Laser Optics
Laser Optics
The Laser Optics category brings together every optical component for beam shaping and guidance: collimation optics to bundle the diode beam, line optics (Powell, cylindrical) for line generation, cross-line optics, laser mirrors for deflection and diffractive optical elements (DOE) for symbols and patterns.
Lasershop offers laser optics from MediaLas with dielectric and metallic coatings, tested for the associated laser modules. Custom sizes, special coatings for red, green, blue and IR wavelengths and OEM optics are produced in Germany.
35 Products
Frequently asked questions about laser optics
Laser optics: frequently asked questions
Answers about color selection for industrial applications in our laser optics category.
Glass optics vs. acrylic optics – when which?
Acrylic optics (PMMA plastic): low cost, light, dimensionally stable. Optically very good in standard applications, but temperature-sensitive – the refractive index changes with temperature, shifting the focus when variation exceeds ±5 °C. Perfectly adequate for indoor applications with stable conditions. Glass optics: heavier, more expensive, but temperature-stable. The refractive index stays nearly constant across wide temperature swings. Ideal for: outdoor mounting, unheated halls, machines with large temperature swings (welding, sawmills in summer/winter) and applications needing high repeat accuracy over long periods. Glass optics are available as an optional upgrade on our KLM and LLM modules.
Dielectric mirrors vs. metallic mirrors – what are the differences?
Metallic mirrors (aluminium, silver, gold): reflection via a thin metal coating. Typically up to>98 % reflectivity in the visible range. Benefits: broadband (from UV to IR), low cost. Drawbacks: lower power handling, prone to oxidation (especially silver), reflectivity depends on angle of incidence. Dielectric mirrors: reflection via multi-layer glass coatings that reflect through interference. Typically > 99 % reflectivity in the optimized spectral range. Benefits: extremely high reflectivity, high power handling, no oxidation. Drawbacks: narrowband (optimized for a specific wavelength), more expensive. Our LS 50 is a dielectric mirror with > 96–98 % reflectivity in the 400–700 nm range.
What is the aperture of an optic?
The aperture is the usable opening diameter of an optic – the area through which light can enter the lens. Measured in millimetres. A larger aperture collects more light from the source – particularly important for laser diodes with a large emitter (e.g. Nichia NDG7575). Our Colli-LA collimator has a 5 mm aperture, gathering significantly more light than typical 3 mm collimators. Practical effect: brighter, more uniform output beam and less light lost at the diode edge. Related metric: the numerical aperture (NA) describes the ratio of aperture to focal length – and therefore the optic's acceptance angle.
What does the focal length of a lens mean?
The focal length is the distance from the principal plane of a lens to the focal point, where parallel incoming light rays intersect. It is measured in millimetres (e.g. f = 4 mm on our Colli-LA). For collimators the focal length determines at which distance from the laser diode the lens must be mounted to collimate the beam – ideally the diode emits from the focal plane. Shorter focal lengths (3–4 mm): high aperture, good light gathering, compact – ideal for 12 mm modules. Longer focal lengths (8–20 mm): smaller aperture, less light gathering, but a narrower collimated beam – for long-distance applications.
What is an AR coating (anti-reflective)?
An AR coating (anti-reflective coating) is a thin, multilayer coating on optical glass surfaces that reduces reflection and increases transmission. At an uncoated glass–air interface typically 4–8 % of the light is lost to reflection. A modern AR coating reduces this to < 0.5 % per interface. For a lens with two interfaces that means 92 % transmission uncoated vs. > 99 % coated. Benefits: higher optical efficiency, less stray light, lower back-reflection load on the laser diode. AR coatings are wavelength-specific – a coating for 532 nm behaves differently at 650 nm. Always check the spectral range of the optic.
What is a collimator and what does it do?
A collimator is an optical lens or lens system that converts a divergent light beam into a parallel beam. Essential with laser diodes: the bare diode emits a strongly fanned-out beam; the collimator turns it into a bundled, parallel beam. Construction: usually an aspheric glass lens in an M9 × 0.5 or M12 threaded housing. High-quality collimators feature an AR coating (anti-reflective) for minimal light loss at the interfaces. Key parameters: focal length (typ. 3–6 mm), aperture (typ. 4–8 mm) and the AR coating's spectral range (e.g. 420–680 nm for visible light). Glass collimators are more temperature-stable than cheaper acrylic lenses.