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May/Jun 2013  

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Lasers

Top Features

New method for structuring brittle materials

Hard and brittle materials, like certain types of glass and sapphire, are difficult to process—even for lasers. Poor absorption at most wavelengths combined with poor heat-transfer properties make it difficult or impossible to realize structures in these materials.

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Show spotlights newest laser technologies

The laser world descends each year on the Photonics West conference and exhibition. The event is hosted by SPIE, an international society devoted to advancing biophotonics, biomedical optics, industrial lasers, optoelectronics, microfabrication and green photonics.

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Right Light: Equipment selection is critical when laser marking microparts

Lasers offer a flexible, virtually trouble-free way to mark components for identification purposes. As a result, laser marking has gained ground on other parts-marking techniques.

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The Write Stuff

Marking microparts with lasers

With the increasing need for traceability, marking operations have become essential at all levels of manufacturing. There are many ways to permanently mark parts, each with advantages and limitations, depending on the application.

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CFRPs’ make-up makes them tough to machine

Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers are composite materials that offer numerous benefits as workpiece materials. Reaping those benefits, however, requires effort. This is because CFRPs are non-homogeneous, which makes them tough to cut.

Carbon nanotubes represent the ultimate in carbon-fiber toughness. These reinforced polymers—used in the manufacture of Lockheed’s F-35 Lightning II warplane—are several times stronger and more costly than regular carbon fibers.

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Quickening the Pulse

In the 1964 movie of the same name, the evil Goldfinger spoke fondly of industrial lasers. “You can put a spot on the moon or cut through solid metal with one,” he said to James Bond, strapped to a gold table and about to be laser-beamed in two. Luckily for Bond, the laser wasn’t very efficient. Just look at the spatters of molten metal, the recast on both sides of the beam. Goldfinger would have made a cleaner cut if he’d used an ultrafast-pulse laser (UFPL).

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Top Videos

PhotoScribe complete turn key marking system

PSMPPhotoScribe Technologies offers this brief video demonstrating a complete turn-key marking solution that the company delivered to a customer for marking pharmaceutical tablets. The laser system is designed to mark on the fly as parts pass beneath the laser.

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3-D laser scanning microscope

Keyence’s VK-X 3D laser scanning microscopes combine the capabilities of an optical microscope, profilometer and an SEM, according to the company.

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Factors to consider when choosing a laser beam profiling system

 

beam profilingMost people working with lasers today are trying to do something with the light beam, either as the raw beam or, more commonly, modified with optics. Whether it is printing a label on a part, welding a precision joint or repairing a retina, it is important to understand the nature of the laser beam and its performance.

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Micromanufacturing lab tour at Northwestern Univ.

During the 7th International Conference on MicroManufacturing in March, conference co-chairs Jian Cao and Kornel Ehmann, along with a few of their students, provided an overview of their research and work stations at the university's micromanufacturing lab.

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Racecar sets world speed record

Small Car at Vienna thumbA 285µm-long racecar has been fabricated in record time via ultrahigh-precision 3-D printing at Vienna University of Technology.

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Top Products

IPG Photonics releases IX-255 UV Laser Micromachining System

IPG Photonics Corp.

cleo 2013 tIPG Photonics Corp., a provider of fiber lasers and amplifiers, introduced the IX-255 UV Laser Micromachining System.

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Laser machining hard materials

Deli Laser Solutions Co. Ltd.

Deli LaserDeli Laser Solutions Co. Ltd. specializes in laser micromachining hard, brittle materials, including ceramics, silicon, glass, quartz and sapphire. The company performs cutting, marking, dicing, etching, welding and drilling. Deli Laser Solutions reports that it can laser-drill 50μm holes with smooth sidewalls and no burrs in 1mm-thick materials.

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Precision measurement of metallic foils during production

Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT

pm tThe Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT has unveiled its new “bd-2” sensor for thickness measurements. The system can accurately measure foils, rolled strips and other metallic semi-finished products with an accuracy of at least 100nm, within a measurement range of several millimeters, according to the company.

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Turn-key laser system for industrial marking and labeling

Trotec Laser Inc.

LWS 780Trotec Laser Inc.'s LWS 780 marking station is a turn-key laser system for industrial marking and labeling. Typical applications include component marking in machine construction and tool construction and in medical technology and electronics.

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Laser micromachining system

Swisstec Micromachining AG

Swisstec Micromachining AG introduced its Multi Flexi Tube (MFT) system, which offers ultrafast, high accuracy laser micromachining, according to the company.

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