May, 2016
www.us-
tech.com Laser Wire Stripping Focused on the Science of Interconnects Adrian Thomas, Regional Sales Manager, Laser Wire Solutions Ltd. L
aser wire stripping was developed to miti- gate the risk of damaging delicate wire con- ductors that is always present when using
traditional mechanical wire stripping tools. First developed by NASA in the 1970s, and used for the space program, laser wire stripping allowed the shuttles to incorporate thinner and lighter wires than ever before. The technology was commercialized in the
1990s and was initially used for aerospace and defense applications, as well as high-end medical device manufacturing. The market grew signifi- cantly when the consumer electronics industry took off. Lasers became the only stripping solution for the data cables found in laptops, mobile phones and other consumer electronics. Although laser wire stripping
has been in existence more than 40 years, it is still a relatively new tool for many businesses. Over the last few years, decreasing component costs have allowed laser stripping to become a mainstream technology, rather than only being available to high-value
In the consumer
electronics industry, lasers became the only stripping
solution for the data cables found in laptops, mobile phones and other
consumer electronics.
electronics manufacturers. Laser Wire Solutions Ltd. was
founded in 2011 with the mission of providing customers with laser-based manufacturing solutions. Hearken ing back to laser-stripping technology's beginnings for space exploration, the company has named its machines Mercury, Gemini, Odyssey, and Titan.
General Laser Wire Stripping General laser wire stripping
includes extruded and tape-wrapped insulations, not those that are dipped in enamel or are shielded. For gener-
al applications, CO2 laser technology is used to vaporize or melt away the plastic insulation from the conductor
or shield. CO2 lasers are powerful, low-cost, reliable, and maintenance- free. More importantly, carbon diox- ide light is in the far infrared portion of the spectrum and is strongly absorbed by polymers, but is harm- lessly reflected from metallic conduc- tors and shields. This results in a robust and efficient process. There are a number of ways to
remove the insulation from a wire or cable. Cross cuts remove a single line of insulation from around the wire to create a 360° strip. The slug of insu- lation at the end is then removed. Slits can aid in the removal of
slugs when combined with cross cuts. A slit is a cut along the length of the wire that allows the slug to be peeled away easily. When two cross cuts are joined by a slit, the result is called a window. This way, a portion of insu- lation can be removed midway along a cable, which may be used, for instance, on a shielded cable to con- nect an earth bond. The last method is area abla-
tion. In this method the laser is passed back and forth over the wire multiple times to fully vaporize the insulation and leave no slug.
The best method depends on the insulation
materials and the cable construction, and can actually require a complicated decision. To address all the above functions, the company offers its Mercury-4 laser wire stripper.
In the Medical Sector Electrophysiology is the study of the electrical
properties of biological cells and tissues. It involves measurements of electric current on a wide variety of scales, from single ion channel pro- teins to whole organs. In neuroscience, it includes measurements of the electrical activity of neurons.
Laser wire stripping for delicate applications. Continued on next page
Page 91
See at NEPCON China, Booth 1E41, SMT Hybrid Packaging, Booth 7-439 and EWPTE, Booth 1421
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