Photonics Briefs resumed
Ian | 28 September, 2008 | 11:18Sorry for the haitus last week, a cold and a shitstorm of activity kept me from posting. This week I want to focus on a photonic technology: namely, laser cutting.
Industrial laser cutters are typically made from CO2 or solid state Nd:YAG lasers, which are among the highest (continuous) output power lasers that are commercially available. Laser output powers are routinely up to 2 kW continuous. By focusing the laser onto the material meant to be cut. The intense electric field essentially turns solid material to plasma – or ionized gases. This means that lasers can cut materials that are traditionally extremely difficult to cut. The laser is typically controlled by a computer so the precision of laser cutting is typically higher than traditional means. And finally, since light does the cutting, there is no blade to be replaced.
In recent years the ability has been developed to employ laser cutters for very fine projects. Laser micromachining refers to the process of using lasers to etch devices on the micron scale. This opens the field for mass production of microfluidics (pictured), ink jet printer components, x-ray apertures, ruby-based orifices, and leak testing components.
Laser cutting is still a rather expensive technology, but don’t be surprised if in a decade or so your children’s high school shop class has a laser in it.
Impressive stuff.
One question: Is there any containment of the material while it’s being cut? If it’s being effectively vaporized, it seems to me it could be dangerous, depending on what you’re cutting.
It depends on the system. Some work by using air jets to remove the debris (since it’s never all vapourized) but for dangerous byproducts they likely do it in an airtight container and control the debris release.