Monthly Archives: November 2011

High Speed Spindle Balancing with Pulsed Fiber Lasers

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By: Marek Mamczur – Dynamic Laser Solutions and Jack Gabzdyl – SPI Lasers

Today’s high speed production drills in PCB board manufacture operate at speeds in excess of 250,000rpm. The spindle shafts in these devices need to be individually balanced by very selective removal of material to ensure that, in operation, they run true. Any eccentricity in rotation can cause drill bit wobble, resulting in breakage and down time. Current manufacturing methods are manual and time consuming, requiring skilled labour.

Using DLS proprietary software in conjunction with an SPI 40W pulsed fiber laser, an automated laser balancing system has been created. The system identifies the amount of material for removal and then accurately removes through a laser milling process while the spindle is still rotating. Continue reading →

Laser-Based Repairing of Turbine Airfoils and its Economical and Environmental Impact

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By J. Michael Wilson

Purdue University

Replacement costs for high value engineering components are very high due to long lead times and special tool required for processing high strength materials.  Laser direct deposition provides an attractive and cost effective means for repairing or remanufacturing high value engineering components.  Traditional repair processes are limited in applicability and bond strength.  With the emergence of Laser Direct Deposition (LDD) technologies the limitations of traditional repair processes are overcome. Continue reading →

ICALEO 2011 Wrap-up: From Attoseconds to Zettawatts

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ORLANDO, FL, November 7, 2011  — From attoseconds to zettawatts, the 30th-annual International Congress on Applications of Lasers & Electro-Optics looked once again to the future with another powerful conference packed with cutting-edge research from around the world.

The message of the Laser Institute of America’s premiere conference — which returned to LIA’s hometown of Orlando — was clear: The power of the laser is being leveraged enthusiastically and with great success in everything from micromachining to carbon nanotube-based cancer therapies to railway repair and concrete cutting. The next-generation applications are upon us, as lasers are being used with increasing precision to modify more and more delicate materials or tackle huge manufacturing and repair tasks. They’re not only cutting and etching stents, iPhone components and flexible glass substrates, they’re also repairing mining equipment. Continue reading →

Laser Direct Deposition of Nickel-Based Metal Matrix Composition

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By Kevin C. Schoeffel and Yung C. Shin, Center for Laser-based Manufacturing, School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

Ceramic particulate reinforcement enhances the already superior mechanical properties of nickel-based super alloys.   Reinforcement particles alter the matrix microstructure of the metal matrix composites (MMC) to improve wear resistance, hardness, etc.   Laser direct deposition allows localized addition of MMC with properties tailored to the application.   This research focuses on the effects of particle concentration on microstructural changes and mechanical property improvement. Continue reading →

The Long Awaited Revised Z136.3 is Coming! Reserve Your Copy Today!

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Revision of the Z136.3 was driven by the movement of the widespread use of medical lasers – from hospital operating rooms to the office and/or clinic environment.  In an effort to acknowledge the diversity of laser therapy applications and practice setting locations, the title of the standard has been changed to “Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care.”

The revised Z136.3 is recognized as the definitive document on laser safety in all health care environments. Whether the laser is used in a hospital, clinic or alternative health care setting, the newly revised document is a must read for every LSO and facility providing laser based therapy. Continue reading →