Abstract: A system for pulsed synchronized laser cutting of stents and/or other medical products includes a numerical controller and a machine for moving a tube of material during cutting. A pulsed fiber laser is configured to cut the tube into, for example, a stent, the numerical controller being in communication with the machine and configured to send movement control information to the machine. The numerical controller may also receive movement speed information from the machine. The numerical controller is also in communication with the pulsed fiber laser and is configured to send pulse control information to the pulsed fiber laser. The numerical controller is configured to cause average laser power to decrease by decreasing frequency of laser pulses as stent cutting speed decreases, and to cause average laser power to increase by increasing frequency of laser pulses as stent cutting speed increases.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods of laser machining that include inducing formation of a plasma plume from a process gas through interaction of the gas with a laser beam are disclosed. The methods may include removing material from the substrate by interaction of the induced plasma plume with the substrate.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods of laser machining that include inducing formation of a plasma plume from a process gas through interaction of the gas with a laser beam are disclosed. The methods may include removing material from the substrate by interaction of the induced plasma plume with the substrate. The process gas may be optimized to achieve a desired machining effect.