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copper backing

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laserace

Aerospace
Joined
Mar 17, 2005
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3
Location
US
Can anyone offer a backing material other than copper that they have had goog results with please? I work in an aerospace company that has a new Mits co2 vz1 laser. I am currently using copper as a backing but having some problems with reflection. Thanks in advance.
 
laserace,

I don't know much about laser welding and cutting, but "big" lasers are sommething I know about. I assume you are asking about a backup plate for a weld. We always used a piece of graphite for beam dumps for Multi-kilowatt class lasers. Little reflection off the surface and the surface slowely ablates when hit with a high power beam. A material called Grafoil works especially good. It is a sheet material made for vacuum (radiant) insulation. It has good heat transfer laterally, but poor thru the sheet. I had a real thin piece mounted on the wall opposite the aperature of a highly collimated 6kW laser and it only got hot. Never burned a hole in it.

Timelord
 
Sorry for the delay. Thanks for your input. The application is cutting and we cannot have any graphite in contact with the part which is made of hast-x. The problem is possible contamination and crack problems with engine heat.
 
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