Matthew Dale learns that ultrafast lasers can now be used to bond transparent materials to metals, unlocking a plethora of applications
Editor's picks
Spiral welds can be made at the interface between transparent material and metal to bond the two together. (Image: Heriot-Watt University)
Ultrashort laser pulses can be used to store information in little voxels in quartz silica glass. (Image: Microsoft)
The technology has the potential to preserve data inside glass for millions of years without decaying
Coherent's picosecond laser system provides a turnkey solution for permanent, high contrast, contamination-free sub-surface UDI marking of stainless steel devices.
News
Matt Flamini and Dr Vincent Beachley are using laser heating to strengthen fibres. (Image: Rowan University)
10 June 2021
The 'superfibres' could be used to create better bike helmets, longer-lasting batteries and improved medical devices
A compact heat exchanger printed from stainless steel AISI 316L. (Image: Senai)
09 June 2021
Zeiss and two other partners will be developing AM methodologies for the manufacturing and qualification of critical components for the industry
Laser peening can extend the life of jet engine blades and other aircraft structures. (Image: Reuters)
07 June 2021
LSP Technologies and Airbus have together developed a portable laser peening system that is currently undergoing testing and evaluation
Top: Atomic force microscopy images of a suspended graphene drum skin before and after optical forging. Bottom: How a material can become stiffer when corrugated. (Image: University of Jyväskylä)
07 June 2021
The technique, known as optical forging, could open up a range of novel applications for the material
Ultrashort laser pulses can be used to store information in little voxels in quartz silica glass. (Image: Microsoft)
04 June 2021
The technology has the potential to preserve data inside glass for millions of years without decaying
3D-printed sample component: The laser transmission of 3D printed plastic components depends on layer thickness and orientation. (Image: LZH)
02 June 2021
The system will enable 3D-printed plastic components to be optimally welded together
The blackened sample fabricated by the circularly polarized laser and its morphology. (Image: XIOPM)
02 June 2021
The technique could have applications in fields such as aerospace, solar power, infrared imaging and the creation of artificial black bodies
Analysis & opinion
Spiral welds can be made at the interface between transparent material and metal to bond the two together. (Image: Heriot-Watt University)
09 June 2021
Matthew Dale learns that ultrafast lasers can now be used to bond transparent materials to metals, unlocking a plethora of applications
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
Features
11 June 2021
Keely Portway considers the benefits of incorporating AI into industrial laser systems
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
Application focus
Figure 1. The laser polishing process. (Image: McDonald et al)
Laser polishing could serve as a resourceful alternative to traditional methods for finishing additively manufactured parts
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
Press Releases
The platform features a host of functionality enhancements and innovations, including extended onboard data logs and real-time system condition visualisation
The LZM-125 system uses a CO2 laser heat source to perform splicing, tapering, lensing and other high precision glass shaping operations
Based upon a fibre-coupled, maintenance free solid-state near infrared laser at 1,064nm, this compact system delivers 100W of laser power while weighing less than 5kg
Laser 2000 will distribute Cailabs' CANUNDA product line in Germany, Austria and German speaking Switzerland.
The new FS721M-8 laser platform was launched at TCT Asia 2021 in NECC Shanghai, China
The new ‘Triumph non-stop’ offers many new features and enhancements including 50% additional production with a single laser diode.
The new FormUp 350 system enables the production of perfectly reproducible series of parts at exceptional levels of productivity
White papers
04 June 2021
An optimized picosecond laser system provides a turnkey solution for permanent, unique device identifier (UDI) marking of stainless steel devices.
07 May 2021
Coherent's new solution for 3D marking meets the increased need to mark non-flat surfaces, such as curved, inclined, recessed, and stepped surfaces as well as free-form objects.
24 March 2021
Semiconductors need to be inspected during every part of the manufacturing process for defects. Accurate and precise results are critical to prevent unnecessary product wastage and cost. Within industrial, in-line applications, there are numerous challenges faced by customers and this paper looks at solutions to these challenges.
