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.