Meniscus Lenses

• Meniscus lenses have one concave surface and one convex surface.
• Creates a smaller beam diameter, reducing the spherical aberration and beam waste when precision cutting or marking.
• Provides a smaller spot size with increased power density at the work piece.

Although meniscus lenses are more expensive than Plano-Convex lenses, they offer a higher accuracy of the cut therefore increasing cutting speed by up to 5%. Meniscus lenses are usually used by European customers and machine manufacturers (OEM's).

Plano-Convex Lenses

• Plano-convex lens has one flat surface and one convex surface.
• More suitable for high turnover cutting applications, and when the cost is more important than the level of accuracy.
• When cutting steel and other thick materials, a Plano-convex lens provides a greater cut width, enabling the laser’s oxygen assist gas to aid the cutting process.

When cutting steel and other thick materials, a Plano-Convex lens provides a greater width of the cut enabling the laser's Oxygen assist to enter and ease the cutting process. In addition, Plano-Convex lenses give a greater depth of field needed to maintain a taperless edge when cutting thicker materials. This kind of lens is more popular in American and Japanese machinery.