Tue, Sep 29th - 2:41AM
News:The advantages of new laser
EU scientists have developed efficient new fibre optic lasers that deliver short wavelengths for accurate polymer
material processing, at incredible strength and low cost. The consortium behind the new innovations, developed
through the ISLA project, is now in the process of marketing some of these cutting edge devices.
Polymers – which are lightweight yet strong – are used in numerous industries ranging from aerospace to chemicals.
Industrial lasers are used to slice and shape polymer materials for use in everything from laptops to solar panels.
Global competition has placed increasing pressure on profit margins, pushing manufacturers to constantly innovate in
areas of product performance and production efficiency.
It is this industrial need thatwww.lasermarkingcnc.com ISLA sought to address. The new fibre lasers developed by ISLA are just as powerful
as devices currently on the market, and most importantly offer cost-competitive production. While welding, cutting
and marking of plastics without the need for absorption-enhancing additives present the most obvious commercial
opportunities for these fibre lasers, the success of ISLA should also open up potential new applications in other
industrial sectors, such as surgery and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging.
In surgery, light can be delivered through a flexible fibre and be easily integrated into devices such as endoscopes
and microscopes. The targeted nature of the laser beam is also attractive to many surgeons, enabling them to access
tricky areas of the body and deliver targeted cutting while minimising damage to surrounding tissue. The treatment of
varicose veins and tumour resection are www.lasermarkingcnc.com two possible uses.
OCT imaging systems on the other hand are used in diverse range of sectors including art conservation and diagnostic
medicine. The imaging technique is used to uncover more detail in layers beneath oil paintings than is possible with
shorter-wavelength sources.
Recently the technology has also begun to be used in interventional cardiology to help diagnose coronary artery
disease. While commercial fibre lasers are already available on the market, the ground-breaking components delivered
by ISLA mean that lasers may soon by far more cost competitive.
The ISLA consortium also successfully developed a new graphene-based mode-locker. Mode-locking is a technique in
optics by which a laser can be made to produce pulses of light of extremely short duration. Potential applications of
this laser technique include www.lasermarkingcnc.com optical data storage and eye surgery.
Although the project was officially completed in June 2015, characterisation work is ongoing. Once this is finished,
the laser will be transferred for industrial testing at an applications laboratory in Hamburg, Germany. ISLA
consortium members will also take part in a dedicated session at the LASE conference, part of SPIE's Photonics West
event in San Francisco in February 2016.
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Thu, Sep 24th - 2:13AM
Why do you need a fiber laser marking machine?
The use of laser marking has increased over the past two decades, mainly due to its popularity as a labeling medium.
Its use carries substantive advantages in identifying product inventories and the ability to provide consumer
information on products. www.lasermarkingcnc.com The wide range of materials that can be marked using this method also makes it extremely
flexible for commercial and industrial purposes. For optimal results, choose a fiber laser marking machine for your
business.
How Does Laser Marking Work?
Several types of laser marking machines exist, but the most up-to-date technology available is that of the fiber
laser. This kind of laser machine, widely considered to be the best option in existence, uses fiber pumping
technology to “dope” the fibers with a rare-earth element such as Ytterbium.
The use of this element increases the ability of the fibers to conduct light-emitting diodes, which are then pumped
through the fibers to the optical heads. At that point, the beam of light expands to create the laser marking
capability. The beam of light then marks the material using one of four methods:
Laser engraving
Ablation or removal of a layer of the material
Carbon migration or etching of the surface of the material to change the color
Bonding
You can use fiber laser marking on a wide range of materials, from different types of metal through to leather and
plastics. Types of metals that lend themselves well to fiber laser engraving include platinum, stainless steel,
silver, gold and bronze. Carbide, tungsten, copper, aluminum or medical-grade alloys also respond well to fiber laser
marking.
Ways to Use Laser Marking
Fiber laser marking, which is also known as laser engraving because of the resulting surface pattern produced by the
ablation process, is used for a variety of applications including:
Medical Devices and Equipment – surgical devices and other medical products that require frequent sterilization
(often at high temperatures) use identification marks that can withstand the cleansing process without interfering
with the health of the patient.
Jewelry Engraving – creation of unique marks to identify or brand items of jewelry has become popular for copyright
protection and recovery of stolen property. www.lasermarkingcnc.com The precision of laser engraving is also used to personalize pieces such
as wedding bands with the vows or the couple’s marriage date.
Laser Cutting - light laser cutting is also very popular in the jewelry industry. Light metals are used to create
name cutouts and monograms as well as other design cut outs.
Computerized parts such as printed circuit boards use laser marking to produce clear, high-resolution images that are
ink- and acid-free for use in electronic applications.
If you’re in the business www.lasermarkingcnc.com of manufacturing or selling any of these types of products, then fiber laser marking
equipment is the one you need. This is just a small sampling of the many applications that fiber laser markers are
being used for.
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Tue, Sep 22nd - 1:58AM
Something About Laser
Laser application successes rely on timing of the market
Back in the day when "we never saw an application we didn't like for lasers," cutting of textiles and fabrics looked
like a sure winner. Sharp edges, precision shape cutting, no cutting blade wear in natural or synthetic fabrics, and
no-fray edges seemed like a potentially large laser market to our eyes. Talking with prospective users—the
industrial cutting equipment suppliers—we shrugged off their negative cost/benefit analysis as coming from short-
sighted traditionalists. We were wrong and the illusive "killer app" faded, with the market essentially relegated to
specialty laser cutting. Today, in an era where high-volume production has been surpassed by low-inventory orders of
small batches to more readily respond to market conditions, such as the demand for large-format printed textiles
(which has many companies intensifying www.lasermarkingcnc.comtheir search for more efficient cutting methods), finds the laser fabric
cutting market looking interesting again. Our cover story on banner cutting is an example of this.
Also this month, we revisit excimer laser circuit drilling, a reliable long-time application and a process being
driven by relentless consumer demand for microelectronics products that are more compact, energy-efficient, and
deliver greater functionality, which is now being used in shrinking microelectronic packaging.
In 2003, we looked at a combined milling and 3D laser machining system offered as a substitute for EDM processes. It
didn't happen, as manufacturers decided that tying up one high-revenue process while the other sat without generating
profits was not cost-effective. This long-cherished market, hybrid laser/cutting tool machining, gets a fresh look in
an article that shows how technology advances are breaking down some of the barriers to hybrid additive/subtractive
manufacturing as productivity-focused industries adapt to laser metal additive manufacturing.
And then there is the direct-diode laser,www.lasermarkingcnc.com a product that some knowledgeable applications experts think could be the
"perfect" laser for the industrial environment with its compact, energy-efficient operation, lacking only high beam
quality to meet that "perfect" sobriquet. In this month's article, we learn that more than 1000 of these lasers have
been delivered by one supplier for applications in joining plastics, soldering, and brazing.
Finally, pulsed nanosecond fiber lasers are well known as the laser of choice for the majority of industrial marking,
engraving, and more recently for micro-cutting applications. However, the capability of this laser for materials
joining is less well-known, particularly for thin section materials. This month, we learn that these lasers are
proving to be an excellent alternative to conventional millisecond pulsed YAG and modulated CW laser sources.
What is the connection between these diverse industrial laser applications? I paraphrase on a rather hoary commercial
tagline for a variety of table wines: "no application before its time." www.lasermarkingcnc.comThis supports my opening sentence that a
laser enthusiast's fondness for an application sometimes has to await proper timing in the market before its success
can be measured. Each of the articles selected from this issue exemplifies that adage to one degree or another. Lack
of acceptance by industry in several of these applications was for non-laser related reasons that over time were
overcome, leading to broader acceptance and usage.
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Tue, Sep 15th - 2:14AM
Optimum Laser Marking of Stainless Steel Products used in Medical Applications
Introduction
Laser technology plays a major role in marking medical products made of most materials for easy identification.
However, manufacturers face a number of issues when it comes to the identification of stainless steel medical
devices, including corrosion resistance and stress of the product life-cycle.
Such products can, however, be easily and reliably laser marked in accordance to medical standards, particularly when
relatively low-cost fiber laser markers are used. All it requires is a combination of skill and specialist
coordination of laser parameters with the product life-cycle and product-specific needs. Figure 1 shows medical
devices with laser markings.
Identification of Medical Products for Patient Safety and Efficient Production
In the healthcare industry, patient safety holds a major significance. www.lasermarkingcnc.com Measures like process validation and quality
assurance are adopted to reduce risks during medical treatment. Proper identification of medical devices forms a
major part of these measures, and becomes all the more critical with regard to clear identification, complete
traceability and consistent documentation of the product cycle.
As a result, maintaining patient safety is integral to the development of medical products. Marking represents an
important step during the development of medical products. Only those products that are accurately marked can be
consistently traced and can support documentation during the entire cycle of the product.
Besides patient safety, another factor that needs to be considered in the production process is the efficiency of the
manufacturing line. It is important to ensure that products are marked efficiently and cost-effectively. Given that
marking is done at the final phase of the manufacturing cycle, care must be taken to ensure that scrap is reduced to
a large extent. In addition, process stability and repeatable results are also important. In order to ensure reliable
identification of medical products, laser marking has become the preferred choice, as it not only provides a safe
marking approach, but also allows for a lean production.
The Suitable Laser for Safe and Efficient Medical Product Marking
Regardless of the type of material, marking tests should be performed to ensure that the right laser source and the
right laser parameters are achieved. Also, all related processes must be considered when marking medical stainless
steels.
Vanadate vs. Fiber Laser Marking System
Previously, vanadate lasers were widely used for marking medical stainless steels, but a major drawback of these
lasers is that the acquisition costs are relatively high compared to fiber lasers, and also do not give any
significant marking results. In contrast,www.lasermarkingcnc.com fiber lasers require minimum maintenance, and hence, present a better
choice for black marking of medical stainless steels. They also provide permanent and corrosion-resistant markings
during the entire lifecycle of the product, and thus, offer optimum marking results. Conversely, even when fiber
laser marking systems are used, it is not always possible to obtain perfect marking results. To realize this goal,
the following factors must be taken into account:
Corrosion-resistance of the marked areas
Requirements on marking content, color and contrast intensity, and marking time
Production and product cycle, including cleaning procedures and passivation
Surface finish and material (steel grade/alloy)
Setting optimum laser parameter
Corrosion Resistance and High-Contrast Marking: An Unequal Couple
For stainless steel medical devices, markings should be seen clearly and must be able to withstand cleaning,
sterilization, disinfecting agents and passivation procedures. High-contrast markings do not fade easily and can
endure these procedures throughout the product lifespan. Medical products are subject to unique environmental
conditions and needs, and hence, a high corrosion resistance is vital. However, because of the material properties
and behavior of stainless steel, the relationship between corrosion resistance and high contrast markings is complex.
An intact and fully formed chromium oxide-rich passive layer contributes to the corrosion resistance of high-grade
stainless steel. In spite of the fine layer thickness, the passive layer is capable of renewing itself, even after
slight damage, thus providing long-term protection from corrosion. However, if stainless steel products are exposed
to mechanical loads, aggressive cleaning agents, and elevated temperatures, the passive layer would be damaged
permanently. As a result, the medical product could easily corrode. As this can compromise patient safety, device
manufacturers would claim for damages, expensive recalls would be done, and so on.
During the oxidative laser marking, the material is briefly exposed to elevated temperatures. The laser's heat input
results in marking, and a layer of iron oxide forms on the surface of the product that appears as a contrast. Higher
heat input results in a thicker iron oxide layer. If this layer is thicker, the contrast would be better, and this
would translate into a legible marking. However, as soon as the iron oxide layer forms, the ratio of chrome to iron
is changed, with the proportion of chrome being reduced.
This can pose an issue in the medical field because if the proportion of chrome falls less than 10.5%, the passive
layer is permanently damaged, and the material can easily rust. www.lasermarkingcnc.com Hence, it is important to maintain or replace the
passive layer through chemical passivation. In Figure 3, the left image shows a laser marked wound retractor,
revealing traces of rust following the corrosion test, and the right image shows no traces of rust following the
corrosion test.
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Thu, Sep 10th - 2:12AM
NWES:Fiber laser has material manufacturer walking on air
Air-assist gas reduces laser operating cost while slashing part-processing time.
Can a machine tool acquisition change the way a 50-year-old shop approaches production? When it's a fiber laser
system that reduces processing time more than 90 percent—cutting with air-assist gas at a fraction of the cost of
nitrogen—the answer is clear. "The new fiber laser is a game-changer," says Stuart Rumple, production manager at
Doyle Equipment Manufacturing (Doyle; Quincy, IL). "This was a technology leap for our company, and it's the best
thing we've ever done to increase productivity. It has changed the way we think about how we manufacture."
Doyle replaced two older 1500 and 3000W CO2 lasers with a Cincinnati Inc.www.lasermarkingcnc.com CL-940 fiber laser, and immediately reduced
processing time from 64 hours to four on components for the company's dry bulk material handling equipment. This
fiber laser cutter has also cut operating costs and helped the company stay current on manufacturing techniques that
lead to higher productivity. "Our results from operating the fiber laser with air assist have made us much more open
to new ideas, equipment, and techniques," Rumple says. "Now, we focus on processing the right material with the right
machine for the most efficient results."
Most laser cutting of stainless steel employs high-pressure nitrogen gas injected coaxially with the laser beam to
blow away molten metal without leaving any oxide formation on the as-cut surface. This is an excellent means,
although more costly than conventional oxygen cutting. An alternative to pure nitrogen is the use of filtered shop
air, which is composed of 78-percent nitrogen. Laser cutting with filtered, compressed air can be faster than cutting
with oxygen or nitrogen—typically 300 to 320 ipm—and although there is an initial investment in the proper
equipment, filtered, compressed air costs less in the long term due to its lower cost compared to "traditional"
assist gases. The laser energy is brought to a tight focal position and introduction of compressed air creates a
plasma ball at the surface of the material, similar to that created by a CNC plasma cutter using electricity. The
plasma transfers heat more effectively than the beam alone.
Compressed air-assist cutting also produces an edge quality about the same as parts cut with oxygen or nitrogen.
Edges are clean enough for most powder coatings to adhere, eliminating the need for secondary cleaning operations.
When compressed air was first used for laser cutting, resonator size was a major limitation. However, high-wattage
lasers—those 4000W and above—now make air assist an efficient method for cutting steel, stainless steel, and
aluminum up to 1/8 in. thick. Lasers with 6000W resonators can cut material up to 3/8 in.www.lasermarkingcnc.com
Rumple and the team at Doyle were aware of the possibility of cutting with air assist on a fiber laser, and saw it
firsthand in a training session at Cincinnati Inc. "We saw it was possible, but didn't know which materials and
thicknesses it would work best with," Rumple says. "We also thought the low pressure of shop air would be a limiting
factor, so we decided to do test cuts with breathing-quality air to see if we could make it work." Using its existing
shop air at 100 psi, the company added filtration with a refrigerated dryer that feeds a high-pressure booster (450
psi maximum) to a high-pressure receiver,www.lasermarkingcnc.com filters, and a refrigerated dryer, which ultimately supplies 350-psi-
regulated clean, dry air to the machine .
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Tue, Sep 8th - 2:10AM
fiber laser marking
iber laser marking systems significantly minimizes the stress and potential damage to parts, making this technology optimal for many industries, some of which include, aerospace, medical, automotive, firearms, dental, and electronic.
Fiber Laser Systems
The fiber laser technology represents the ultimate laser marking system in an extremely compact footprint. The fiber laser is ideal for direct part marking in a range of industries for marking on metal parts, plastic parts and components.
The fiber laser increases performance in terms of power, reliability, setup, flexible programming and control.www.lasermarkingcnc.com Its higher output power improves marking performance in terms of marking speed and engraving depth. The fiber lasers guarantees high reliability even in harsh environments.
The fiber lasers are equipped with 4 independent axis controls (X, Y, Z, & R - a rotating axis) to implement multi-layer and rotary marking. Dedicated encoder input is applied for marking on the fly (MOF) even in accelerated and variable speed conditions. Advanced software functions support a variety of solutions including operator attended work stations and fully automated marking centers.
The fiber lasers system design allows for simple machine integration. Available in 10W, 20W, 30W, 50W, 70W and 100W laser sources, the fiber laser systems include a compact scan head, a small controller design and our user-friendly editor software. A red laser spot allows for fast focusing of the laser beam during setup. With the user-friendly software,www.lasermarkingcnc.com the operator can define any kind of label, logo, text, data matrix, or bar code for laser marking and traceability applications.
Fiber Laser Applications
• Plastic and metal marking for a variety of industries such as automotive, electronics, and medical
• Laser annealing on precision metal components such as medical equipment
• Deep engraving for firearms, heavy equipment, oil field, and many other applications
• 2D & 1D code marking for identification and traceability
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Name: Emily James
