Amplitude, a long-time strategic investor in the French startup GLOphotonics, is pleased to welcome Trumpf and DMG-MORI as new partners in the company. GLOphotonics develops hollow-core fibers for low-loss delivery of high energy ultrafast laser pulses. This promising technology is already integrated in our main product offering and has the potential to significantly reshape the ultrafast laser micro-processing landscape.
Satsuma fiber-coupled femtosecond laser
Amplitude believes in the power of collaboration and openness in the photonics industry and is looking forward to working with its new partners to bring this new technology to the market.
As a leader and pioneer in developing and commercializing fiber lasers, IPG Photonics’ diverse lines of low, medium, and high-power lasers and amplifiers are displacing traditional technologies in many current applications. Their lasers and amplifiers reach into numerous markets, including materials processing, communications, entertainment, medicine, and biotechnology.
Founded in Russia in 1991 by physicist Valentin P. Gapontsev, Ph.D., IPG originally produced and sold customized glass and crystal lasers, laser components, and wireless temperature meters for hyperthermia. In 1992, the company began to focus on the development of high-power fiber lasers and amplifiers.
IPG landed its first major contract with Itatel, a telecommunications carrier. The company then won a second major contract with DaimlerBenz Aerospace. In 1994, IPG opened a facility in Germany and established its world headquarters in the U.S. in 1998. In 2000, the company invested in new high-capacity production facilities in the U.S. to manufacture its own diode pumps—a major component of its fiber lasers and amplifiers. The company went public in 2006 and is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market as IPGP.
With more than 4,000 employees today, IPG has local sales and service in more than 20 countries worldwide. Its three major manufacturing sites are currently located in the U.S., Germany, and Russia.
IPG’s vertically integrated development and manufacturing abilities allow the company to meet customer requirements, accelerate development, manage costs, and improve yields. The company is able to produce all critical components for its lasers and amplifiers, which it markets to OEMs, system integrators, and end users.
Being the first company to industrialize fiber laser technology, IPG has the broadest array of laser products in the industry. This includes high-power fiber lasers up to 100 kW for materials processing, pulsed fiber lasers for marking and engraving, and fiber lasers covering UV, visible, and mid-IR wavelengths.
Having displaced the traditional CO2 and diode-pumped solid-state technologies as the preferred laser tool for industrial material processing, IPG’s high-power CW fiber laser product line is arguably the most important offered by the company. These lasers are used in the cutting, welding, and drilling of metals within various industries ranging from automotive to aerospace to general manufacturing. Much of this product line’s success can be attributed to IPG’s in-house diode fabrication facility, which accounts for cost reductions.
In the next five years, IPG is looking toward the introduction of cost-effective, high-performance, reliable ultra-fast fiber lasers with a pulse duration in the 100 fsec to 10 psec range. With a higher efficiency, this laser advancement will enable smaller air-cooled packages. The company is also looking toward the expansion of fiber laser technology into the MID-IR wavelengths.
The improved reliability and increased efficiency of high-fiber power lasers as an accepted mainstream industrial tool has led to increase in laser adoption in the automotive industry, a trend that is expected to continue with the push to adopt lightweight materials and electric or battery-driven cars. IPG has monitored these shifts in the industry and will continue to be a leading developer in this area.
IPG Photonics has been a member of LIA since 2002. For more information about the company and its products, visit www.ipgphotonics.com.
This was written by Lindsay Weaver Burt in collaboration with IPG Photonics.
In 1997, John O’Connell and Ronald Schaeffer founded PhotoMachining, Inc., a world leader in precision micromachining applications.
The company specializes in the use of Ultraviolet (UV) and Ultra Short Pulse (USP) lasers. Their lasers come in
3 wavelength femtosecond laser micromachining system
a wide variety of wavelengths, which enables them to provide the laser industry with laser micromachining, contract manufacturing, and laser micro machining systems for industrial applications specific to customer requests.
“The development of laser technology has occurred to a great extent over the last 20 years and we have always tried to have the newest lasers available,” said Dr. Ronald Schaeffer, Chief Executive Officer with PhotoMachining. “We were at the forefront of developing novel laser techniques using high pulse rate USP lasers with both fixed optics and galvo scanners.”
Their team of approximately 25 employees make up two divisions: the Systems Division and the Job Shop Division. Both divisions work together to create innovative systems for their customers’ unique industry needs. The company’s services reach a large variety of markets, which include medical devices, microelectronics, and semiconductors. They have even collaborated on projects related to aerospace and defense.
Laser process development engineer micromachining a novel medical device
“We are proud to deliver products to our customers that give them a competitive edge,” said Schaeffer. “We are particularly proud of the processes we have specifically developed for some of the leading medical device manufacturers, which have greatly reduced costs and downtime for our clients.” PhotoMachining, Inc. is continuously trying to innovate and grow. “Our staff is highly motivated to tackle some of the most difficult manufacturing processes regarding precision and economic viability in a production environment,” Schaeffer said. “It requires multiple talents in laser material interaction, systems integration, automation and software to produce highly reliable laser machining systems.”
Based out of Pelham, New Hampshire, the company is looking forward to exploring new initiatives. According to Schaeffer, one such initiative is, “3D printing in optically clear materials through Selective Laser Etching (SLE) with LightFab.”
“The SLE process involves exposing hard brittle and otherwise transparent materials like
Examples of micron-scale machining in soft (plastics) to hard (diamond) materials
Quartz and Fused Silica to USP laser light and then chemically etching the exposed area away, where etching selectivity after laser exposure is enhanced over a thousand times,” Schaeffer said. “This method makes 3D precision parts by essentially 3D printing the pattern inside the bulk of the material. SLE is expected to play a major role in many manufacturing processes such as microfluidics.”
PhotoMachining Inc., an LIA corporate member since 2005, actively participates in a number of networking opportunities, allowing them to rub elbows with industry leaders, scientists, and investors from around the world.
“We are active participants at ICALEO and LME conferences and find that LIA is a great place to meet others involved in the laser industry,” Schaeffer said. “LIA is like home.”
The company is always looking towards the future by working alongside new companies with fresh ideas. “Although we work with Fortune 500 corporations,” said O’Connell. “It is gratifying to help startups by producing a handful of prototypes and developing economically viable full production volumes.”
Ron Schaeffer is an active educator within the laser community and has given countless seminars on laser technology and laser materials processing. For an example of his work, here is a short video on “How Lasers Work”. For more information about PhotoMachining Inc., please visit http://www.photomachining.com/
This corporate member feature was written by Brandon Kalloo in collaboration with PhotoMachining, Inc.
The Laser Institute of America aims to foster the future of laser applications. Many of our corporate members uphold similar ideals and they are working hard to advance the future of laser applications in manufacturing.
From the development of new life-saving products to building the future of transportation and researching the next steps in the additive manufacturing revolution, here’s what some of our members have been up to in the last year:
The Plume Pen Pro, along with other products by Buffalo Filter, work to reduce surgical smoke inhalation and exposure. This keeps operating rooms safer with user-friendly solutions.
Image: Buffalo Filter
II-VI HIGHYAG’s RLSK Laser Featured in Industrial Laser Solutions for Manufacturing
A recent issue of Industrial Laser Solutions for Manufacturing featured a cover article on laser welding for the Ford Mustang, spotlighting II-VI HIGHYAG’s RLSK remote laser welding head. In developing the new Mustang, Ford needed a large-scale, single-sided joining method that did not possess the potential structural weakness of traditional spot welding. Ford then turned to remote laser welding, which not only solved the structural weakness issue – it created a measurable increase in productivity at the production plant.
Starting in 2015, the RLSK remote laser welding head was put into full use by Ford. Four were installed at the Detroit plant, joined by 24 additional structural remote laser heads for the vehicle’s production. Implementing these remote laser heads lead to a decrease in weld time, fewer station cycles, fewer welding robots, and an increase in overall production space.
Image: II-VI HIGHYAG
LPW Technology, Inc. CEO and Founder Discusses 3D Printing Opportunities in Aerospace
Machine Design Magazine recently published a piece on the use of 3D printing for aerospace applications. The article quoted various industry leaders and experts, including LPW Technology Founder and CEO Dr. Phil Carroll. Dr. Carroll addresses the increasing demand versus the quality control of metal powders used in 3D printing. In the early days of powder metal liturgy, the materials were essentially grounded up scrap metal, leading to a high chance of contamination. Contamination of a pure metal powder could lead to a compromised part down the line, because the offending particles may degrade over time.
To combat this, greater inspection and handling of metal particles is required. Working with Lloyd’s Register and TWI, LPW will be certifying powders for a joint effort to increase the adoption of additive manufacturing.
Image: LPW Technology
RPM Innovations, Inc. Working With Okuma America Corp. on Alternative to Combination Additive/Subtractive Manufacturing Processes
Despite the overwhelming push for additive manufacturing processes across industries, there are still many cases in which traditional subtractive processes are the most effective solution. However, it does not always have to be a case of choosing one over the other, or even combining them.
With the assistance of their laser deposition machines, RPM Innovations and Okuma America are developing options for machines that allow individual operations to occur, by keeping processes in separate sections that link together. Rather than choosing one manufacturing method, or forcing them to overlap, separating the processes allows for differences in processing time, automation in loading and reloading, as well as the addition of other processes in the workflow.
Image: MMS Online
Spectra-Physics Introduces Icefyre
Earlier this year, Spectra-Physics debuted IcefyreTM, “a compact, high power industrial picosecond hybrid fiber laser.” The IceFyre is versatile in its process optimization and repetition rates, as well as pulse-on-demand triggering. It combines the power supply and laser head into a single, compact unit.
In the official news release, Spectra-Physics states that Icefyre is designed for precise manufacturing of sapphire, glass, ceramic, metals, plastics, and other materials. The Icefyre made its debut at the 2017 SPIE Photonics West.
Image: Spectra Physics
We are committed to sharing the latest news about our esteemed and innovative Corporate Members. To learn more about becoming a Laser Institute of America Corporate or Individual Member, click here.
The Laser Institute of America (LIA) is the international society for laser applications and safety. Our mission is to foster lasers, laser applications, and laser safety worldwide. Read aboutLIAorcontact usfor more information.
IVAM Microtechnology Network, a company based in Dortmund, Germany, is an international association with members in the fields of microtechnology, nanotechnology, advanced materials, MEMS and photonics. IVAM supports companies by pushing their clients’ innovative technologies and products to the forefront of the international marketplace with the goal of securing competitive advantages abroad. The association does this by creating synergies that support its members with exchanging knowledge, initiating joint projects and networking.
IVAM Microtechnology Network is LIA’s Featured Corporate Member for March 2017.
IVAM was founded in 1995 and has since offered a number of valuable services to their customers. Their services have included assistance with marketing, public affairs, networking opportunities and internationalization efforts.
The organization is made of four departments that include Membership Relations Management; Trade Fairs and Events; Publics Relations; and Economic Research. These departments work together to offer customers a variety of platforms that facilitate cooperation between companies that complement one another.
Exhibitors of the IVAM joint booth at MD&M West 2016
IVAM, an LIA corporate member, offers platforms at tradeshows and technical presentation forums, which they say creates visibility, and gets their members in touch with potential partners and clientele. Through large-scale communication efforts, they bridge the gap between companies that can work well together. In doing so they also allow intellectuals and experts to share numerous tech industry trends and ideas.
“Microtechnology, nanotechnology, photonics, MEMS and advanced materials have significantly accelerated innovation in the late 20th and early 21st century,” said Mona Okroy-Hellweg, Public Relations Manager at IVAM. “These key enabling technologies have affected, improved or fundamentally changed many areas of society, industry, and economy – either by improving existing products and processes or by triggering entirely new, previously unthought-of applications.”
IVAM INNO Magazine
With over two decades of experience and observation, the company has witnessed an increasing demand for international reach amongst tech companies. They have risen to this challenge and presently have members in 18 countries in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
For more information about LIA’s March Featured Corporate Member, please visit: http://www.ivam.de.
This Corporate Member Feature was written by Brandon Kalloo in collaboration with IVAM Microtechnology Network.
