Last updated on September 16th, 2022 at 10:25 am
In 1980, the field of laser processing was just beginning to emerge, with applications in welding, cladding, and drilling. Lasers have the unique ability of 3D robotic light delivery and pointing stability of one mm. Lasers operating in a long pulse mode are highly practical and useful for fabrication tasks of larger scales, while ultrashort pulsed lasers present a challenge for tasks of smaller scales. Read on to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of these lasers, and how to apply them in your own manufacturing process.
Ultrashort laser pulses
Table of Contents
A significant advance in the field of laser processing is the development of ultrashort laser pulses. These pulses allow high intensity light to be delivered over a small range of angular frequency. This feature provides increased precision in micromachining processes. A common example is the welding of metal parts by using an ultrashort laser pulse. This new welding technique uses an fs-laser guide for pointing and chirp control of ionization.
Another benefit of ultrashort laser pulses is the ability to process various materials with minimal heat input. The energy density of ultrashort laser pulses is significantly greater than that of regular lasers, resulting in greater machining accuracy. This method is particularly suitable for processing thin metals and foils. The laser beam can be focused within a small spot of approximately ten to thirty millimeters, or kerf width. Ultrashort laser pulses are also useful for machining hard and brittle materials with low heat input.
Non-contact processing
A non-contact laser processing system cuts, engraves, or marks on any material without physical contact. With a single click, you can adjust the power and speed parameters to change the results. Non-contact lasers eliminate the need for physical tooling, which significantly reduces the cost of maintenance. Additionally, a non-contact laser system is more stable than conventional processing systems, which improves productivity. Read on to learn more about non-contact laser processing.
The main advantage of non-contact laser processing is that it requires less maintenance. For example, a high-end production laser source, such as the LPKF, is almost maintenance-free. Another benefit is the fact that it is not subject to environmental hazards and does not release harmful particles into the air. This technology is sweeping the field of manufacturing, displacing the use of special tools and reducing costs. Several industrial applications have been improved with the use of lasers, from abrasives to metal finishing.
Applications in electronics
Laser processing in electronics can be used to process various materials. High powers of lasers can be used for a variety of applications. Moreover, nonlinear absorption allows the processing of bulk materials while linear absorption is typically limited to surface applications. Therefore, it is important to select an appropriate laser source for the required application. In addition, different laser sources produce different effects depending on the material they are used to process. Here are some applications of laser processing in electronics.
Flat panel displays are a prime example of laser processing in electronics. There are numerous applications of laser processing for this material, including the cutting of glass/sapphire substrates, the annealing of TFT displays, and the patterning of thin-film amorphous silicon solar cells. Various laser equipments are available for processing these materials, including the compact solid-state lasers. ACS Motion Control provides high-end automation controllers, wide range of drive systems, and dedicated modules for laser applications.
Future applications
The future of laser technology is vast, ranging from medical diagnostics to space exploration. The capability of lasers is multiplied by the near-infinite combinations of wavelengths, pulse lengths, and pulse shapes, and by new software that can manipulate these properties. For instance, cancer detection uses lasers to illuminate cellular activity. It is likely that all other applications will follow in years to come. But for now, the most important application of laser technology is to help us improve our everyday lives.
The use of lasers is essential to a variety of fields. In addition to medical applications, photonics can be used in the construction of wind turbines, photovoltaic panels, and hydrogen production. The use of photonics in these fields is already bringing about interesting solutions. For instance, carbon fiber reinforced polymers can be used to protect the environment during air travel, and VCSELs can be used for medical applications. Automated driving is another application for laser processing. Data from laser scanners can be valuable for reconstruction efforts. Another example of this is in the 5G cellular network.
