8 Types of Common Lasers

Light wavelength distribution map

Green lasers, also known as second-harmonic lasers, are notable for their specialised ability to process at a micron level. The laser begins at a 1064 nm wavelength and then passes through a nonlinear crystal for conversion into a 532 nm wavelength. With the much shorter wavelength that appears green to the human eye, intricacy is a green laser's special power. Green lasers are used as pointing devices and for micron-level marking and processing.

UV lasers, also known as third-harmonic lasers, are a specialised type of solid-state laser that uses “cold marking.” Cold marking refers to a UV laser's strength of absorption that produces very little heat when marking. These lasers start at a 1064 nm wavelength and then pass through two nonlinear crystals to transition to a 355 nm wavelength.

Because of the extremely small beam, small processing and minimal damage are two key components of a UV laser. UV lasers are powerful enough to create high contrast marks on highly reflective materials like copper, gold, and silver.

Solid-state fibre lasers are highly regarded for their high average power, fast speed, and excellent cooling efficiency. With the ability to mark on metal, plastic, and ceramic with a 1030-2100 nm wavelength, it's even more impressive that fibre lasers can engrave, anneal, mark, etch, cut, and remove burrs. Fibre lasers have the smallest marking unit size, making them the easiest to retrofit, or integrate in production settings with limited space.

CO₂ gas lasers have the longest wavelength compared to fibre, YAG, and YVO₄. CO₂ lasers have a wavelength of 10600 nm. Because of the long wavelength, there is more heat transfer than other lasers. Moreover, CO₂ lasers are commonly used for cutting materials.

He-Ne gas lasers have a wavelength of 630 nm and appear red to the human eye. He-Ne lasers are commonly known for their use as pointing devices in classrooms or during presentations. These laser types are also used in store barcode scanners and measurement devices. Unlike many other different types of lasers, He-Ne lasers do not do manufacturing processing.

Excimer gas lasers use inert gas and hydrogen gas to produce a short UV wavelength of 193 nm. These lasers are commonly used for dermatology and optometry treatments. In fact, excimer lasers are proven to treat skin conditions like alopecia, psoriasis, leukoderma, and more. These lasers are also used in optometry to vaporise the lens of human eyes.

Similar to excimer lasers, argon gas lasers are also used for various health conditions, scientific applications, and biomedical research. Argon lasers use a 488 to 514 nm wavelength, and one popular type of argon laser treatment is for glaucoma or diabetic eye disease treatment.

Dye lasers are liquid lasers with a wavelength of 330 to 1300 nm commonly used for scientific applications. These lasers use organic liquid dyes to power their wavelengths and produce fluorescent light.

KEYENCE's ML-Z Series is a versatile machine tackling marking, drilling, and decapsulation on materials like paper, wood, rubber, ceramics, and glass. The ML-Z is also equipped with 3-Axis control and multiple beam options for refined processing.

KEYENCE's MD-F fibre laser excels at deep engraving and high-speed processing. The MD-F has industry leading beam control due to features like 3-axis, "Deep Dig" engraving, wobble and scratch control for cutting that makes the iconic fibre laser even more efficient.