EAST LONGMEADOW, Mass., July 6, 2007 -- CeramOptec has introduced a line of high-power SMA (subminiature version A)-based fiber connectors assembled with a unique fiber optimized for use in high-power applications.
Based on copper alloy, with a high heat conductivity of 320 W/mK, the fiber allows excellent passive heat transfer to the SMA socket, which provides sufficient heat sinking. As a result, very high laser power can be transmitted through the SMA cable -- of particular interest to manufacturers and users of high-power diode laser modules.
"While these modules are designed for a specific fiber core diameter and a numerical aperture (NA) of 0.22, there is always some power which either overfills the NA and/or the core diameter," CeramOptic said. "Indeed, many module manufacturers utilize the fiber as an implicit mode cleaner in their design. This power is coupled into the fiber’s cladding and eventually results in heat. The new connector is specifically designed to handle this heat."
Tilmann Trebst, project manager for development of industrial fiber cables at CeramOptec, said, “The cable was successfully tested on a 250-W diode laser with an NA of 0.22. It was essential for development to keep an eye on the complete system and not just on single components. In the end, it is always a specific module series and the cable that need to fit perfectly together for optimum performance of the fiber-coupled module.”
The high-power SMA cable features stress-free mounting to avoid local microbending in the connector or along the cable. The stainless steel protection tube features bending protection, which prevents the cable from overbending, alleviates bend losses yet remains flexible. It is suitable for use in diode laser modules and for lasers with excellent beam quality, such Nd: YAG lasers. The connectors can be used in laser beam delivery for cutting, plastic welding, material hardening and soldering (e.g., on printed circuit boards).
"A typical observation is coupling a HeNe laser with an NA of ~0.05 into a large core fiber (core>100 µm) with a standard NA of 0.22 and obtaining, even after several meters of fiber, an output beam divergence corresponding to NA~0.07. The new connectors now complement these fibers for assembling cables with a low impact on beam quality," CeramOptec said.
Franz Schuberts, industrial sales representatives, said, “Anti-reflection coating at the most common wavelengths will become available soon and will drive the performance of these cables to even lower losses at higher power levels.”
Fiber core diameters of 100, 200, 400 and 600µm are readily available; others are available on request.
CeramOptec maintains control over all steps of its in-house manufacturing process, from preform design and manufacturing to fiber drawing to the finished product. The fibers are drawn out of drawing towers and spooled while simultaneously being tested for strength and tolerance specifications. A specialized gluing technology has been developed for use with the cables.
For more information, visit:
www.ceramoptec.com; e-mail:
info@ceramoptec.comCeramOptec
550 Mamaroneck Ave.
515A Shaker Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Phone: (860) 747-4487
Toll-free: (800) 321-0790
Fax: (860) 793-4909
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