Applications

German firm Euro-K has enhanced its burners for micro-gas turbines with a design based on metal additive manufacturing

Apple has filed a patent for laser cutting sapphire, a potential cover glass material for the company’s mobile devices

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada has invested in updated laser screw welding procedures as part of a $421 million upgrade to its Cambridge, Ontario assembly plant

A snake skin inspired surface, manufactured using laser etching, has smashed records by providing a 40 per cent friction reduction in tests of high performance materials. A paper discussing this finding is published today (1 June 2015) in IOP Publishing’s Bioinspiration & Biomimetics journal.

Lead researcher, Dr Christian Greiner and his team used a laser to etch the surface of a steel pin so that it closely resembled the texture of snake skin. They then tested the friction created when the pin moved against another surface.

The installation of a new additive manufacturing solution at Faustson Tool has allowed the company to extend its capabilities, offering improved services for its customers from aerospace, aeronautics, defence, energy, medical and semiconductor industries.

Heidi Hostetter, vice president at Faustson Tool which is based in Colorado, US, explained that metal additive manufacturing is of great interest to the company’s aerospace customers. She added that there is a large emphasis on UAVs and defence in the Colorado area.

Disney Research has found a way of creating toys out of soft fabric using laser cutting and an additive process

Paul Hilton of TWI spoke at the AILU's Industrial Laser Applications Symposium, which took place 17-18 March in Kenilworth, UK, on the topic of laser cutting for nuclear decommissioning

The sports apparel company New Balance Athletic Shoe has started using plastic laser-sintering technology to 3D print custom spike plates for athletes’ shoes to help improve times on the track

EOS has announced it will be presenting partial dentures created using Direct Laser Metal Sintering (DMLS) techniques at this year International Dental Show (IDS) in Cologne, Germany

The Exeter-based manufacturer, Van Guard, has installed a new 3kW fibre laser cutting machine from Bystronic UK. The company specialises in the vehicle accessory market, manufacturing and supplying roof bars and racks, pipe carriers, bulkheads, grilles, internal storage and other items.