Process Date: July 2003

Laser cutting synthetic filter material resulted in clean cuts with sealed edges. Beam motion was accomplished using an X-Y stage with beam delivery through a 2.5” positive meniscus lens. Spot size was 0.004” and depth of focus was 0.07”. Nitrogen assist gas at 5 PSI was used in this application although when cutting non-metals, nitrogen and air are usually, but not always, interchangeable. 

The blue 0.001”-thick synthetic filter material was cut at 350 inches per minute (IPM) using 20W of power. The white 0.085”-thick piece, was cut at 250 IPM using 40W. Gas assist was 15 PSI nitrogen with beam delivery via a 4” plano-convex focusing lens (0.006” spot; 0.17” depth of focus).

Laser processing of both of these filter elements resulted in clean cuts with sealed edges.