Lasers have the powerto drive UK Businesses

The Association of Industrial Laser UsersDr Ric Allott – President

16 June 2016

• What is a laser?

• 55 years of progress

• Laser processing applications

• How is the UK leading this technology?

• Who are the global brands already using laser material processing?

• Case study – Smartphones

• Case study – Automotive

• AILU – promoting laser use

Contents

Lasers: invented in the 1960s

“…No Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!” - Goldfinger (1964)

What is a laser?

Ultra-Violet

(UV)

Infra-Red

(IR)Visible light

400 nm 700 nm 1,070 nm 10,600100 nmFibre laser CO2

• Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation

• An intense light source with a single colour (wavelength)

• Light is coherent (in phase)

• Very bright - can be focused to very small spot

Green laserExcimer laser

Laser sources are now:

• More compact

• More efficient (Wall plug efficiency)

• More reliable (solid-state)

• Cheaper per kW

• Brighter (better beam quality)

• Delivered by Fibre Optic (no mirrors)

• Shorter pulses and wavelengths

Improvements (first 55 years)

Improvements made (2 kW laser)

1998 2012

1998 2012

Volume 2.3 m3 0.5 m3

Weight 700 kg 150kg

Mains power 80 kW 8 kW

Optical fibre 0.6 mm 0.05 mm

UK Laser source/system builders

How can lasers be applied?

Robotic cutting (& welding) - Precitec CNC cutting (& welding) - TRUMPF

Manual welding - ROFIN Galvo marking – Domino

Focus on: laser cutting

Stainless medical tube - Lastec Hardened gear - Oxford Lasers

Glass cutting - ROFINSteel cutting - TRUMPF

Focus on: laser welding

Titanium pacemaker - ROFIN Aluminium alloy wheel - ERLAS

Platinum sculpture - HirstSteel razor blade - Gillette

Focus on: laser marking

Day/night marking - ROFIN Aluminium marking - Apple

Aluminium - RenishawStainless steel - Micrometric

Focus on: laser drilling

Fuel injector - Oxford Lasers Fuel injector - Coherent

Aerospace holes - IPGThermal barrier coating -Winbro

Focus on: laser cladding

Aerospace blade - Hybrid ManuTechTungsten Carbide clad oil drill - TRUMPF

Focus on: laser cleaning

Rust removal - General Lasertronics Art restoration – Chapel of the Mantle, Siena

Focus on: 3D printing

Airbus bracket titanium - Concept Laser Titanium hip implant - EOS

Bloodhound steering - Renishaw Gold jewellery - BCU

Focus on: micro machining

Micro milling - Oxford LasersMould texturing - Fimark

Ink roller – Anilox engraving- ALE Micro lens array - M-SOLV

Applications in Smartphones

WaferDicing

Chassis Assembly Welding

Touchscreen TCO Ablation

CeramicsCutting

Serial numberMarking

Display glass / sapphireCutting

PCB Photo resist Direct writingIC & surface mount

Marking

PCB microviaDrilling

3D display screen lens manufacture

Synchronised Image Scanning (SIS) – Animation courtesy Pete Sykes, M-Solv

ITO display screen patterning

Bow tie scanning method – Animation courtesy Pete Sykes, M-Solv

Car body partsCutting & welding

Car doorsCutting & welding

TyresMarking

Rear seatsWelding

Labels Marking

Transmission components Welding, marking

IndicatorsMarking

Painted bodyCutting

Day & night design Marking

Ventilation systems Welding

“Drive-by-Wire-System”

Electronic componentsWelding & marking

AirbagsCutting, welding & marking

Injection nozzlesWelding, drilling & marking

Conrod & motor blocksScribing

Various filtersDrilling, marking

Mirrors / GlassCutting

Automotive Industry – laser applications

Graphic - ROFIN

Automotive laser cutting

Video – Tec Systems

Automotive laser welding

Video - ROFIN

Automotive laser marking

Video - Lasit

AILU – Key statistics

250Members

330Delegates(2015-16)

ILASIndustrialLaserApplicationsSymposium

Every 2 years

5Workshops(2015-16)

220Delegates

(2015)

12Countries

50Job

Shops

45Laser

Manufacturers

25ResearchCentres

Founded

1995

AILU - Publications

The Laser User Quarterly

E-Newsletter Monthly

600 print copies 3,000 subscribers

What AILU does

NEWS & INFORMATION

EVENTS & NETWORKING

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

ADVOCACY & LOBBYING

CONSULTANCY

ADVERTISING

RECRUITMENT

Forthcoming event

Laser Applications in the Maritime Industry

Maritime Knowledge Hub, Birkenhead

www.ailu.org.uk/laser_technology/events.html

Networking Breakfast & half-day workshop

Thank you for your attention!

Any questions?