A pulsed laser like that, and a picosecond laser, is different. To put into perspective how short a picosecond is. Light travels about the distance of a pepper flake from a pepper shaker, in a picosecond.
These are unfathomably fast, and VERY expensive.
If you're looking to cut/engrave metal, you're looking for a CO2 laser, or a grant. You pick.
CO2 is far in the IR, 10.6um (10,600nm) and not something for the weekend project of someone who a, does not know the difference between UV and IR, and b, does not know about DPSS vs diode, and c, needs this thread to begin with.
I would NOT recommend getting into this unless you are ready to spend money not only on the laser, but your own health.
Do some in depth reading on CO2 lasers, their dangers, properties, how they run, etc. These are not toys. Just think, you're using it to cut and engrave metal. Do you even want to KNOW what it will do to skin and your eyes?
Just my two cents.
EDIT: Also, make sure to get in depth on the safeties and precautions of high voltage, and how to behave around this sort of thing. High voltage for a HeNe is one thing, CO2 is a whole other, much more volatile, monster.
I recommend the
FAQ of course. I also recommend simply searching, and opening a new tab whenever there is a word you do not understand, and then looking that up as well. Just keep that process up until you know these systems like the back of your hand. Only then will you be able to safely engage this process without not only burning out your eyes, but possibly burning down the entire facility you're running in. I don't even have a CO2 because I live in a wooden dorm. Bad mix.
