Tag Archives: LIA

DigiFabCon Explores How Digital Fabrication Such as Laser Cutting & 3D Printing Is Changing the World

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From a mobile Humanitarian Fab Lab in refugee camps that uses laser cutting for building temporary housing to 3D Printing on the International Space Station, Digital Fabrication is changing almost every aspect of our lives.  On March 30 and 31, 2017 at the Microsoft NERD Center in Cambridge, MA, visionaries at DigiFabCon will explore the opportunities and challenges found in bringing these CAD based technologies to new, exciting arenas.  Whether for manufacturing workforce training, K – 12 education, rapid prototyping, re-designing standard products, improving surgical procedures, or fostering entrepreneurship, the tools of digital fabrication are impacting entire communities.

DigiFabCon will feature keynotes from Sherry Lassiter, Director of the Fab Foundation and Dale Dougherty, founder of Maker Media which includes MAKE: Magazine and Maker Faires.  They will give an overview of the compelling digital fabrication stories from Fab Labs and makerspaces around the world.  Dr. Neil Gershenfeld, Director of the MIT Center for Bits and Atoms, will discuss technical advances that are making digital fabrication tools accessible to “anyone who wants to make (almost) anything”.   This includes work in his lab on Machines that Make Machines, although Dr. Gershenfeld always says the impact of these tools is social, not technical!

Courtesy: DigiFabCon

 

The interactive program includes:

  • Sarah Boisvert, past President of LIA, describing a new national digital fabrication certification program for operators and technicians with a panel discussion with participants from Indian Hills Community College, the Community College of Baltimore Country, Century College and the Space Coast Fab Lab
  • David Ott explaining the International Committee for the Red Cross Humanitarian Lab project
  • Tomas Diez, from Fab Lab Barcelona, reporting on progress for self-sustainable Fab Cities
  • Andreas Bastian, of Autodesk, sharing design challenges in the Enable Community Foundation 3D Printed prosthetic hand project
  • A panel from Limitless Child International, Fab Lab Tulsa and Fab Lab San Diego on utilizing mobile fab labs to bring technology to rural and underserved areas.
  • a participatory exercise by TIES fellows examining biomimicry in design

The program includes a Fab Festival where participants can get hands-on demos in 3D Printing, laser cutting, CNC machining, CAD and much more.  Preliminary exhibitors include ShopBot Tools, the Roxbury Innovation Center, 3D Print Life, Limitless Child International, and Fab Lab Hub.  The Festival will also feature book signings by Dale Dougherty, founder of Maker Media, and Rachel Ignotofsky author of Women in Science. Generous sponsorship from Chevron, Microsoft, and ShopBot Tools keeps DigiFabCon registration to just $49.

In this, DigiFabCon’s 5th year, a pre-conference short course has been added. LEAN 101 is a hands-on workshop to introduce manufacturing managers, startup founders and entrepreneurs, and makers to methods for improving time to market, production cost and product quality through a simulated, hands-on making exercise.  Our instructors are LEAN gurus of the first rank.  Joe Rizzo, CEO of Lean is Green, previously ran factories for GE when the legendary Jack Welsh was CEO and Scott Gauvin, CEO of Macresco, focuses on creating high performing, humanistic workplaces.

For details and to register, please go to www.DigiFabCon.org.

LaserCoil Technologies LLC – January’s Featured Corporate Member

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LaserCoil Technologies LLC, based in Napoleon, Ohio, launched in 2011 with a new approach to laser blanking from coil stock. The innovative technology went through over three years of developmental research and planning at the Automatic Feed Company (AFCO), an organization known for pressroom automation with nearly 65-years of manufacturing expertise focused on metal blanking.

The company received its first order in 2013 and soon thereafter established its 12,000-sq. ft. technical center. The center houses a coil-fed laser blanking system, which can handle 30-ton coils and serves as the technical development center for the company. It is also capable of running prototype parts and low volume production.

Lasers provide an excellent solution to the difficulties faced when stamping high-strength steels. Laser blanking eliminates both the potential need for a larger press to cut high strength materials and the edge fracturing problems that often occur when working with lightweight materials. The company also uses lasers because they do not wear down like other production tools.

LaserCoil Facility, Courtesy of LaserCoil Technologies LLC

Their first product on the market was the LaserCoil coil-fed, single-head laser cutting system which featured patented technologies that enabled laser cutting of blanks direct from coil in aluminum, steel and other sensitive materials.

Today, they offer both single- and multi- head laser blanking systems with automated LaserCoil CAM™ software, the company’s automated programming software to guide users with nesting, cutting and recipe management. Their high-tech machines yield rates that make laser-cutting blanks a feasible alternative to traditional stamping.

“We’ve achieved real-world results that prove the value of this first LaserCoil CAM release,” said Scott Sonnenberg, LaserCoil director of mechanical engineering/product development. “This software provides our customers a single interface to help reduce programming time and scrap rates, as well as improve their throughput and yield.”

LaserCoil Facility, Courtesy of LaserCoil Technologies LLC

LaserCoil CAM was created to enable less experienced system operators the ability to quickly create an optimized program. LaserCoil CAM starts by importing the user’s blank profile CAD file. Then, the user can have the software to select the best coil from multiple coils in inventory, create the best nest for a specific coil width, or permit the program to specify the optimum coil width based upon part yield.

“Creating nesting and cutting programs is a time-intensive process requiring a skilled technician,” said LaserCoil Chief Technology Officer Jay Finn. “LaserCoil CAM takes only minutes from the importing of CAD files to active cutting of a simple blank. To illustrate its efficiency, imagine if you could design and machine a blanking die for a complex part in less than 30 minutes, rather than months.”

LaserCoil Technologies, an LIA corporate member, is motivated to continue developing innovative features for the Laser Blanking process. They have developed a flexible tool in the blanking market that can begin producing blanks within minutes. Because of programing and the ability to operate the line in several different modes, it can offer solutions to new manufacturing challenges.

For more information, visit: www.lasercoil.com

This Corporate Member Feature was written by Brandon Kalloo in collaboration with LaserCoil.

Weekly Lasers Wrap Up – Week of January 9th, 2017

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The Laser Institute of America LasersToday.com Weekly Wrap-Up aggregates industry news, conference updates, and LIA happenings.

Here is the latest:

Courtesy: Laser Systems EUROPE

Laser Industry News

Medical indwelling catheters, implanted into the body for up to three months at a time, tend to be prone to infections. A multi-discipline study is aiming to develop an optic-fiber delivered UV and Violet light-based therapy, in an effort to reduce the chance of catheter-related infections. Learn more about the study here.

Trumpf and Siemens have partnered up to help industrialize laser metal fusion technology, in an effort to make additive manufacturing of metal parts an essential part of production processes. The two companies will work together to develop a software solution for the design of 3D printed parts. Get the details here.

LIA Updates

Laser Safety Officers (LSOs) hold a significant amount of responsibility in their position. Online training through LIA can help boost your credibility as an LSO. Through online training, LSOs are more familiar with ANSI standards, are able to pass along knowledge to peers and colleagues, and are equipped to develop a Laser Safety Program. Learn more about how LSOs may benefit from online training through LIA here.

Conference News

The advance program for the Laser Additive Manufacturing Workshop (LAM®) is now available! With a detailed list of the planned sessions and presentations for this year’s workshop, you can plan your visit to LAM® 2017, with ease. Find the program here.

LAM® will take place February 21-22, 2017 in Houston, Texas. For information on location, registration, and conference details, please visit https://www.lia.org/conferences/lam.

Don’t miss a single laser industry update! Sign up today to receive the latest in lasers delivered straight to your inbox. Be sure to follow LIA on Facebook and Twitter for even more laser news.

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. Find us at www.lia.org

ILSC 2017: The Source for Laser Safety Updates

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

December 16, 2016 – Orlando, FL—The 2017 installment of LIA’s biennial International Laser Safety Conference (ILSC®) will take place March 20-23, in Atlanta, Georgia. Laser safety professionals from around the globe will gather to discuss all aspects of laser safety, from bioeffects research to control hazards to best practices for the Laser Safety Officer (LSO).

The conference will be chaired by John O’Hagan with Public Health England. Following the traditions of previous years, ILSC 2017 will feature presentations in three tracks: Laser Safety Scientific Sessions (LSSS), Medical Practical Applications Seminar (MPAS) and Technical Practical Applications Seminar (TPAS).

Karl Schulmeister, Chair for LSSS, assures that ILSC will continue to cover the subject matter that attendees have found most helpful over the years. The topics include laser product safety and bioeffects. The interactions between lasers and tissues as well as injury thresholds for the varying tissues of the eye and skin will be reviewed. Other sessions will focus on eyewear, outdoor lasers, high power lasers, materials processing and broadband incoherent radiation.

Certified Medical Laser Safety Officers (CMLSOs) Vangie Dennis, Patti Owens, Leslie Pollard, along with Kay Ball will lead the MPAS subtitled “Laser Safety: More than Smoke and Mirrors”.

“ILSC 2017 offers learning and networking opportunities to help healthcare professionals meet the challenges of laser technology,” said Ball. “Advancements and exciting new information will be highlighted, while experts will be able to share their knowledge and experiences.”

Owens includes “that day one would include pertinent information regarding the hazards of surgical smoke and plume.” “The latest research will be presented”, said Owens. “Analyzing the toxicity of surgical plume, the impact of chronic exposure to

“The latest research will be presented”, said Owens. “Analyzing the toxicity of surgical plume, the impact of chronic exposure to second hand smoke, recommended respiratory protection, new international initiatives and organizations, along with future legislation for management of this health hazard.”

“The second stimulating day will focus on management of collimated medical devices with exciting lectures addressing new applications of innovative laser technology, retinal and corneal injuries from exposure to lasers and Intense Pulsed Light, veterinary utilization of medical laser devices, Low Level Light therapy and PDT.  Also, the role of the laser safety officer and how to produce positive safety outcomes for both staff and patient will be explored.”

Not to be outdone by their counterparts, co-chairs Certified Laser Safety Officers (CLSOs) Eddie Ciprazo and Jamie King’s theme for the TPAS is “Back to the Basics – Laser Safety 101”.

With something at this event for everyone regardless of their experience level, King notes that both senior and novice Laser Safety Officers (LSOs) will leave with valuable knowledge because of the variety of material that will be covered.

“From basic optics to cutting edge technologies and everything in between,” said King. “It’s here.”

TPAS will provide a full toolbox of information for every LSO in attendance. Wednesday morning kicks off with “So you are the LSO, now what?” and closes Thursday with “Resources for the LSO, don’t reinvent the wheel”.  A first for the conference as well as TPAS, an open forum panel discussion with the FDA is sure to be of interest.

From LSOs and nurses, to safety product manufacturers and laser physicists, attendees will gain invaluable information from sessions and have the opportunity to network with others as a part of the laser safety experts community.

Registration for ILSC 2017 is open now. To learn more and register, please visit https://www.lia.org/conferences/ilsc.

About LIA

Laser Institute of America (LIA) is the professional society for laser applications and safety serving the industrial, educational, medical, research and government communities throughout the world since 1968. www.lia.org , 13501 Ingenuity Drive, Ste 128, Orlando, FL 32826, +1.407.380.1553

 

 

 

 

Laser Institute of America’s New Website Coming Soon

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ORLANDO, FL, DECEMBER 12, 2016 — The Laser Institute of America (LIA), the professional society for laser applications and safety is improving the existing website to include many convenient features for members and non-members alike.

“We are excited to announce an enriched web experience to all of our users. Focusing on the user-experience and utilizing the latest in translation technology, LIA will be better equipped to serve the laser industry worldwide” said Jim Naugle, LIA’s Director of Marketing.

Along with a user-friendly, mobile-responsive design, look for the following new LIA website features in early 2017:

  • Members only access area
  • Improved search of LIA’s technical archives
  • Variety of free downloadable educational resources
  • Improved international support
  • Online resource guide for company’s products and services

Additionally, the new LIA website continues to be the go-to source for laser information. Any laser professional, from beginner to advanced looking to educate themselves or their employees on the latest information, will see improvement with an updated search function. Laser enthusiasts will be able to easily register for our industry leading events, purchase industry publications and find the most current technical information available.

“We invite LIA members and visitors to explore the user-friendly site with improved features, innovative design and layout,” says LIA’s IT Administrator/Manager Shaun Oleson, who is leading the development team. “After taking in feedback from several sources, we are confident that this new online experience not only meets but exceeds our ultimate goal for a state-of-the-art online resource that is easy to navigate by users, whether surfing for latest news in laser technology, enrolling in a course, or registering to attend one of our conferences on laser technology. We are constantly developing and learning ways to improve services and materials for LIA members, including access to resources, so we encourage you to share with us your feedback as you tour our new website.”

By streamlining this process, LIA hopes to further their mission to promote laser technology and its safe use through education, training and symposia. You can learn more about LIA’s new website features as well as a sneak peek soon at www.lia.org.

About LIA
The Laser Institute of America (LIA), the professional society for laser applications and safety, dedicated to serving laser information to industrial, medical, research and government communities worldwide. For more information, visit www.lia.org or call 1.800.34.LASER today.