Nd:YAG and disk lasers in laser cutting 

Nd:YAG: A solid-state laser where the laser-active medium is a YAG crystal doped with neodymium. It provides a wavelength of around 1064 nm, high precision, and the option of both pulsed and continuous operation. Nd:YAG is often used for finer details, thinner materials, and the combination of cutting/welding. 

Disc laser: A further developed solid-state laser where the laser-active material is a thin disc mounted against a cooling plate. This provides very stable beam quality, high efficiency, and is well suited for automated high-volume production in metal, with narrow cuts and good repeatability.

Table of contents

What is an Nd:YAG laser? 

Nd:YAG stands for Neodymium: Yttrium Aluminium Garnet. It is a crystal doped with neodymium ions and acts as the laser-active medium in a solid-state laser. 

Typical characteristics 

  • Wavelength around 1064 nm (infrared light) 
  • Solid laser medium instead of gas, unlike CO₂ lasers 
  • Can be run both continuously and in pulses – from millisecond pulses to very short pulses in special systems 

Applications for Nd:YAG 

In material processing, Nd:YAG lasers are primarily used for: 

  • Fine welding and spot welding of metal components 
  • Cutting thin parts with high tolerance requirements 
  • Micro-machining in electronics and medical technology, where very small cuts and holes are required 

It is the combination of high beam quality, short wavelength, and the possibility of pulsed operation that makes Nd:YAG interesting when the details are small and the demands for precision are high. 

What is a dishwasher? 

Disk lasers are a further development of solid-state lasers. Instead of a rod, a very thin disc of laser-active material is used, often Yb:YAG (ytterbium-doped YAG). 

Some key points 

  • The laser-active material is a thin disc mounted against a cooling plate. 
  • Normally pumped with diodes from one or more sides 
  • Provides effective cooling and stable beam quality even at high power 

Just like fiber lasers and Nd:YAG lasers, disk lasers typically operate at around 1030–1064 nm. This provides: 

  • High beam quality 
  • Potential for high effects 
  • High efficiency and stable operation in continuous cutting processes 

In practice, disk lasers are close to fiber lasers in terms of cutting, with fine cuts, high repeatability, and good detail reproduction—especially in thin to medium-thick sheet metal. 

How does laser cutting with Nd:YAG and disk lasers work? 

The principle of laser cutting is the same regardless of the type of laser. A focused beam melts or partially vaporizes the material, and an assist gas blows the molten material out of the cut. The difference lies in how the light is created and how the beam can be shaped. 

For Nd:YAG and disk lasers, this means: 

  • Short wavelengths around 1 µm provide good absorption in steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. 
  • High beam quality makes it possible to focus the beam onto a very small point 
  • The result is narrow cuts, small radii, and the possibility of complex contours. 

In many systems, the beam is delivered via optical fiber to the cutting head. This makes the technology well suited for robotic cells and flexible production setups, where the same laser can be used for both cutting and welding depending on the fixture and optics. 

Next step 

We do not offer Nd:YAG or disk laser cutting at Thor Ahlgren, but instead work with CO₂ laser cutting. 

  • Submit a drawing, 3D model, or sample detail for a quote 
  • Let's see how CO₂ laser cutting and post-processing can give you the best results for your application. 
  • Get a production solution that works just as well in the prototype stage as in full-scale manufacturing. 

Please send prototype files