Polarizers, also known as Cut Quality Enhancers (CQE) are used to convert a linear polarized laser beam (as produced by many laser resonators) into a circular polarized beam – which is better suited for laser cutting. When the beam is linear polarized, the cut width (kerf) in the material will change depending on the direction of the cut. When the beam is circular polarized, the cut width is maintained the same regardless of the direction of the cut. Laser Mechanisms was instrumental in developing solutions to the polarization effect in laser cutting over 25 years ago. The most basic polarizer is a standard beam bender with a ¼-wave phase-shift mirror. Other polarizers may use two mirror or four mirror configurations, depending on the beam size and the vector plane of polarization from the laser.
