Covered topics: Non-contact beam measurement; a precession bore system with a green laser for electronics fabrication; and laser cutting, welding and optical measurement for e-mobility production.
Editor's picks
Discussion topics including cladding with diode lasers, CO2 lasers in the automotive industry, nano-structured anti-reflective surfaces, and software for designing beam-splitting optics were covered in the second installment of the Lasers In Action Webinar series
The first webcast in the Lasers In Action series covered blue diode lasers, automated weld monitoring and thermal laser processing.
News
Welding, cutting and 3D printing are counted among the industrial applications intended for the upcoming laser diodes. (Image: BluGlass)
22 October 2020
Three different standard laser designs have been demonstrated after being fabricated into test devices: 405nm, 420nm and 450nm
Multi-beam modules can be used to increase the processing speeds of high-power ultrafast lasers. (Image: Fraunhofer ILT).
22 October 2020
The new laser is able to offer 10.4kW average power without degradation of the beam quality
LMD and LPBF can be used to produce composite materials with thin layers and a range of different properties. (Image Fraunhofer ILT)
07 October 2020
The 3D printing method can be used to produce a ferrous composite material of balanced hardness and toughness – similar to Damascus steel.
28 September 2020
Additive manufacturing can be used to reduce the cost of routine turbine maintenance dramatically, typically replacing manual operations such as TIG welding
The firm invested £1m in a 10kW TruLaser 5030 fiber machine from Trumpf earlier this year.
27 September 2020
The firm quickly reacted to the pandemic by incorporating social distancing in addition to home-working, which allowed it to remain open
The new machine was unveiled at the Bodor Laser Innovation and Research Center in Jinan. (Image: Bodor Laser)
27 September 2020
The machine has a maximum cutting thickness of 200mm, is able to cut 20mm carbon steel at a rate of 6m/min and 30mm carbon steel at 2.4m/min.
ScaleNC and Optimate support sheet metal fabrication. (Image: Trumpf)
25 September 2020
The ideas for the start-ups were developed as part of Trumpf's 'Internehmertum' programme
Analysis & opinion
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
25 September 2020
ES Precision’s new UV laser is paying for itself by opening up a range of valuable niche processing jobs, writes director Andrew May
The recent emergence of blue laser processing shows promise for copper processing applications in e-mobility. (Image: Nuburu)
25 September 2020
Over the summer laser users learned how two types of blue diode laser are dramatically improving copper welding for fabricating e-mobility components
15 June 2020
Anibal Di Luch, of TWI, reports on the development of a robotic platform for the laser processing of large-scale, high-end structures for aircraft
11 June 2020
Dr Paulina Morawska, research associate at Heriot-Watt University, discusses how ultrafast lasers can be used to address the encapsulation challenges of OLEDs
09 June 2020
Christian Knaak and Peter Abels, of Fraunhofer ILT, explain how imaging and machine learning can be used to identify weld imperfections with high accuracy
Features
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
24 April 2020
Nikolaus Fecht on how AI is helping move laser systems closer to achieving complete error-free production
16 March 2020
Keely Portway looks at regular maintenance practices that can help laser users ensure maximum uptime of their system
Trumpf enables copper additive manufacturing by combining its TruDisk 1020 with its TruPrint systems.
13 March 2020
Optically-driven additive manufacturing is entering uncharted territory with challenging reflective, thermally conductive metals such as copper, finds Andy Extance
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
The investment will be the cornerstone of building closer relationships with the Group's existing customers and expansion into other sectors, including aerospace and medical
The five-axis system allows engineers to cut, drill or machine complex shapes without the drawbacks associated with traditional laser machining such as heat build up or tapers
Talisman Plastics have improved the capabilities of their in-house printing with the investment of a new Keyence hybrid laser marker.
The new hybrid laser, comprised of a YVO4 crystalline material and a conventional fibre, transfers to the plastic target with heightened accuracy, meaning Talisman can now offer printing of barcodes, QR codes, logos and imagery onto their popular Taliloc, Enviroloc, and Easiloc products.
The Digital Manufacturing Centre has announced its first metal powder bed fusion additive manufacturing machine purchase of two Renishaw RenAM 500Qs
LPKF’s Active Mold Packaging (AMP) technology enables electrical circuits directly on the surface and inside the volume of the epoxy mould compound
Jellypipe draws together the entire 3D printing ecosystem on a virtual platform to address the real barriers to the best use of 3D printing in real-time industrial applications
The SFP 770 comprises two fully automated functions in one machine: the removal of excess powder while unpacking a large build box, and a cleaning cycle in which remaining powder is rapidly cleaned off each printed part.
White papers
08 September 2020
When purchasing a highly advanced device for use in the workplace, such as a laser, learning how to properly apply, troubleshoot, and evaluate that device becomes very important.
This article will detail 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.
