NEWS ‘Laser paintbrush’ to enable drawing on metallic surfaces
Scientists from ITMO University in Russia are developing a handheld ‘laser paintbrush’ capable of applying different colours to metallic surfaces. Lasers are already used in industry to mark metallic surfaces with company logos, barcodes and trademarks. Until now, however, only
robots controlled by a computer algorithm were able to draw on metallic surfaces. The researchers have created a special device to allow artists to draw on a sheet of metal with the help of laser colouring. This would remove the need to use paints or toxic substances when applying colourful images to metals. ‘We use laser pulses to heat
the material below melting point and thus obtain an ultra- thin film of metal oxides in a laser-irradiated zone,’ explained Yaroslava Andreeva, co-author of a paper published in Optica. ‘Like any other, this film exhibits interference effects. It reflects certain areas of the spectrum in various ways and, as a result, we
TURNKEY LASER MACHINES
see different colours. The same effect can be observed in soap bubbles or oil spills in puddles.’ The colour depends on the
laser’s scanning speed and the surface’s cooling time. Thus, the faster the metal cools off, the faster an oxide film appears and the thinner it is.
Depending on the thickness of such films, the light will act differently and certain parts of the spectrum will interfere at the output. As a result, a certain colour will be observed. The thickness modification leads to colour change – from light yellow to red, purple, dark and light blue.
Welding, cutting, marking—solve your manufacturing and fabricating challenges by utilizing a broad range of laser-based materials processing solutions from Coherent.
From medical devices to electronics, automotive to packaging, consumer goods to jewelry—our turnkey laser machines enable you to achieve greater efficiency, higher speed, and reduced cost of operation.
The scientists have shown that the colour palette – which contains more than 20 colours and shades – can be expanded due to the variability and accuracy of laser parameters.
The actual device for laser painting or ‘laser paintbrush’, as the researchers call it, has yet to be created.
This will be a handy pen-like device connected to a laser
source through a fibre-optic cable. Its design has been developed, however, and now the scientists are working on its prototype, which will be finished by the end of summer.
Learn more at
coherent.com/systems +1 800 367 7890
WWW.LASERSYSTEMSEUROPE.COM | @LASERSYSTEMSMAG
SUMMER 2021 LASER SYSTEMS EUROPE 5
ITMO University
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30
