By: Dr. Andrew J Pinkerton, The University of Manchester The environment continuously attacks our infrastructure in a way that is less spectacular than, for example, earthquakes or hurricanes, but far more expensive. Corrosion affects most surfaces, but especially metallic ones, on a daily basis and costs around 3–6% of developed countries’ GDP to combat. In the US […]
Laser Editorials
Laser Glass Machining for Consumer Electronic Devices
By Haibin Zhang, ESI. Due to their excellent strength, chemical resistance, and optical transparency, glass materials are widely used in consumer electronics such as in flat panel TVs, laptops, and hand-held devices. Small to medium form factor glass panels (3 to 10 inch), in particular, are enjoying a very healthy annual growth of close to […]
The Revised ANSI Z136.3 Standard is Here!
ORLANDO, FL, Jan. 23, 2012 — In response to the extensive adoption of lasers for medical procedures, the Laser Institute of America announces a significantly updated guideline for the use of such devices beyond the highly regulated hospital environment. The revised “ANSI Z136.3 Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care” publication defines the parameters of […]
Laser-Based Production of Thin Wear Protection Films
By: Dominik Hawelka Friction creates a loss of energy and reduces component lifetime. According to the scientific community concerned with friction, wear and wear protection the overall costs related to these issues amount to 4 % of the Gross National Product of industrial countries, a staggering sum. Despite the fact that wear protection coatings are […]
Aluminum Welding with High Brightness Diode Lasers
By: Silke Pflueger Laserline Inc., Santa Clara, CA Why is Aluminum Welding such a Hot Topic? New CAFE standards demanding an average fleet gas mileage of 54.5 mpg by 2025 will not only require radical engine improvements, but also drastically weight reduced cars. Using aluminum instead of steel can decrease the weight of a car body […]