NEWS
LASERS IN ACTION
IN BRIEF
QiOVA won the ‘Laser systems for industrial production engineering’ Innovation Award category at Laser World of Photonics for it’s VULQ1 multibeam marking solution. VULQ1 can create 2D datamatrix and alphanumeric patterns in applications such as anti- counterfeiting, customer engagement or tracking of components.
Ultrafast laser manufacturer Amplitude has acquired MW Technologies, a developer of optical fibre lasers – changing its name to Amplitude Portugal. The acquisition will enable Amplitude to increase its production capacity and better serve international customers.
Yamazaki Mazak has opened a new headquarters for its European Laser Business in Milan, Italy.
EuroBlech 2022 is set to return to a live event format on 25-28 October in Hanover, Germany. The show will feature a ninth exhibition hall for the first time, focusing on joining technology.
Australian semiconductor developer BluGlass has acquired a commercial laser diode production facility lease in Silicon Valley, enabling it to accelerate its growth strategy, bring key fabrication processes in-house, and improve the quality and consistency of its GaN laser diodes.
The team tested different texture spacings on the disc 4 LASER SYSTEMS EUROPE SUMMER 2022 @LASERSYSTEMSMAG |
WWW.LASERSYSTEMSEUROPE.COM
Laser textured discs improve marine engine performance
Friction discs laser-textured at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, could reduce maintenance costs and downtime for the biggest ships sailing on the oceans. German firm Man Energy Solutions tested the friction discs on its two-stroke engines on two ships sailing from Europe to Asia. The discs transfer power in engines and act as a safety device. They need to sustain a precise amount of friction: too much and the gear can be overloaded, too little and there could be premature slippage. Currently, such discs are
treated with a thermal spray coating to help them create friction. However, this method isn’t as precise as the engine and the industry need. Scientists from Heriot-Watt
University have therefore worked with Man Energy Solutions and Danish firm TRD
Surfaces to develop a new laser- texturing process for the discs. The work was done as part of the EU-funded project SHARK, which aims to industrialise laser texturing. Professor Duncan Hand,
from Heriot-Watt University, said: ‘Using lasers means we can create precise, uniform and replicable textures on the discs. We used laser pulses to experiment with different patterns, shapes, spacing and depths, with the aim of creating a new surface that would have a good grip on its counterpart.’ The high-friction concept
was combined with a surface hardening process, carried out by TRD Surfaces. It effectively freezes the textured surface to ensure it doesn’t deform when it comes into contact with its counterpart. The technique was tested
extensively in the laboratory at Heriot-Watt and then on a
specialist demonstrator. ‘We achieved a much higher and more reproducible friction coefficient than we had expected,’ said Hand. ‘Improving the performance of the discs means significant savings on maintenance costs, which the shipping industry will welcome.’ Jesper Vejlø Carstensen,
from Man Energy Solutions, commented: ‘We needed a better solution for one of our high-friction components. After joining forces with Heriot-Watt and TRD Surfaces, we now have a precise, controllable and reproducible solution. As a vital add-on, we can perform non-destructive quality control of every part, and are installing the laser surface textured high- friction discs in engines.’ Man Energy Solutions has
commercialised the innovation with TRD Surfaces as the supplier of the laser textured friction discs.
Heriot-Watt 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 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36
