Laser system enabled by additive manufacturing

Abstract

A laser frame for holding a plurality of optical components includes a first flexure structure for adjustably holding a first one of the optical components, and a first cellular structure for supporting and cooling a second one of the optical components. The first flexure structure and the first cellular structure are each a unitary structure formed by additive manufacturing. Also, a laser frame for holding an optical component includes a passive cooling cellular structure for supporting and cooling the optical component. The passive cooling cellular structure has a non-uniform density, and the laser frame is a unitary structure formed by additive manufacturing.

1 . A laser frame for holding a plurality of optical components, comprising:
 a first flexure structure for adjustably holding a first one of the optical components; and   a first cellular structure for supporting and cooling a second one of the optical components, wherein the first cellular structure includes a plurality of unit cells each having a certain particular configuration, wherein the unit cells are set together side by side horizontally and vertically, and wherein the first flexure structure and the first cellular structure are a unitary structure, the unitary structure being formed by additive manufacturing.   
     
     
         2 . The laser frame according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second flexure structure for adjustably holding a third one of the optical components, and a second cellular structure for holding and cooling a fourth one of the optical components, wherein at least the first flexure structure, the first cellular structure and the second cellular structure are part of the unitary structure. 
     
     
         3 . The laser frame according to  claim 2 , wherein the first one of the optical components is an output coupler, the second one of the optical components is a crystal rod, the third one of the optical components is a focusing lens, and the fourth one of the optical components is a pump laser. 
     
     
         4 . The laser frame according to  claim 3 , wherein the first flexure structure comprises an adjustable mount structured to provide for angular adjustment of the first one of the optical components. 
     
     
         5 . The laser frame according to  claim 4 , wherein the first flexure structure comprises a 2-axis adjustable mount structured to provide for selective independent angular adjustment of the first one of the optical components in two orthogonal dimensions. 
     
     
         6 . The laser frame according to  claim 5 , wherein the first flexure structure comprises a first U-shaped flexure structure and a second U-shaped flexure structure configured to move in respective directions that are perpendicular to each other. 
     
     
         7 . The laser frame according to  claim 3 , wherein the second flexure structure comprises an adjustable lens mount structure including a frame portion and a flexure member supported by the frame portion. 
     
     
         8 . The laser frame according to  claim 7 , wherein the flexure member is structured to enable the third one of the optical components to be selectively adjusted in a first direction and a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are both perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the laser frame. 
     
     
         9 . The laser frame according to  claim 8 , wherein the flexure member comprises a plurality of legs and a plurality of Bend portions. 
     
     
         10 . The laser frame according to  claim 8 , wherein the adjustable lens mount is a 3-axis adjustable lens mount structured to be selectively movable along the longitudinal axis of the laser frame. 
     
     
         11 . A laser frame for holding a plurality of optical components, composing:
 a first flexure structure for adjustably holding a first one of the optical components;   a first cellular structure for supporting and cooling a second one of the optical components, wherein the first flexure structure and the first cellular structure are a unitary structure, the unitary structure being formed by additive manufacturing;   a second flexure structure for adjustably holding a third one of the optical components; and   a second cellular structure for holding and cooling a fourth one of the optical components, wherein at least the first flexure structure, the first cellular structure and the second cellular structure are part of the unitary structure, wherein the first one of the optical components is an output coupler, the second one of the optical components is a crystal rod, the third one of the optical components is a focusing lens, and the fourth one of the optical components is a pump laser, wherein the first cellular structure is a passive cooling structure and includes a central bore for receiving and holding the second one of the optical components, and wherein the unit cells of the first cellular structure are hollow sphere unit cells or cubic lattice unit cells.   
     
     
         12 . The laser frame according to  claim 11 , wherein the first cellular structure has a uniform density. 
     
     
         13 . The laser frame according to  claim 11 , wherein the first cellular structure has a non-uniform density. 
     
     
         14 . The laser frame according to  claim 1 , wherein the unit cells of the first cellular structure are hollow sphere unit cells. 
     
     
         15 . The laser frame according to  claim 1 , wherein unit cells of the first cellular structure are cubic lattice unit cells. 
     
     
         16 . A laser system including a laser cavity supported by the laser frame of  claim 1 , the laser cavity comprising the plurality of optical components.