Laser-grade quartz tubes enhance the performance of laser equipment-Mia

Customer Overview
This is an American laser equipment manufacturer that specializes in the production of CO₂ lasers and solid-state lasers. Its products are used in industrial cutting, medical surgeries, and scientific research. Previously, it had been using local ordinary quartz tubes and a small amount of imported tube materials.

Customer Pain Points
The local quartz tubes do not have strict control over impurities, with a high content of metal ions, resulting in significant light scattering and energy loss during laser transmission; the hydroxyl concentration is also high, forming absorption in the infrared band, further reducing output power. Commonly, there are bubbles and stripes inside the tube, affecting the uniformity of the light beam. More critically, the annealing process is not adequate, with large residual stresses inside the tube, and the thermal shock during high-power operation can easily cause microcracks or even tube explosion. Although imported high-performance tube materials can meet the standards, their prices are several times higher, and the delivery cycle is as long as two to three months, seriously hindering the expansion plan.

Customer requirements

We urgently need a batch of laser-grade high-purity quartz tubes, covering common specifications (from small diameters to larger diameters, from short sections to long sections). The material must have extremely high purity, extremely low metal ion and hydroxyl content, good optical uniformity, and strong thermal shock resistance. We are also willing to accept a trial order and require the provision of complete export documents and material test reports.

Project Process

Quotation and Communication: The customer initially expected the price to be close to that of local ordinary products. We did not make a direct concession but explained in depth the actual impact of impurities, hydroxyl groups, bubbles and stress on the laser lifespan and stability, and pointed out the failure risk of low-price tube materials under continuous high-power operation conditions. The customer thus realized the importance of quality priority and actively adjusted the budget expectation.

Sample Verification: By sending samples and attaching test reports. The customer placed the samples in actual laser devices for continuous operation and cold-hot cycle tests, focusing on light transmission efficiency, dimensional accuracy and surface smoothness. The test results proved that the optical performance and thermal stability of the samples were significantly better than the original materials, with stable laser output and the customer immediately approved.

First Trial Order: The customer placed a small batch order covering multiple specifications. We strictly controlled the annealing process to eliminate internal stress, and each tube was subject to visual and optical inspection. The export packaging used glued board boxes and added shock-absorbing padding to ensure safe shipping; at the same time, complete commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading and material certificates were prepared for smooth customs clearance.

Recurring Business: The customer reported that the tube wear rate was extremely low, the laser power consistency and beam quality were continuously stable. Subsequently, additional orders were successively placed, including thick-walled tubes for special pump cavities and a small amount of filter function tubes. Although no annual total volume agreement was signed by both parties, the order frequency and single order quantity steadily increased, and the partnership became increasingly close.