High power lasers, including CO2 laser, Nd:YAG laser, Excimer laser, Diode laser, LD pumped
YAG laser, LD pumped Disk laser, LD pumped Fiber laser and Femto second laser, are now used as a modern
tool for industries as well as a computer alike in the 4th wave of modernization. Lasers are currently used
for welding, cutting, drilling, cladding, direct fabrication, marking, cleaning, micro-machining peening and
forming of materials in modernized factories. The joining speed (= product of welding speed and penetration
depth) of 45,000mm2/min for steel sheet can be obtained by a 10kW Yb: fiber laser and is that
of 50kW electron beam welding, which require the vacuum chamber. As a result of large numbers of research
and developments the Advanced Laser Integrated Manufacturing System (ALIMS) using high power diode
lasers has been developed and used for modernization in many industrialized countries.
The laser materials processing is now penetrated as a machining tool into many industries. In the
present paper, an advanced laser integrated manufacturing systems and its applications to industries such as
automotive, electronics, ship building and steel making industry are introduced. In addition, development of an
advanced laser integrated manufacturing system using a 2kW fiber laser for welding a car panel and “Laser
Roll Welding” system for dissimilar metal joints such as mild steel/high strength steel to aluminium alloys,
titanium to aluminium and steel to titanium, is described for modernization of industries. It will be a magnificent
for the industries. And the 4th wave of modernization and opto-mechatronics will be promoted more by
laser/photon technology in the future.
Expectation to Fiber Laser Technologies - from the Standpoint of Laser Materials Processing -