Waterjet with a freaking Laser on it's head?

[wierdscience]

Here's an how-it-works:
{quote}
The Laser MicroJet (LMJ) is a hybrid method of machining, which combines a laser with a "hair-thin" water jet that precisely guides the laser beam by means of total internal reflection in a manner similar to conventional optical fibers. The water jet continually cools the cutting zone and efficiently removes debris.
{\quote}

https://www.synova.ch/technology/laser-microjet.html

$550k - $1.4M

Interesting, total internal reflection is a neat effect to study. 20 years ago or better I used to machine nozzle bodies for a fountain company that used a laminar flow nozzle combined with an LED light source fed to the stream through a fiber optic poly rope. Similar to what's in this video, but much larger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK3XQpSRez4

[JoeLee]

How thick do you think the cut was ?? a few thou ? That was pretty thick material. I'm surprised the water doesn't diffuse the beam.

If you were to put that laser in a hand held gun would you be able to poke a hole through something across the room??

Have to ask.......... is this a water jet with a laser on it's head or vise versa??

JL..............

[epicfail48]

How thick do you think the cut was ?? a few thou ? That was pretty thick material. I'm surprised the water doesn't diffuse the beam.

If you were to put that laser in a hand held gun would you be able to poke a hole through something across the room??

Have to ask.......... is this a water jet with a laser on it's head or vise versa??

JL..............

.02 millimeters, according to the manufacturers website

[JoeLee]

.02 millimeters, according to the manufacturers website

About .0008 ? Correct?

JL....

[epicfail48]

About .0008 ? Correct?

JL....

Thats what my calculator says. That said, i need to apologize, i fat-fingered a digit; its not a minimum of .02mm, its .03mm, they advertise a tool diameter of .03mm to .08mm, so 1 to 3 thou

[macona]

Basically the water acts like a fiber optics delivering the light to the bottom of the cut. Its very similar to what happens when you cut acrylic with a co2 lasers, the walls of the freshly cut acrylic have the same effect acting as a waveguide which allows you to cut way thicker than the depth of focus of the lens.