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Diode Lasers – Under the Hood 18: Moving to 20 W: Beam Shape, Focus and Metal Marking

Russ installs a 20 W head and repeats the basic diagnostic work rather than assuming it behaves like the 5 W and 10 W units. He checks practical focus, beam shape and the ability to produce high-intensity marks on harder materials.

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What You’ll Learn

  • Why each new diode head needs its own beam and focus tests.
  • How focus can appear different on soft and hard materials.
  • Why spot-shape claims should be checked on the actual workpiece.
Diode lasers – under the hood 18 video thumbnail

Start Again with the New Head

The 20 W module has different optics, airflow and mechanical construction. Russ therefore re-establishes the working focus and observes the burn rather than carrying settings over from previous heads.

Marking Harder Materials

Tests on slate, anodised aluminium and metal-related surfaces reveal whether the increased power also delivers the required intensity. More nominal watts do not automatically produce a cleaner or more useful spot.

Why This Session Matters

It shows the value of re-characterising every head rather than assuming a simple power scale-up.

This page is a concise overview of the original video rather than a full transcript.

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