LASERSYSTEMS EUROPE News
l Textured discs improve engine performance l Laser job shops need quantum computing l Increasing underwater welding efficiency l Fraunhofer ILT inaugurates Hydrogen Lab l Nuburu to develop blue-laser 3D printers
Beam shaping LASYS preview
Industry gears up for the long-awaited return of LASYS, the international trade fair for laser materials processing
Smart manufacturing
Matthew Dale learnt of smart manufacturing innovations taking place in Japan at the 15th International Laser Marketplace
Analysis: Display manufacturing 14
Jim Bovatsek shares how UV picosecond lasers can effectively cut layered stacks of organic polymers in flexible OLED display production
Analysis: E-mobility Analysis: Cutting 16
Pravin Sievi introduces processing optics that facilitate reproducible and highly reliable hairpin welding in the production of electric motors
18
Takaaki Yamanashi shares how users have been getting to grips with the firm’s Locus Beam Control technology since it first debuted at EuroBlech 2018
Analysis: E-mobility 20
Dr Christian Otten demonstrates an alternative to emerging blue and green laser technologies for welding copper in electric vehicle production
12 8
Matthew Dale learns how Bosch Research plans to use one of the most recent developments in laser technology
10 4 Analysis: Additive manufacturing 22
Dr Thomas Schopphoven provides an update on the development of EHLA for 3D printing applications
Analysis: Safety Analysis: Beam delivery 23
Joshua Evans shares how proper fume management helps maintain the durability and build quality of metal 3D printers
24
Dr Branislav Timotijevic shares the benefits of specialised optics in the infrared, NIR and visible wavelengths when integrated into marking applications
Analysis: CO2 Lasers Dr Jason Lee reviews competing CO2 News from AILU Product update
The latest equipment for industrial laser processing
Application focus: Welding
A brief introduction to laser welding, the technologies involved, and the advantages it offers over other joining methods
Suppliers’ directory Find the suppliers you need
34 32 laser
technologies in terms of processing capability, relative lifetime and cost
28
Dave MacLellan takes us through some of the topics covered at a recent workshop on laser surface texturing
29 26
Lasers continue to see uptake in a wide range of modern applications due to their incredible precision and flexibility. On page 8 we see how this flexibility
is now increasing even further, with coherent-beam-combining technology having recently unlocked the ability to rapidly switch between a wide range of beam profiles, which can be used to enhance welding applications. Bosch Research is currently investigating the technology to determine the relationship between different beam shapes and other parameters, such as laser power, weld depth and material type. In our cover story for this issue, on page 14, we see how lasers are now being used in the very new application of bendable display production. The cutting of OLED stacks requires laser source parameters to be adjusted to previously optimised values for each layer within the stack. UV picosecond lasers have been demonstrated to be the right tool for the job, and can thus expect to see uptake in the production of bendable smartphones and rollable TVs. E-mobility continues to be a modern
Supported by the LIA
Editorial and administrative team Editor: Matthew Dale
matthew.dale@europascience.com Tel: +44 (0)1223 221047 Managing editor: Greg Blackman
greg.blackman@
europascience.com Tel: +44 (0)1223 221042
Advertising team Advertising manager: Jon Hunt
jon.hunt@
europascience.com Tel: +44 (0)1223 221049 Production manager: David Houghton
production@europascience.com Tel: +44 (0)1223 221034
Corporate team Managing director: Warren Clark
warren.clark@
europascience.com
Laser Systems Europe is published by Europa Science Ltd, 4 Signet Court, Cambridge, CB5 8LA, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1223 221030 Fax: +44 (0)1223 213385 Web:
www.europascience.com l ISSN: 1759-0752
Subscriptions: Free registrations available to qualifying individuals. Subscriptions £120 per year for four issues to readers outside registration requirements. Enquiries to Europa Science, 4 Signet Court, Cambridge CB5 8LA, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1223 221030. Fax: +44 (0)1223 213385. ©2022 Europa Science Ltd.
While every care has been taken in the compilation of this magazine, errors or omissions are not the responsibility of the publishers or of the editorial staff. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publishers or editorial staff. All rights reserved. Unless specifically stated, goods or services mentioned are not formally endorsed by Europa Science Ltd, which does not guarantee or endorse or accept any liability for any goods and/or services featured in this publication. US copies: Laser Systems Europe is published by Europa Science Ltd and distributed in the US by DSW, 75 Aberdeen Road, Emigsville PA 17318-0437. Periodicals postage paid at Emigsville PA.
Postmaster: Send US address changes to Laser Systems Europe, PO Box 437, Emigsville PA 17318-0437.
Cover: JET90/
Shutterstock.com
Subscribe online for FREE at
www.lasersystemseurope.com/subscribe
www.linkedin.com/showcase/ laser-systems-europe/
WWW.LASERSYSTEMSEUROPE.COM | @LASERSYSTEMSMAG SUMMER 2022 LASER SYSTEMS EUROPE 3
application area at the forefront of laser materials processing development. While in recent years we’ve seen innovative blue and green laser technologies emerge to take on the difficult challenge of copper processing, on page 20 we learn how laser welding in a vacuum with standard infrared wavelengths can be used as an alternative. The process can be used to stabilise the welding process and avoid spatter, cracks and pore formation, making it ideal for busbar and hairpin welding, in addition to the welding of bipolar plates for hydrogen fuel cell production. All this and more can be learned about not only in this issue, but also at the upcoming LASYS trade fair, which returns after four years of absence on 21-23 June in Stuttgart, Germany. We look forward to seeing you there!
@lasersystemsmag
New application? Think laser.
Matthew Dale, editor
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 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36
