3D-printed optics for laser materials processing

We report on high-power laser materials processing using 3D-printed beam shaping components. A diffractive axicon fabricated via two-photon polymerization is generating a Bessel-like beam for inducing in-volume modifications in transparent materials for cutting applications. The thin, centimeter-scaled, additively fabricated axicon structure is printed on a fused-silica substrate capable of withstanding average powers and peak intensities from an industrial ultrafast laser operating at 1 µm-wavelength. This concept enables fabrication of tailored beam shaping components for high-power laser applications within hours.