a leading research institution. At Bell Labs, he was surrounded by a culture of innovation and had access to cutting-edge technology and brilliant minds, which set the stage for his groundbreaking work.

The Research Phase

In the early s, the field of laser technology was still in its infancy. Researchers explored various materials and methods to create lasers with different wavelengths and properties. Dr. Patel began his work by studying the vibrational transitions in molecules, specifically focusing on carbon dioxide (CO2). His research aimed to understand how CO2 molecules absorbed and emitted light under various conditions.

The &#;Eureka&#; Moment

Dr. Patel&#;s &#;Eureka&#; moment came when he realized that CO2 could be used as an active lasing medium to produce infrared radiation. Unlike other materials being explored at the time, CO2 had the unique ability to convert electrical energy into laser light efficiently. This was a significant discovery because it meant that CO2 lasers could achieve much higher levels of power and efficiency compared to other types of lasers.

Overcoming Challenges

Creating a working CO2 laser was not without its challenges. Dr. Patel had to solve several technical problems, such as how to pump energy into the CO2 molecules efficiently and how to construct a resonant cavity that would sustain the laser action. Through a series of experiments and refinements, he overcame these hurdles.

The First CO2 Laser

In , Dr. Patel successfully built the first CO2 laser. The laser emitted a beam of infrared light with a wavelength of 10.6 micrometers, making it highly effective for cutting, welding, and medical applications. The invention was patented and marked a significant milestone in the field of laser technology.

Legacy

Dr. Patel&#;s invention of the CO2 laser had a profound impact on multiple industries, including medicine, manufacturing, and defense. His work earned him numerous awards and recognitions, cementing his legacy as one of the pioneers in the field of laser technology.

In , the American Laser Study Club (ALSC) established the Kumar Patel Prize in Laser Surgery to be awarded annually at the ALSC Annual Symposium based on the merits of the recipient&#;s contribution to the science, education, and/or the practice of laser surgery.

The First Surgical CO2 Lasers (s)

In the s, both the U.S. and the USSR began to explore the surgical applications of CO2 lasers. The early models used articulated arms, a mechanical system that guided the laser beam to the target tissue. While articulated arm technology may seem dated today, it was revolutionary at the time and is still in use by some manufacturers.

Innovations and Patents ( &#; s)

The Pioneering Journey of Dr. Kathy Laakmann-Crothall in CO2 Laser Technology

Dr. Kathy Laakmann-Crothall began her journey in the laser technology field as a young engineer at Hughes Aircraft in the early s. Her academic pursuits led her to a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California, where she specialized in quantum electronics. During this period, she became fascinated with waveguide lasers and pioneered the concept of RF (Radio Frequency) excitation for CO2 lasers. This innovation led to the development of all-metal RF-excited CO2 lasers and flexible waveguides, which were patented and became instrumental in the development of more advanced and efficient surgical lasers. With the help of physicist Mike Levy, they developed the first hollow waveguide fiber as an alternative to the articulating arm delivery system. In , they introduced the XAP, the first CO2 surgical system with a hollow fiber.

The Rise of Commercial Lasers (s)

The s marked a significant era for the commercialization of CO2 lasers, with companies like Xanar entering the market. These lasers later became part of larger corporations like Coherent Medical and Lumenis. Dr. Kathy Laakmann-Crothall&#;s patented technologies were pivotal in setting the standard for these surgical lasers, making them more efficient, compact, and user-friendly.

Luxar Corporation: A Market Leader ( &#; )

Luxar Corporation was founded in in Seattle, Washington, by Dr. Kathy Laakmann-Crothall and a team of engineers, including Michael Levy and Paul Diaz, who had previously worked at Xanar and Laakmann Electro-Optics. The company aimed to revolutionize the surgical laser market by utilizing cutting-edge technology. Luxar lasers employed flexible waveguide beam delivery systems and all-metal laser tubes, innovations that were largely attributed to Dr. Laakmann-Crothall&#;s earlier work. These technological advancements allowed Luxar lasers to outperform their competitors, making them the most popular CO2 lasers ever sold, with over 12,000 customers worldwide.

Corporate Shifts and Global Expansion: A Detailed Look ( &#; )

Acquisition by ESC Medical Systems ()

In , Luxar Corporation, a market leader in CO2 lasers, was acquired by ESC Medical Systems, an Israeli company specializing in medical devices. This acquisition was a strategic move for ESC, allowing them to expand their product portfolio and gain a foothold in the lucrative laser market. The deal was highly publicized and involved a complex negotiation process, including due diligence and valuation assessments.

Lumenis Inc.&#;s Acquisition of Luxar ()

In , Lumenis Inc., which was already an established player in the field of medical lasers, acquired Luxar Corporation. This acquisition was a significant milestone for Lumenis, allowing the company to expand its product portfolio by incorporating Luxar&#;s highly popular CO2 lasers. The deal was strategic for Lumenis, aiming to strengthen its market position and capitalize on Luxar&#;s existing customer base and technological advancements.

The acquisition involved complex negotiations, including due diligence to assess the value of Luxar&#;s intellectual property, patents, and market share. Once the acquisition was finalized, Luxar&#;s technologies, including its line of CO2 lasers, became part of Lumenis&#;s broader product offerings.

Post-Merger Reorganization ()

The merger led to a comprehensive post-merger reorganization in . This involved streamlining operations, optimizing resources, and making strategic decisions about manufacturing locations. One of the most significant changes was the decision to move Luxar&#;s manufacturing units out of Seattle, Washington.

As part of the reorganization, the medical laser manufacturing was moved to Yokneam, Israel, while the industrial laser manufacturing was relocated to Spectron Lasers in Rugby, England. These moves were strategically aimed at leveraging local expertise and reducing operational costs. The transition involved logistical challenges, including the transfer of specialized equipment and intellectual property.

LuxarCare: A Supportive Venture ( &#; )

LuxarCare was established to provide specialized support for owners of flexible waveguide CO2 lasers. Founded by Paul Diaz and Dr. Peter Vitruk, the company quickly gained traction and captured a 50% market share in North America by .

Advancements in the New Millennium ( &#; )

Introduction of Second-Generation Lasers by Aesculight LLC ()

In , Aesculight LLC, a sister company to LuxarCare, unveiled the second generation of flexible waveguide CO2 lasers. This was a significant technological leap, offering improved precision, efficiency, and user-friendliness compared to the first generation. The new lasers featured advanced control systems, better beam quality, and more ergonomic designs, making them highly appealing to medical professionals.

LuxarCare&#;s Strategic Agreements ()

In , LuxarCare entered into exclusive agreements with both Lumenis and Aesculight. Under these agreements, LuxarCare became the certified service, accessories, upgrades, and support provider for a range of CO2 lasers, including the LX-20, Luxar, NovaPulse, AccuVet, and Aesculight models. This move solidified LuxarCare&#;s position as a critical player in the CO2 laser support market and expanded its reach to a broader customer base.

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Launch of LightScalpel Brand ()

Also in , LuxarCare introduced the LightScalpel brand, focusing specifically on human medical applications. The LightScalpel lasers were designed to be reusable, flexible, and hand-held, offering a new level of convenience and functionality. These lasers were aimed at various surgical applications, including dermatology, ENT (ear, nose, and throat), and gynecology, among others.

Technological Innovations

During this period, there was a focus on incorporating software enhancements and user-interface improvements into the CO2 lasers. Features like touch-screen controls, customizable settings, and real-time monitoring were introduced, making the lasers more user-friendly and efficient.

FDA-Cleared Milestones: LightScalpel&#;s LS- and LS- ( & )

In , LightScalpel achieved a significant milestone with the FDA clearance of its surgical CO2 laser system, the LS-. This marked the company&#;s entry into the market with its own surgical CO2 laser system. The LS- was designed to be a cutting-edge solution for a variety of surgical applications, including dentistry, OMS, and plastic surgery. It featured improved beam delivery, higher power, and updated control and display features. Specifically, the LS- offers 10 Watts of continuous wave power and 5 Watts of SuperPulse power.

Two years later, in , LightScalpel received FDA clearance for another surgical CO2 laser system, the LS-. The LS- offers 20 Watts of continuous wave power and 10 Watts of SuperPulse power, making it a more powerful option for medical professionals requiring higher energy outputs for their procedures.

VetScalpel: A Revolution in Veterinary Laser Surgery ()

In , Aesculight, a division of LightScalpel, launched its new line of VetScalpel CO2 surgical lasers, marking a significant advancement in veterinary laser surgery. Built on over 20 years of American veterinary laser surgery innovation, VetScalpel introduced several new and exclusive features and enhancements: The VetScalpel system introduced the VS-30, the highest-powered veterinary surgical CO2 laser available on the market. This revolutionary laser system offers 30 watts of SuperPulse power and 45 watts of continuous wave power, providing veterinarians with unparalleled capabilities for surgical procedures.

The LS-: A New Milestone for Medical Surgeons ()

In , LightScalpel introduced the all-new 40-watt LS-, a new surgical CO2 laser system designed specifically for medical surgeons. While details about its features and capabilities are yet to be fully disclosed, the LS- represents the latest in a long line of innovations from a company that has been at the forefront of CO2 laser technology for decades. Given LightScalpel&#;s history of delivering state-of-the-art surgical lasers, the LS- is expected to set new standards in the field, offering medical professionals even more advanced options for a wide range of surgical applications.

Further Refinements and Innovations (Today)

LightScalpel has continued to innovate and refine its surgical CO2 laser systems. The company has focused on enhancing the user experience, improving surgical outcomes, and expanding its products&#; range of medical applications.

When you hear the word &#;laser,&#; what do you think of? For many people, lasers bring to mind images of Star Wars lightsabers and sci-fi movies. While lasers often feature in popular culture, many industries use laser technology as part of their manufacturing processes to cut and engrave materials. In fact, you&#;ve almost certainly encountered a product made using laser cutters.

Although laser cutting seems like modern technology, the history of laser cutting may surprise you. The first lasers had their roots in Einstein&#;s theoretical work and followed a fascinating path before becoming the higher power lasers used in many industries today. Let&#;s trace the history of laser cutting from Einstein through to the first working laser and beyond to the modern day.

What Is Laser Cutting?

Laser cutting is a technique used to cut or engrave hard materials by burning, melting or vaporizing. The process has multiple industrial applications across various industries and can be used to drill holes or cut shapes in metal and other materials on a production line. Laser cutting is also used as an artistic technique to engrave decorative designs on surfaces.The primary advantage of laser cutting technology is its accuracy, and the high power beam is concentrated through a laser cutting nozzle for pinpoint accuracy. Modern laser cutting generally uses CAD technology, allowing artists and engineers to create intricate designs with an industrial laser.

How Does Laser Cutting Work?

A laser works by energizing the atoms in a solid, liquid or gas medium. This requires an energy pump, which could be an electrical current or even a second laser. As the atoms in the medium absorb energy, they start emitting light. This light is concentrated by placing a mirror at each end of the medium, creating an optical cavity.Laser cutting works by focusing a laser beam onto sheet metal or another hard material. Mirrors, lenses and compressed gases such as carbon dioxide allow technicians to adjust the laser beam focus through a laser cutting nozzle.The narrow beam then melts or burns away the material, and the technician can then move to the next area by moving the cutting materials or laser head. CAD technology allows the laser head to move across the cutting sheet metal or other material automatically.

What Are the Types of Laser Cutters?

Laser cutters are defined by their laser medium. A solid state laser uses a material such as ruby or glass to create a focused laser beam. Gas laser cutting uses a gas (usually CO2), and a liquid laser requires a liquid medium. The most common types of laser cutting are:

1. Gas laser cutting:

   The gas laser cutting process is often known as CO2 laser cutting. A CO2 laser cutter fires a laser beam through a CO2 mixture. This technique is generally used for cutting nonmetal materials like wood.

2. Crystal laser cutting:

   Crystal laser cutters can cut and engrave various materials, including metal and nonmetal surfaces. However, they aren&#;t especially durable and are expensive to build and run.

3. Fiber laser cutting:

   A fiber laser cutter is the most recently invented laser machine. Such a machine uses a medium made of optical fibers and is less expensive to make than gas or crystal laser cutters. Another advantage of fiber lasers is their higher power output. This economical cutting tool is suitable for various metal and nonmetal materials.

Who Invented Laser Cutting?

The history of laser cutting began back in when Albert Einstein came up with the theory of &#;stimulated emission of radiation,&#; the principle behind the modern laser. He theorized that electrons could emit photons when they absorbed enough energy to move up an energy level within an atom.In , a scientist called Gordon Gould expanded on Einstein&#;s theory. He suggested that the stimulated emission of radiation could be used to amplify light. His theory was dubbed Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation &#; or LASER for short.Jump forward a year to , when Theodore Maiman created the first-ever working laser in a California laboratory. He used synthetic ruby to generate a deep red beam, although many of his contemporaries couldn&#;t see a use for his ruby laser. In fact, the technology was described as &#;a solution looking for a problem&#; and was met with skepticism and even suspicion by the public. However, many members of the scientific community saw the potential in Maiman&#;s invention, including scientists at Bell Labs in New Jersey.It wasn&#;t until that a scientist at Bell Labs finally developed thermal cutting techniques using lasers. Kumar Patel invented a gas laser cutting process using a carbon dioxide mixture and found it to be a quicker and more cost-effective improvement on ruby laser cutting. His colleague at Bell Labs, J.E. Geusic, invented the crystal laser process later that year. The invention captured the popular imagination, and it was featured in a famous scene in the film Goldfinger, during which the titular villain attempted to cut James Bond in two with a laser beam.

Which Was the First Group to Use a Laser Cutter?

The first group to use laser cutting was the Western Engineering Research Center in Buffalo, New York, in . The group wanted to find a more efficient way to manufacture electrical wires. At the time, manufacturers used diamond dies to extrude metal wire, and the die holes were expensive, difficult and time-consuming to drill.The Western Engineering Research Center pioneered the use of focused laser beam cutting to drill the holes more quickly. This was a crucial moment in the history of laser cutting and paved the way for other companies to explore potential uses for laser technology. Much of the group&#;s work concentrated on finding out more about the safety of laser beams and their potential effects on human health.

A History of Laser Cutting Uses

Shortly after the Western Engineering Research Center started using laser cutting technology as a drilling technique, scientists developed the gas laser cutting method using carbon dioxide. This development made laser cutting technology more versatile. The development of lasers capable of cutting through metals such as mild steel was particularly crucial to the technology&#;s widespread adoption.In , the Boeing company became the first company to use gas laser cutting commercially. Three of its employees co-wrote a paper exploring the concept of using a carbon dioxide laser to cut titanium, Hastelloy and ceramic. This paper led to the development of multi-beam laser cutting, and Boeing started using laser beams as an efficient cutting process on its production lines. Western Electric started mass-producing cutting machines that were widely used in the aerospace industry during the s.The use of gas laser cutting became widespread during the s. It&#;s thought that roughly 20,000 industrial laser cutters were in use during this period, with a collective value of about $7.5 billion. In fact, laser cutting techniques revolutionized production industries to such an extent that Professor Bill Steen said their invention hailed the beginning of a new industrial revolution.In , we reached another pivotal moment in the history of laser cutting. Until this point, laser cutting was two-dimensional. Prima Industrie of Collegno, Italy, invented a 3D laser cutting technique that significantly expanded the potential applications of laser cutting technology.

Laser Technology Today

Laser cutting has come a long way since the Boeing company produced laser-drilled dies in the late 60s. Nowadays, laser power is widely used in various industries, particularly in car manufacture. Advances in laser cutting technology mean that the technique can be used on thicker and more varied materials, from metal to ceramic and even paper. Fiber and CO2 laser cutting methods allow manufacturers to cut materials significantly faster than previous techniques, enabling them to scale up production while cutting down on labor hours.Simply look around your home and you&#;ll almost certainly find a product cut or engraved using lasers. Many industries use lasers to engrave logos or text onto products, such as the letters on your computer&#;s keyboard.

What&#;s Next?

It&#;s not the end of the road for technological developments in laser cutting. Engineers and scientists continue to innovate, and this is likely to lead to the development of even more powerful laser cutting machines to increase thickness capacity, cutting speeds and precision. Advances in automation will allow production lines to operate unmanned 24 hours a day and enable safer working environments for technicians working with laser cutting machines.

Talk to the Laser Cutting Machine Experts

Laser cutting is a fascinating technology with an interesting and often surprising history. To get the most out of this precise and efficient technology, you need the correct equipment.Thunder Laser USA is one of America&#;s premier manufacturers of powerful and high-quality CO2 laser cutting machines. Whether you need a machine for etching, engraving or cutting, Thunder Laser USA can help you find the right product for your unique requirements. Get in touch with the expert customer service team to discuss your needs and explore how the right laser cutting machines could benefit your business.

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