Manufacturing and applications of nonrotationally symmetric optics

The use of lasers is more and more growing in industrial processing of different materials. Some examples of possible applications are the improvement of surface characteristics, drilling, welding, cutting and micro-structuring. An important aspect in this context is the necessity to adjust a specific intensity distribution for each application. This is usually realized by using special optics, which are able to form or shape the beam. These optics have complex geometries and in addition they have to fulfill high precision requirements regarding form and surface quality. The efficiency of laser system can be increased by using special designed optics with non-rotationally symmetric structures. Fabricating optics with these requirements is almost impossible using conventional manufacturing techniques. The only possibility for manufacturing is the use of fast tool servo system while the diamond turning process.