High power lasers and their applications in production technology have experienced a vivid development during the last decades and now offer improved performance of classical applications in cutting or welding. Processes that are used since a long time have been improved considerably, for instance hardening. More and more new applications have been developed for instance 3D-printing of metals or forming with laser assistance. Therefore, it is important for production engineers to understand the laser technology and explore how it can be used to enhance production speed, quality, and reduce cost.This book treats the basic principles underlying laser technology, long-time-used equipment and processes but also the most recent improvements and applications, then compares it with the competing conventional technologies. Each of these two parts is preceded by tutorials that inform the reader about the physical basis of the respective technologies. In addition, hazards of these technologies and respective protection are treated for both cases. The book concludes with a detailed comparison of competing technologies and lasers to give a prognosis on the future of lasers in manufacturing. It is written in a style that can be read by people without a broad physical basis and avoids the use of derivations and equations but explains all the material in an easily understandable way in simple words.
