LIA NEWS NEWS FROM LIA


Laser processing vital for fuel efficiency in jet engines By Peter Baker, Executive Director of the LIA


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asers are being increasingly used in aerospace; some techniques have been around for years, many more are just entering the field. In aerospace, as in other


forms of transportation, there is an increasing emphasis on fuel efficiency. For many years, jet engines have had hundreds of thousands of oblique holes drilled in their blades to facilitate cooling, thereby allowing the engines to run hotter and more efficiently. Also, laser additive manufacturing techniques are used to rebuild the edges of the


blades when worn, thereby postponing the need to replace the whole assembly. Now we are learning that additive


manufacturing can allow parts to be redesigned to save as much as 80 per cent of the weight compared to traditional manufacturing. Tis opens up huge opportunities for the laser additive manufacturing people. To learn more about this, come to LIA’s Laser Additive Manufacturing (LAM) Workshop from 12 to 13 March 2014 in Houston (visit www. lia.org/lam for more details).


Another weight-saving approach is the


increased use of composite materials and, again, lasers play a key role in cutting and welding these materials. With glass, the increasing power levels of ultrafast systems allows improved quality in cutting and welding glass, with a wide range of applications, particularly in electronics manufacturing. To learn more, visit LIA and our corporate


members at Photonics West. See you there!


LME 2013 experts provide insight into continued laser market growth


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xpanded exhibit space, new exhibitors and networking opportunities, and more working laser systems took the third annual Lasers for Manufacturing Event (LME) to a


new level of impact for the laser community. Te Laser Institute of America’s unique event,


held from 11 to 12 September at the Schaumburg Convention Center, showed more signs that it is maturing as a must-attend event. Bringing together laser makers, systems integrators and providers of all manner of related equipment and services, LME 2013 gave attendees the know-how they need to get laser-based manufacturing projects up and running. Once again, the Laser Technology Showcase


Teater at the front of the active exhibit hall drew many standing-room-only crowds for industry experts including: • LIA past presidentDavid Belforte, who noted big opportunities for laser sales and applications, particularly in microprocessing, production of SUVs and composite-heavy narrow-body passenger jets and their engines, gas and wind


www.lasersystemseurope.com | @lasersystemsmag


turbines, smart phones and even agricultural equipment;


•Prabhjot Singh of GE Global Research, who challenged the laser community to meet the growing global need for additive manufacturing productivity, which will require hundreds of new laser-based devices;


•Magnus Bengtsson of Coherent, who addressed ultrafast lasers advances, including cataract surgery with femtosecond lasers and dicing sapphire wafers to make LEDs with picosecond lasers;


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brilliantly: to bring together those seeking the bottom-line benefits of laser technology face to face with the providers of that technology. Attendees were treated to expert analysis of the full spectrum of available options and considerations – fibre, CO2


, ultrafast, macro and micro processing, and more. Tey also received updates from


attendees the know- how they need to get projects up and running


LME 2013 gave


• Silke Pflueger of DirectPhotonics, who demonstrated the advantages ultra-high brightness direct diodes bring to the table; and


• Jason Hillenbrand of Amada of America, who compared the cost and process differences between fibre and CO2


systems in cutting


applications. LME continues to serve its primary function


nearly 40 exhibitors who presented details of their latest products and services on the exhibit hall stage. For example, Visotek founder and CEO Sheila Jensen discussed the company’s diode-based MetalPass unit developed in conjunction with the Navy for laser cleaning and


cladding corrosion-prone areas in one pass. Te company has added five Fraunhofer engineers and will expand its Livonia, MI, facility by 10,000 square feet. Laserage, of Waukegan, IL, detailed the broad range of work it does with an inventory of 70 lasers, including cutting of tubes and coronary stents, forms and plastics.


ISSUE 21 • WINTER 2013 LASER SYSTEMS EUROPE 31


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