Business news
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Pulsed laser integrated into welding cell
JK Lasers (part of the GSI group) has revealed that automation specialist Orwin has integrated a JK600HP pulsed Nd:YAG laser into its new semi- automated laser weld cell. The machine has been developed at Orwin’s headquarters in Tyne and Wear, UK, to weld pressure safety valves between 0.5- and 5-inches in diameter. The laser welding machine
has been fitted with two six-axis Fanuc robots; the first loads and stacks the components in the welding nest, while the second is fitted with the laser processing head to weld in vertical and horizontal planes on the valves. The JK600HP, developed by JK Lasers in Rugby, UK, has been designed specifically for precision applications that require tightly controlled heat input at high process speeds. It is able to produce highly accurate, hermetic welds, ensuring that the valve remains stable even as pressure increases. The component nest
comprises of the JK process tool mounted to a servo-driven 360° rotary axis, enabling the laser to produce the orbital weld required. Two nests are included in the machine, both of which can be used for manually loaded components, and one of which can also be used for automatically loaded parts. The machine also features a robot- integrated vision system, which automatically positions the laser head above the join line of the components to be welded.
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photonics enterprises recognised by Queen’s Award
This year’s recipients of The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise have been announced, with several awards going to companies in the UK’s photonics industry. In the International Trade category, OpTek Systems (Abingdon, Oxfordhire), and Rofin-Sinar UK (Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire) received awards, with Zeeko (Coalville, Leicestershire) and Selex Galileo (Edinburgh, Scottland) receiving awards in the Innovation category. OpTek Systems is a supplier of equipment for precision laser processing and micromachining, and The Queen’s Award will give the company a second reason to celebrate the milestone of ten years of trading. The company achieved revenue growth in 2008 and 2009 based on an increased demand for machine tools used in the manufacturing and testing of photovoltaic cells in both US and Asian markets. In 2010 this growth was augmented by an uptake in the company’s LaserCleave range of products for processing optical fibres for communications applications.
In combination with OpTek’s traditional micromachining operations, these markets have
pushed exports to over 80 per cent of the company’s turnover.
Founder and technical director Dr Mike
Osborne commented: ‘I am very proud that since its formation in 2000 OpTek has now reported 10 consecutive years of profitable operation, and has expanded its facilities from the UK to include manufacturing sites in USA and Asia. It is a great honour for our efforts to be recognised with this prestigious award, which has been achieved thanks to the hard work a dedication of all our staff and partners.’ Rofin-Sinar UK, a manufacturer of sealed gas lasers for cutting, drilling, welding and marking applications, recieved the award for
international trade, primarily in recognition of its successful development of the SCx60 - an RF- excited, sealed CO2
laser. The laser’s innovative
features include radio frequency amplifiers and a new mechanical structure, which combine to produce high performance from a relatively compact and light weight unit.
The new laser is also equipped with a stable head, developed to maintain a constantly high quality laser beam, even during warm up.
Gigaphoton investor sells stake in lpp technology
Gigaphoton Inc (GPI) has announced that one of its two corporate investors, Komatsu, will buy out the shares of the second investor, Ushio Inc. The company was founded in 2000 as a 50:50 joint venture between these two companies in order to develop and commercialise a source of extreme ultraviolet light (EUV) for applications in nanolithography.
ElEctro optics l junE 2011
Gigaphoton’s laser-produced plasma (LPP) approach to EUV generation will be in competition with EUV sources based on discharge-produced plasma (DPP) technology. Gigaphoton’s rival DPP developer Xtreme Technologies, based in Germany, is wholly-owned by Ushio, and so in divesting from Gigaphoton, Ushio seems to have signalled its
preference for DPP technology over LPP. ‘GPI’s EUV programme has always been closely aligned with Komatsu for both scientists and other resources; this partnership will continue and will grow,’ commented Phil Alibrandi, director of sales and account management at Gigaphoton. see technology Focus, page 34.
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