HIPPO Mid-Power Q-Switched Lasers

Highlights

The Spectra-Physics HIPPO lasers are a family of high power diode-pumped solid state (DPSS) Q-switched lasers with available outputs of 1064, 532, 355 and 266 nm wavelengths. They are used primarily in 24/7 industrial applications such as solar cell manufacturing, LED scribing and other microelectronics applications.

The HIPPO Q-switched laser is among the most popular industrial DPSS lasers available. It has a strong track record and large installed base around the world. Our diodes last double the industry average. The laser’s modular design allows easy field replacement of key components including diodes and fibers, laser output window, and the harmonic module without costly tool realignment. Rugged and proven, the HIPPO is the tool of choice in applications where uptime is critical.

Excellent Performance

HIPPO Q-switched lasers are characterized by extremely short pulse width (as low as <11 ns). High peak power and short pulse widths minimize undesirable thermal damage, such as heat affected zones, recast material, kerfs, and micro-cracking of the substrate.

All HIPPO Q-switched lasers have excellent beam quality, which ensure a large depth of field and guarantee consistent and reliable scribing results over a wider range of material flatness, thickness, and surface variations.

HIPPO lasers have stable power, low pulse-to-pulse energy variation, and stable beam pointing over a wide range of operating conditions, including time, temperature, and pulse repetition rate.

The HIPPO Q-switched laser family delivers high power at all wavelengths [up to 27 W at 1064 nm (IR), 15 W at 532 nm (green), 5 W at 355 nm and 2 W at 266 nm (UV)] to enable high throughput in various applications such as solar cell laser scribing and microelectronics manufacturing. High peak power and short pulse width minimize undesirable thermal damage, such as heat affected zones, recast material, kerfs, and micro-cracking of the substrate.

All HIPPO Q-switched lasers naturally emit a TEM₀₀ beam, which ensure a large depth of field and guarantee consistent and reliable scribing results over a wider range of material flatness, thickness, and surface variations.

Key HIPPO applications include:

The HIPPO Q-switched laser’s strong track record and installed base around the world, combined with attention to laser design, testing, global service and support make it the laser of choice for solar cell and microelectronics manufacturing applications, where high uptime is critical. HIPPO key features include:

• Compact Size – for ease of integration
• Modular Design – for easy field service, including:

• Plug and play harmonic modules – laser head can be separated into the IR cavity and harmonic module (for 532 nm, 355 nm, or 266 nm), allowing you to easily switch among wavelengths and to isolate key wear mechanisms in an easily replaceable module
• Field replaceable laser output window – corrects for burn spots caused by airborne particulates generated from the ablation process
• Field replaceable diodes and fibers – allow both diodes and fibers to be easily replaced in the field, without requiring costly tool re-alignment or system downtime
• Field replaceable shutters
• Interchangeable laser head and power supply

• EternAlign™ Optics (on HIPPO 1064-27, HIPPO 532-15, HIPPO Prime 266-2) – our rugged I-beam laser housing and EternAlign™ optics eliminate potential damage and optical misalignment resulting from vibration and shipping
• User Friendly – clear, logical command structure and easy graphical user interface make the HIPPO quick and easy to integrate
• Harmonic Crystal Shifters (on HIPPO 355-5, HIPPO Prime 266-2) – compensate for power loss due to crystal degradation, allowing instant restoration of the laser to full power
• ALPS (on HIPPO 355-5, HIPPO Prime 266-2) – our unique Active Laser Purification System™ maintains the laser cavity clean and dry over the life of the laser to significantly extend laser life
• Data Logging (on HIPPO 1064-27, HIPPO 532-15) – keeps a log of key performance parameters over time and provide a powerful service feature and product reliability tool

Proven Application

Spectra-Physics Q-Switched DPPS lasers have been designed for micromachining applications in a 24/7 manufacturing environment. Founded in 1961, Spectra-Physics has shipped thousands of lasers into the key industrial markets where 24/7 system operation and the demand for system uptime makes product reliability a key element in laser selection.

• Microelectronics: processing and repair of semiconductors, flat panel displays, PCBs, LEDs, electronic packages, storage media, etc.
• Solar: scribing, drilling, doping, marking, dicing etc. of photovoltaic cells and modules

Reliable by Design

Spectra-Physics industrial lasers have a number of unique design features that significantly increase the both laser life and uptime. Our diodes typically last twice the industry average. The lasers’ modular design isolates known wear components and key failure mechanisms into small components (such as diodes, fibers, output window, shutters, and harmonic modules) that are easy to change in the field without costly tool realignment. This lowers service inventory holding costs while shortening Mean Time to Repair (MTTR).

Our proprietary optical alignment system (EternAlign™) and rugged laser housing virtually eliminate alignment failures that can occur with vibration and shock during shipping. The sealed laser resonator and unique filtration system (ALPS) significantly extends the life of the laser by keeping the air inside the laser clean, dry, and free of volatile organic compounds from out-gassing.

And finally our automatic data logging software monitors all key laser performance parameters over the life of the laser, providing a powerful service feature and product reliability tool.

Quality and Reliability Processes

Our quality and reliability efforts lead the industry, including:

Superior Service

Our renowned global service and support organization is comprised of a staff of friendly, experienced, and responsive laser experts. We offer a wide range of available service products including:

With our commitment to quality and reliability, Spectra-Physics Q-switched DPSS lasers offer the best in industrial reliability—higher uptime, lower mean time to repair (MTTR), and lower cost of ownership.

Specifications

Application Notes

• Advantages of Low-M2 Laser Processing - App Focus 007 (1000 KB)
• Amorphous Silicon Thin Film Solar Cell Scribing - App Focus 002 (834 KB)
• c-Si Photovoltaic Laser Processing Brochure (1.3 MB)
• Gaussian Versus Flat-top Beam Processing - App Focus 006 (1.3 MB)
• ITO Laser Patterning - App Focus 011 (767 KB)
• LED Laser Scribing Brochure (238 KB)
• Molybdenum Scribing in CIGS TFPV Solar Cell - App Focus 003 (504 KB)

Data Sheets

• HIPPO Family Data Sheet (1.5 MB)