Tim Lantzsch and his colleagues investigate the feasibility of diode lasers for the laser powder bed fusion of stainless steel
Editor's picks
Greg Blackman asks experts to recap what 2010 to 2020 held for the advancement of fibre laser technology
Frederik Maiwald and Stefan Hierl determine the optimal parameters for welding transparent polymers used in optical and medical devices
News
The system uses laser prototyping technology to machine both tread and sidewall profiles into tyres. (Image: 4Jet)
04 March 2021
The system could significantly shorten development cycles and prototyping costs in tyre production
Coating copper powder with graphene lowers its reflectivity significantly, improving its ability to be printed using lasers. (Image: Uppsala University)
02 March 2021
By coating copper powder with graphene, its reflectance can be reduced by 67 per cent
The copper-silver-tungsten material achieves 100 per cent Covid-19 inactivation within five hours. (Image: University of Wolverhampton)
23 February 2021
The novel material could be used in filtration systems and face mask filters
18 February 2021
The coinciding conference, World of Photonics Congress, will be held in a digital format on the original dates of 20–24 June
12 February 2021
Adding to an initial $5.7bn offer from Lumentum and a $6bn offer from MKS Instruments
10 February 2021
The proposal comes just weeks after Coherent accepted a $5.7bn acquisition offer from Lumentum.
The ‘LaserFactory’ comprises a software toolkit and laser cutter add-on hardware that assembles electronic components. (Image: MIT)
09 February 2021
The technology could be used to rapidly prototype devices such as wearables, robots, or printed electronics
Analysis & opinion
24 February 2021
Tim Lantzsch and his colleagues investigate the feasibility of diode lasers for the laser powder bed fusion of stainless steel
24 February 2021
Manyalibo Matthews shares how a deeper understanding of laser powder bed fusion will lead to material innovations and new applications in additive manufacturing
25 January 2021
Frederik Maiwald and Stefan Hierl determine the optimal parameters for welding transparent polymers used in optical and medical devices
11 December 2020
Chao Wei and Lin Li discuss how different material properties could be integrated into single parts using additive manufacturing
11 December 2020
Nicholas Goffin investigates where energy savings can be made in laser processing
Figure 1: Complex two-phase copper vapour chambers, for high-power space applications, built using laser-powder bed fusion.
11 December 2020
Brett Diehl, of the Penn State Applied Research Laboratory, puts neural networks to work in identifying voids in additive manufacturing
25 November 2020
Dr Stefan Janssen discusses the scanner-based laser processing technique developed within the Carbolase project
Features
Ultra-thin glass is now being used in the flexible displays of foldable smartphones.
02 March 2021
Ultra-thin glass offers exciting opportunities but poses exceptional manufacturing challenges, Matthew Dale finds
23 February 2021
Greg Blackman asks experts how fibre lasers developed between 2010 to 2020, as well as what advancements the future may hold for the technology
Amada Weld Tech uses fibre lasers and femtosecond lasers in the manufacture of stents. (Image: Amada Weld Tech)
22 February 2021
Keely Portway explores the use of lasers in medical device manufacturing, including how they have played their part since the start of the pandemic
Lasers can be used to cut vehicle doorings, ABC pillars and any other structural part in a car body made out of press-hardened steel.
11 December 2020
LSE speaks with Martin Kuhnhen, head of Jenoptik’s Light & Production division, about the usage of laser technology on automotive production lines
A laser enclosure containing a robot designed to build propellers.
11 December 2020
Lasermet’s David Lawton opens Matthew Dale’s eyes on the latest issues faced in ensuring laser safety for materials processing
Application focus
Experimenting with circular, square and triangular oscillation patterns for laser surface treatment.
Handika Sandra Dewi explores the effects of circular, square and triangular oscillation strategies when treating microalloyed steel
Figure 5: successful validation of the process and the developed optics at a 4m depth under water
Jan Leschke and his colleagues have developed a new process for the safe dismantlement of nuclear equipment
Figure 1: Common views of the ROV. (1) Vertical thrusters, (2) buoyancy, (3) laser cleaning module, (4) horizontal thrusters, (5) wheels with built-in magnets, (6) rear video camera, (7) LED lamp, (8) front video camera, (9) thruster control units, (10) main control unit, (11) nozzle of the laser cleaning module.
Researchers are developing laser systems capable of cleaning ship hulls underwater
Ben Fielding, of Weldwide, explores the benefits of laser welding and how the technology compares to other well-established joining methods
Florent Husson, of Alphanov, describes how large parts can be polished using robotics and high-power lasers
Press Releases
The new CANUNDA-HP laser welding head is suitable for submillimetre ring beam shaping at powers up to 16 kW
The thermally stable three-axis laser scanner is suitable for high precision manufacturing of complex components for the medical, microelectronics, and automotive sectors, including additive manufacturing
The system includes options for laser drilling, trimming, welding, marking, and laser soldering
Dr Robert Novotnak, previously chief business officer for Aerotech, will assume all day-to-day responsibilities of managing the company operations in his new role
This equipment irradiates a laser beam with an output power of 2.5kW ideal for surface quenching onto steel materials of various shapes and sizes
This QCL module combines mid-infrared light beams emitted from two QCLs to boost the output power to a level ideal for micromachining of fluoropolymer resins that are used for high frequency device substrates, and a vast range of vehicles and transportation machinery
The SFM-AT1000-S and SFM-AT800-S automated depowdering systems have been reinforced to handle parts with larger dimensions
White papers
02 March 2021
This article describes the possibilities of laser technology based on applications for OLED-based lighting and glass components in the display area
08 September 2020
This article details why a laser’s performance is important for industrial laser materials processing, and will serve as a guide for the right and wrong ways to apply, ascertain, evaluate, and take action on the laser performance data gathered.
09 June 2020
Edmund Optics describes its development of NebularTM nano-structured anti-reflective surfaces that can be used to reduce stray light in laser systems for materials processing.
