Tue, Dec 8th - 1:23AM
The Use Of Lasers
Advanced industrial lasers have evolved well beyond simple cutting and welding
applications. Laser technology now offers an industrial de-coating and surface
cleaning solution that is cost effective as well as responsive to environmental
concerns. From the automated cleaning of molds to precise de-coating to oxide
removal, laser surface treatments are proving to be an attractive option to
traditional labor-intensive methods.
In the past decade laser paint removal and cleaning systems have generated
significant interest as a viable alternative to conventional cleaning and paint
removal technologies.http://www.lasermarkingcnc.com Research on mobile, reliable, and powerful laser systems
for cleaning and paint removal operations began in the late 1980s with the
modification of welding or cutting lasers into laser systems for surface
preparation. This approach did not meet the requirements for surface
preparation, which are significantly different than for cutting and welding.
In the early 1990s, research took place around the world for more efficient,
reliable laser systems for surface preparation work. It took another few years
to develop the technology from experimental laboratory systems to dependable
systems capable of use in day-to-day industrial operations. Today, a wide
variety of industries have adopted laser systems for a range of surface
preparation tasks. Applications include mold cleaning, paint removal, joining
pretreatment, oil and grease removal, and many more.
Operating principle
The laser generates a directed and monochromatic beam of light which typically
is tightly focused to create high power density. At the focal point, the energy
of the intense laser beam will be absorbed by the contamination or paint layer,
thermally incinerating or sublimating the target material, such as paint or
contamination (see FIGURE 1). These processes will, in combination with the
resulting micro-thermal shockwave, remove the target material as long as the
target material is able to absorb the incident laser energy. The better the
target material absorbs the energy, the faster it can be removed.
Color, chemical composition, and thickness of the target layer all have a direct
impact on the effectiveness of the process. The removal process automatically
stops once a metal, or otherwise relatively reflective, substrate is reached.
Reflective surfaces do not generally readily absorb the laser energy.
Any residual heat transfer into the substrate material can be a critical factor.
To minimize this effect, many laser equipment manufacturers use pulsed laser
sources. The beam intensity (laser power per beam spot) is a critical parameter
for the heat transfer into the substrate material. Very short laser pulses with
a pulse duration of only a few nanoseconds (ns) in combination with a very small
focus diameter (0.02 in) or longer pulses in the millisecond (ms) range with a
larger focus diameter (0.2 in) result in a minimal heat transfer into the
substrate material. Under normal operating conditions and with the right process
parameters, damage to the substrate material can be avoided.
The heat transfer factor of continuous-wave laser systems is much higher and
might result in substrate temperatures that will damage the substrate. Test
results with a handheld pulsed Nd:YAG laser with an average laser power of 500W
(peak power of more than 400kW) on an aircraft aluminum sheet resulted in
maximum substrate temperatures of 170 °F.
Pulsed laser systems generate laser power levels well beyond the average power
of the laser source. A pulsed 150W solid-state laser will generate a peak pulse
power of more than 160kW.http://www.lasermarkingcnc.com This high peak power and the above mentioned beam
parameter result in a power intensity removing many target materials with
acceptable production rates.
Currently, there are three different kinds of laser sources available for
surface preparation works. The main difference is the laser beam generation and
the resulting beam delivery configuration.
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Thu, Dec 3rd - 1:36AM
SATO brings revolutionary laser marking technology to Asia
Auto-ID solutions provider SATO (Tokyo, Japan) has launched a new subsidiary, SpeciaLase Limited, to market a revolutionary CO2 laser coding and marking technology that will operate in Japan and the Asia-Pacific region.
SATO acquired the exclusive sales rights for this laser coding printing technology and pigment in Japan and the Asia-Pacific region from DataLase, http://www.lasermarkingcnc.com
a UK provider of materials for laser coding and marking products and packaging, as well as acquired a significant stake in the company.
The laser coding process offers a high-quality and cost-effective alternative to traditional labels and printing methods. It utilizes a nontoxic and environmentally friendly coating that provides a stable, high-contrast, high-quality, and durable image on virtually any substrate using low-power CO2 lasers.
The process has applications across a range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, and all types of fast-moving consumer goods. It can print everything from barcodes to variable information to images and graphics. http://www.lasermarkingcnc.com
Key benefits include high-speed, high-contrast print quality; low cost, as it eliminates consumables; reduced need for maintenance and downtime, thanks to highly reliable CO2 lasers; and its on-demand capability that enables late-stage customization. SpeciaLase will also forge business partnerships with laser and ink manufacturers, sell coding agents and equipment, and develop new solutions to utilize the technology.
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Name: Emily James
