Kern Lasers Systems is updating the wattage of its mid-range lasers, replacing the KT250 and KT400 models, which are rated at 250 and 400 watts respectively, with the new 300-watt KT300 and 500-watt KT500.
About the Model Upgrade
The KT250 and KT400 model lasers were introduced in 2016, and since that time the teams at Kern Laser Systems and Kern Technologies have continued to advance our lasers’ capabilities. One recent upgrade to the radio frequency (RF) power supply we use allowed us to increase our lasers’ power efficiency. This upgrade, coupled with improvements in the build and assembly of the lasers, resulted in laser output yields well above the existing rated power of the lasers, which in turn prompted the creation of the new, superseding KT300 and KT500 models with their higher warranted output power. The KT300 and KT500 will take the place of the KT250 and KT400 models within the Kern product portfolio.
The KT300 is a 300-watt sealed 10.6 µm CO2 laser, and the KT500 is a 500-watt sealed 10.6µm CO2 laser. The updated naming of the products represents the lasers’ performance, but the change goes deeper than the updated naming and standard power ratings. The new models also boast a typical output 30 percent above rated power, a 10–20% increase in peak power over their predecessor models, near-perfect mode quality, and 30-microsecond rise and 50-microsecond fall times, improved from 60 microseconds.
What do these upgrades mean for the user? They mean faster processing and better edge quality in existing applications, as well as opening the door to a variety of new applications, including the ability to cut through thicker material.
The KT500 is capable of cutting through .1875 inches of mild steel, .075 inches of stainless steel, .048 inches of aluminum, and .040 inches of brass, while the 300-watt KT300 is capable of cutting through .125 inches of mild steel, .040 inches of stainless steel, .032 inches of aluminum, and .016 inches of brass.
Although many changes have been made to improve the new laser’s performance over their predecessors, the footprints of the old models have been replicated in the new models. This will make adoption of the KT300 and KT500 by existing users of the KT250 and KT400 easy, as the new lasers can be drop-in replacements in existing Kern CO2 laser systems.