Keely Portway discovers how lasers are being used to advance Moore’s law, and how this technology could become more accessible to SMEs
Editor's picks
The EUV source at Fraunhofer ILT’s Excimer facility delivers 40W at 13.5nm
Project MEDAL will rapidly optimise LPBF processing parameters for new metal alloys used in aerospace.
Project MEDAL will rapidly optimise LPBF processing parameters for new aerospace alloys.
Chao Wei and Lin Li discuss how different material properties could be integrated into single parts using additive manufacturing
News
The laser system under development within LAMpAS could be used to create grease-repellent ovens that are far easier to clean. (Image: LAMpAS consortium)
20 January 2021
Surface treatment via ultrafast lasers could lead to home appliances that remain clean for longer periods of time
19 January 2021
Coherent's photonics and lasers businesses will be combined with Lumentum's telecom, datacom, and 3D sensing businesses
The micro loudspeaker proves that microactuators can be produced in seconds and at low costs using inkjet printers and lasers. (Image: Fraunhofer ILT)
18 January 2021
The process could be used as a faster and more affordable alternative to vacuum- and mask-based piezo-MEMS manufacturing methods
Project MEDAL will rapidly optimise LPBF processing parameters for new metal alloys used in aerospace.
15 January 2021
Project MEDAL will rapidly optimise LPBF processing parameters for new aerospace alloys.
The optimised topology of the housing reduces the e-drive's overall weight by 10 per cent. (Image: Porsche)
13 January 2021
The e-drive unit measures 590 x 560 x 367mm and was built in 21 hours using SLM Solution's NXG XII 600
11 January 2021
The material was ‘printed’ into joint lanes, which is the first step towards 3D-printing buildings, landing points, and roads on the moon
II-VI's remote laser processing heads will be combined with Coherent’s fibre laser technology. (Image: IIVI)
08 January 2021
The collaboration will see II-VI's remote laser processing heads combined with Coherent’s Adjustable Ring Mode fibre laser technology.
Analysis & opinion
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
25 November 2020
Simone Mazzucato discusses how lasers can be used to create hidden microfeatures in materials for anti-counterfeit purposes
25 September 2020
Trumpf’s David Harvilla, Stefanie Bisch and Sebastian Zaske discuss why green lasers represent the perfect tool for welding e-mobility components made of copper
25 September 2020
Nataliya Deyneka-Dupriez and Alexander Denkl, of Lessmüller Lasertechnik, describe how OCT can be used to perform online process monitoring when using an oscillating laser beam to weld e-mobility components
Features
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
The EUV source at Fraunhofer ILT’s Excimer facility delivers 40W at 13.5nm
11 December 2020
Keely Portway discovers how lasers are being used to advance Moore’s law, and how this technology is being made more affordable for smaller businesses
25 September 2020
Greg Blackman speaks to two researchers who presented at the LANE conference on different aspects of laser welding
The LS4 integrates two laser sources, a 50W green nanosecond and a dual wavelength (near-infrared and green) 10W femtosecond source. (Image: Lasea)
25 September 2020
Keely Portway discovers how laser systems are used in smart manufacturing
Application focus
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
Lasers can be used to create durable black marks on stainless steel. (Image: Coherent)
Andrew May, director of ES Precision, shares five tips to get the best laser marking results
John Powell, technical director of Laser Expertise, on some of the key aspects to consider when buying a new cutting machine for a job shop
Press Releases
AdValue Photonics has introduced a laser glass processing machine to drill, cut, mark, and mill glass materials including soda lime, borosilicate, optical glasses, fused quartz, and coated glasses.
The Helios Plus has all the features of the Helios for measuring a wide range of high power lasers in production operations, as well as the ability to measure additional wavelengths, such as blue and green lasers used in copper welding in the automotive industry
The work of the WLT focuses on the identification and active promotion of strategic goals to further develop laser radiation scientifically as a universally applicable 'tool'
The laser trimming specialists will collectively operate under the name L-TRIS and have more than 25 years of combined expertise in laser technology
The synergy between both companies creates a solid base for significant time and cost savings in the failure analysis workflows when compared to the standard approach.
In addition to providing custom solutions, EO will also maintain a global inventory of standard UFI components that will reduce the typically long lead times of high-precision and high-power laser optics
LSP Technologies has enhanced its Procudo Laser Peening System, enabling it to be integrated more easily and effectively into factory workflow and operations
White papers
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.
