Monthly Archives: April 2013

3D Surface Texturing Technology Using Ultrashort Pulsed Lasers

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By Max Groenendijk

Ultrashort pulsed lasers have proven to be excellent tools to fabricate micro and nanotextured surfaces. These surfaces have a high potential for several applications where the tiny surface textures can improve or add a specific functional property. It was at ICALEO® 2006 that we first demonstrated a super hydrophobic surface obtained by texturing using a femtosecond pulsed laser. However, the capabilities were limited to small and flat surfaces. In order to be able to introduce this technology in industrial applications Lightmotif developed a 3D capable machine. At ICALEO 2012 results obtained on real 3D curved parts were presented, bringing this innovative technology closer to the market.

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Advanced Laser Applications & Sources – A National Focus

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By Geoff Giordano

With photonics-driven manufacturing innovation becoming a hot topic in the nation’s capital, advanced laser applications — particularly in aerospace, automobiles, agriculture and energy production — are getting a bigger share of the spotlight.

From gas and steam turbines to pipelines and passenger jets, even underwater welding in nuclear reactors (see LAM 2013 wrap up story), current and next-generation lasers will bear more of the brunt of manufacturing, protecting and repairing vital components of all types and functions. Continue reading →

LAM 2013 Presents Groundbreaking Applications in AM

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By Geoff Giordano

If additive manufacturing is becoming the next big thing as some experts and companies believe, the Laser Institute of America’s fifth-annual Laser Additive Manufacturing (LAM®) Workshop helped pave the way by providing more information on the road map leading to an AM revolution.

Situated in its largest venue yet, LAM 2013 featured more than 20 presentations covering everything from nuts-and-bolts  cladding and repair to sky’s-the-limit projections of the growing impact of additive processes. While US government initiatives trumpet innovation in photonics and manufacturing, LIA continues to lead the charge in advocating greater profitability through advanced laser-based AM applications.

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LIA Aids NPI in Revolutionizing US Manufacturing with Laser Technology

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By Geoff Giordano

With the US government running a full-court press to foster manufacturing innovation, the Laser Institute of America made the case for laser-based advanced manufacturing processes during a special presentation in the nation’s capital.

LIA representatives advocating laser-driven manufacturing joined four other subcommittees discussing the growing usage of lasers in health, defense, energy and communications during a daylong National Academies event Feb. 28. While the work of these five subcommittees was triggered by the National Research Council’s updated report Optics & Photonics: Essential Technologies for Our Nation, LIA’s efforts answer key goals of the Obama administration’s National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI).

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Electromagnetic Control of the Weld Pool Dynamics in Partial Penetration Laser Beam Welding of Aluminium Alloys

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By Vjaceslav Avilov, André Schneider, Marco Lammers, Andrey Gumenyuk, Michael Rethmeier

A well-known problem of partial penetration laser beam welding is keyhole-tip instability representing the main source of porosity – gas bubbles leave the keyhole near its tip. The second important problem of keyhole mode laser welding is very intensive thermocapillary (Marangoni) convection in the upper part of the weld pool. The surface tension cannot completely suppress oscillations of the weld pool surface and the re-solidified weld surface becomes very rough.

In the present work an oscillating (AC) magnetic field was used to suppress porosity formation and to stabilize the weld pool surface in bead-on-plate partial penetration up to 4.4 kW Nd:YAG laser beam welding of  AW-5754  plates in PA position. Two magnet poles (cross-section 25 x 25 mm2) were located left and right aside the weld pool. The magnetic field (up to 0.4 T(rms) and 10 kHz) was oriented perpendicularly to the welding direction. The AC power supply does not exceed 2 kW. The AC magnet weighs only 5 kg and allows easy assembly on the laser welding head. Continue reading →