The exact components necessary to operate a laser depend on your application. All applications require some kind of “beam delivery system” or means of directing the laser beam to the work surface, and changing or focusing the beam. Turning mirrors and focusing lenses may be used to accomplish this. You will also need some sort of motion system, such as an XY table, galvo scanning head, or plotter mechanism, an AC/DC power supply, and depending on the power of the laser you are using, a cooling system for the laser.
