CO2 Laser for Tree Pruning?
This question was actually asked on a laser related discussion group by someone who shall remain nameless and probably had had too high a dose of Sci-Fi! He figured it would be easier to aim a laser at a high branch than climbing a ladder and would be a good excuse to build a laser! After all, CO2 lasers may be used for production wood cutting. (See the section: Large Wood Cutting Lasers.) Tree pruning is probably not a good application for a CO2 laser. Think of trying to cut branches with a propane torch. It is easy to start fires, limbs would come crashing down uncontrollably, the speed of anything but a 10,000 W, $250,000 industrial laser would be disappointing compared to a saw, aiming and focusing the beam – and maintaining it would be quite a challenge, and CO2 lasers aren’t exactly portable. In addition, pilots of low flying aircraft would not generally appreciate having holes punched in their wings or elsewhere by accident (no beam stop after all!): • Insurance Adjuster: “So, p
