Robert Kloczkowski Marketing Manager and, Iradion Sales
The past three years have represented dramatic changes in society, geopolitics, technology, business and manufacturing. New products have been developed for the consumer, treaties and business agreements have opened new markets, different technologies have continued to accelerate with advances in materials, electronics, optics, software and lasers; all of which have impacted manufacturing processes and methods. Iradion Laser Inc has been fortunate to have contributed and participated in these some of these changes by advancing the technology of carbon dioxide lasers.
The explosive growth of plastics, polymers, ceramics and other non-metal materials in a variety of industries including electronics, medical, automotive, packaging, industrial processing, additive manufacturing and others have prompted an increased demand of the use of carbon dioxide (CO2) laser processing. Why? Because the CO2 laser wavelengths couple more efficiently with non-metals, plastics, polymers, ceramics and organic materials versus shorter 1 micron wavelengths of solid state fiber lasers. Despite the dramatic growth and popularity of solid state fiber lasers, CO2 lasers remain the best solutions for these materials and applications. CO2 wavelengths of 11.2, 10.6, 10.2 and 9.3 microns can be easily harnessed to perform precision cutting, drilling, marking, etching, ablating, surface modification, sintering and other processes. The graph displays the projected growth of CO2 lasers in important regions from 2019 through 2027. Though CO2 lasers have been used in production manufacturing since the 1980’s, the advancement of the technology achieved a major leap when Iradion patented the ceramic core CO2 laser design with integrated RF power supply in 2007 and 2008. An inert aluminum oxide ceramic core or chamber is utilized to hermitically seal the CO2 laser gas mixture as illustrated by Figure 1. The RF electrodes sandwich the ceramic core waveguide exciting the CO2 laser gas through the ceramic, thereby eliminating any possible contamination from internal metal components. The internal mirror mounts, integrated RF Power Supply, extruded aluminum heat sink enclosure complete the laser assembly as shown in cut away image in Figure 2. This innovative design using an aluminum oxide ceramic core has 30% the coefficient of thermal expansion when compared to metal tube lasers, thus enhancing excellent power stability over a larger range of power levels. Finally, the design allows for higher laser gas mixture chamber pressures which produces faster pulsing rise and fall times.
Typical CO2 laser designs use metal tubes or chambers that enclose the laser gas mixture of carbon dioxide, helium and nitrogen with the metal electrodes to excite the gas and create an infrared laser beam. Over time, the internal metal electrodes shed atoms that contaminate the laser gas reducing excitation efficiency and power output. Also, glass or metal chambers use O-ring seals and welds in their construction that allow the helium atoms to escape, further compromising the internal laser gas mixture causing loss of performance and reliability. Figure 3 illustrates the unique ceramic core design versus the traditional metal tube CO2 laser construction.
HOW DOES CERAMIC CORE CO2 LASERS IMPACT MODERN MATERIAL PROCESSING?
The laser solution represents a vast improvement over traditional thermal methods of optical fiber splicing.
The laser beam quality, power and pointing stability as well as the pulsing characteristics determine how precise and accurate that materials are processed. In other words, a laser beam that exhibits an excellent mode and beam profile with consistent and repeatable performance will achieve faster processing speeds while insuring the highest part quality. Typical Iradion laser specifications meet or exceed most traditional CO2 lasers as demonstrated by following standards: Beam Quality M² < 1.2; Ellipticity < 1.2:1; Power Stability < 2%; rise/fall times < 75 µseconds. Note that special Iradion laser models for unique applications achieve even better specifications. Let’s examine several examples:
An additive manufacturing system manufacturer utilizes (4) Infinity 100-watt water-cooled 10.6 um lasers with high speed galvo optics to sinter advanced polymer and ceramic materials into complex 3D components for medical, electronic and aerospace applications. Tomasz Cieszynski, Nexa3D CTO commented, “Iradion’s ceramic core CO2 technology features precision pulsing characteristics that achieve 3x times better pixel resolutions than any other laser that we evaluated. As a result, our polymer and ceramic parts display exceptional quality, accuracy and repeatability meeting the tight tolerance requirements of our customers.”
A medical device manufacturer has developed a “state of the art” surgical system utilizing an Iradion Eternity 40-watt 11.2 um laser with a special spectrum feature. The unique 11.2 um wavelength was developed by Iradion to eliminate “beam blooming” and heat absorption by the carbon dioxide assist gas that is frequently used during laser surgery. Bob Rudko, Laser Engineering Scientist, stated “Iradion’s R&D team developed a special variation of its ceramic core CO2 laser to produce an 11.2 um wavelength that transmits more efficiently through our beam delivery system and focuses to a smaller spot size. Doctors report exceptional surgical results, especially when operating on delicate soft tissue.”
A global network company manufacturers a fiber optic splicing system that harnesses an Eternity 40-watt 10.6 um laser beam to melt the ends of fiber optic glass strands, so they can be precisely joined and bonded together. Utilizing a unique beam delivery system equipped power feedback monitoring, the laser beam is split and focused to achieve uniform heating and melting of the optical fibers. The laser solution represents a vast improvement over traditional thermal methods of optical fiber splicing.
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR CO2 LASERS…
Advances in non-metal materials are rapidly replacing many applications that traditionally used metal components and assemblies, because they exceed some metals in strength versus weight, corrosion resistance, more efficient manufacturing processes, and lower raw material costs. As a result, CO2 lasers will play an important role in processing these non-metal materials.
The automotive industry represents a major market because of the use of composites, polymers and plastics offer dramatic weight reductions for traditional autos as well as the EVS models. Today, over 30% of the materials in the typical automobile are non-metals of which many can be effectively processed with CO2 lasers. Cutting, welding, ablating, marking, etching and 3D manufacturing represent processes that can be used to process parts. As the demand for fuel efficient vehicles continues to grow, the use of non-metal materials will expand dramatically.
Other industries are following this pattern, but for different reasons. CO2 lasers can process non-metal materials with better flexibility, higher efficiency and lower costs than traditional mechanical or hard tooling methods. Industries such as packaging and converting, medical, electronics, plastic extruding, textiles, leather processing, wood processing and others are opportunities where a computer controlled laser beam of energy represents a tool with the speed of light!
eStruxture Data Centers: A Canadian Paragon of Efficiency, Reliability, and Innovation
OSO Grande: Data Center and Networking Nirvana for ISPs
Salute Mission Critical: Executing Mission Critical Operations with Precision
RiT Tech: Universal Intelligent Infrastructure Management
Joes Datacenter : Cost-effective Services to Unleash the Power of Cloud
H5 COLO: Delivering High-Quality Data Center and Colocation Solutions
Vista IT Group: Helping Enterprises Move 'Beyond IT' Since 1986
MX3 Data Centers: Creating New Frontiers for Data Center Management
Sparkle: Where Communications Meets Modernization and Caring for the Environment
Lume: Cloud AnywareTM Optimized for Any Workload
Möbius Partners: Streamlining IT with Businesses
Legrand North America: Downsizing Data Centers: A Journey to the Future
Rackmount Solutions: Flexibility with Modular Data Centers
Sunbird Software: Second-Generation DCIM Solutions
OceanTech: Complete Risk Mitigation with Data Center Decommissioning
QuadraNet: Secure Infrastructure Solutions to Modern Businesses
Data Foundry: Southern Hospitality Meets the Data Center in High-Growth Texas Markets
Centeris Data Centers: Leading Data Center Revolution 4.0
2NSystems: Driving Data Center ROI
STULZ: Customized Mission Critical Cooling Solutions
Eden Technologies: Data Center Migration Made Simple
Cloudnexion: Data Center Connectivity Experts
Sunbird Software: Holistic and Cost-Effective DCIM
FirstLight: Fiber-Powered Holistic Data Center Solutions
TZ Limited: SMArt™ Data Center Protection
TIER44 Technologies: Optimize, Manage, and Automate Data Center Performance
Sunbird Software: Transforming the Way Data Centers Are Managed
Penguin Computing: One-stop Shop for Supercomputing Needs
Netronome: Supporting Virtualization with Proven Network Accelerators
EPI: Orchestrating Efficient Data Centers
Nephin Technologies: Data Center Wizards
ReliaSourceTM: Delivering Federal Data Center Optimization
Bluebird Underground, a Bluebird Network Facility: Underground Data Centers for Resilient Businesses
DigiPlex: Innovative and Sustainable Digital Ecosystem
MDI Access: Creative Leasing Significantly Reduces OPEX
AE Backoffice: Reduced TCO and Boosted Availability
eVOLVE Data Center Solutions: High-Quality Data Center Management
Sunbird Software: End-to-End Data Center Management Simplified
STULZ Air Technology Systems: Cooling Solutions for Mission Critical Applications
Stream Data Centers: Experts in Customizing Data Center Facilities
Server Farm: Maximizing IT Infrastructure Efficiency
SkyLink Data Centers: Co-lo Solutions to Drive Increased Connectivity
Hanley Energy: Vendor-Neutral Energy Management Solutions
Open Spectrum Inc.: Specialists in Leading the Digital Transition
Future-tech: Resilient and Energy-Efficient Data Centers
Future Resource Engineering: Maintaining Energy Efficient Data Centers
Nautilus Data Technologies: World’s First Waterborne Data Center Solution
EPI: Empowering Enterprises to Design Mission Critical Data Centers
DuPont Fabros Technology [NYSE:DFT]: Establishing an Unmatched Data Center Experience
Delta Group: Total Data Center Monitoring
Lifeline Data Centers: Superior and Compliant Data Center Workspaces
CentralColo: Pay per Use Elastic Data Centers
Black & Veatch: Innovative Infrastructure Solutions to Optimize Data Centers—Nationwide and Globally
Alternate E Source: Revolutionizing Data Center Security
Methode—Active Energy: Solutions Maximizing Power While Minimizing Disruptions
Transitional Data Services: The Data Center and IT Transformation Specialist
Digital Realty: Connected, Agile, and Global Data Center Solutions
StackIQ: The Modern Data Center : Massive Growth, Services Scalability, and Disposable Infrastructure
Siemon: High-Performance end-to-end Data Center Infrastructure Management
Raritan: Leverage Advanced DCIM for the Optimal Efficiency
Polatis: Revitalize Data Centers with All-Optical Switching
NoviFlow: OpenFlow-based Switching Solutions to Data Centers
Modius: Scalable Solutions for Data Center Management
Iron Mountain: Pioneering Cost-efficient Data Center Colocation
Glenmount Global Solutions: Operational Redundancy to Maximize Facility Up-Time
FORTRUST: Tailored Services Fulfilling Colocation Needs
Evolven Software: Blended Analytics – Breaking the Silos
VERT.com: Redesigning the Future of Data Centers
CrossFiber: Developing Flexible All-Optical Switching Systems
Contegix: Data Center Solutions that Goes Beyond Just Support
Cloudology: Cost-Effective Migrations Backed by Experience
Bacula Systems: A Better Approach to Recovery, Storage and Backup for Modern Day Data Centers
AIP US: Right Technology to Ensure Cost Effective Solutions
Essential Technology Elements Necessary To Enable...
By Leni Kaufman, VP & CIO, Newport News Shipbuilding
Comparative Data Among Physician Peers
By George Evans, CIO, Singing River Health System
Monitoring Technologies Without Human Intervention
By John Kamin, EVP and CIO, Old National Bancorp
Unlocking the Value of Connected Cars
By Elliot Garbus, VP-IoT Solutions Group & GM-Automotive...
Digital Innovation Giving Rise to New Capabilities
By Gregory Morrison, SVP & CIO, Cox Enterprises
Staying Connected to Organizational Priorities is Vital...
By Alberto Ruocco, CIO, American Electric Power
Comprehensible Distribution of Training and Information...
By Sam Lamonica, CIO & VP Information Systems, Rosendin...
The Current Focus is On Comprehensive Solutions
By Sergey Cherkasov, CIO, PhosAgro
Big Data Analytics and Its Impact on the Supply Chain
By Pascal Becotte, MD-Global Supply Chain Practice for the...
Technology's Impact on Field Services
By Stephen Caulfield, Executive Director, Global Field...
Carmax, the Automobile Business with IT at the Core
By Shamim Mohammad, SVP & CIO, CarMax
The CIO's role in rethinking the scope of EPM for...
By Ronald Seymore, Managing Director, Enterprise Performance...
Driving Insurance Agent Productivity with Mobile and Big...
By Brad Bodell, SVP and CIO, CNO Financial Group, Inc.
Transformative Impact On The IT Landscape
By Jim Whitehurst, CEO, Red Hat
Get Ready for an IT Renaissance: Brought to You by Big...
By Clark Golestani, EVP and CIO, Merck
Four Initiatives Driving ECM Innovation
By Scott Craig, Vice President of Product Marketing, Lexmark...
Technology to Leverage and Enable
By Dave Kipe, SVP, Global Operations, Scholastic Inc.
Speed is the Name of the Game
By Meerah Rajavel, CIO, Forcepoint
AI is the New UI-AI + UX + DesignOps
By Amit Bahree, Executive, Global Technology and Innovation,...
Evolving Role of the CIO - Enabling Business Execution...
By Greg Tacchetti, CIO, State Auto Insurance
I agree We use cookies on this website to enhance your user experience. By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies. More info
Copyright © 2022 CIOReview. All rights reserved. Contact | Subscribe | Advertise with us | Sitemap Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | Disclaimer
However, if you would like to share the information in this article, you may use the link below:
https://www.cioreview.com/news/iradion-ceramic-core-co2-lasers-advance-materials-processing-as-the-world-changes-co2-laser-technology-is-turned-inside-out-nid-35551-cid-18.html