Ophir Photonics, global leader in precision laser measurement equipment and a Newport Corporation brand, has announced BeamWatch 1.2, the next version of the industry's first non-contact, focus spot size and position monitor for very high power YAG and fiber lasers. Designed for material processing applications, BeamWatch now features a new, higher sensitivity camera that allows for increased accuracy at lower power levels. In addition, a new telecentric lens provides a larger depth of field; this means the system provides the same accurate measurements while being more forgiving of beam position.
BeamWatch is the industry's first laser monitoring system to instantly and accurately measure laser parameters without requiring contact with the laser beam. Lasers can now be monitored at frequent intervals without having to shut down the process or remove tooling and fixtures to gain access.
BeamWatch monitors high power YAG, disc, fiber, and diode lasers in the 980-1080nm range and measures focal spot location at 60ms intervals to indicate whether focal spot shifts are occurring during critical start-up moments.
BeamWatch includes the tools to implement an Automation Server written in Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), C/C++, or ActiveX applications, such as LabVIEW or Microsoft Excel.
BeamWatch can be run in Technician Mode, where access is provided to the tools needed for start-up and advanced beam diagnostics, such as optimizing measurement parameters or establishing pass/fail criteria. In Operator Mode, the run-time interface displays measurements at video rates. Graphic displays help operators quickly understand the status of the laser's performance without having to interact with the laser or the monitoring system.