FRAUNHOFER INSTITUT E FOR LASER TECHNOLOGY ILT
PRESS RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE
March 10, 2014 || Page 1 | 6
Increasing productivity and optimizing processes when working
materials using ultrashort pulsed lasers
Pulsar Photonics GmbH, a spin-off of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT, has
developed a tool system that significantly boosts the cost effectiveness of using ultrashort pulsed
techniques to process materials by turning to a multi-beam approach. Users can employ the
integrated measurement sensors to calibrate the tool and establish parameters in advance of
material processing as well as to assure quality once the work has been completed. The experts will
be presenting their tool system and multi-beam scanner to the public for the first time at the
Hannover Messe.
Over the past few years, the use of ultrashort pulsed lasers in material processing
has been riding a wave of success. Reasons include the laser’s outstanding
properties as well as the opportunity to process nearly any type of material with
the highest degree of precision. Because the range of possible applications is
continually expanding, market growth currently stands at between 20 and 25
percent per year. Typically, the technology is used in areas such as mould
technology, cutting and drilling for micro components, sieves and filters, as well as
thin-film coating for solar technologies and the manufacture of OLEDs. When it
comes to micro structuring, however, today’s technology has often found itself
pushed to its limits from an efficiency standpoint.
Cost-effective microstructuring with USP lasers
Because of these efficiency concerns, the current tool of choice for large-area
surface microstructuring is the nanosecond laser (ns laser) – which has firmly
established itself on the market thanks to impressive cost-efficiency. The drawback
is that the precision of the microstructuring is limited by the accompanying melt
processes; components often require extensive reworking. By contrast, ultrashort
pulsed laser produces surface structures that do not require any further
processing. They are accurate to within a few micrometers laterally and to within a
hundred nanometers in depth.
Editorial Notes
Dipl.-Phys. Axel Bauer | Head of Marketing and Communications | Phone +49 241 8906-194 | axel.bauer@ilt.fraunhofer.de
Petra Nolis M.A. | PR Consultant | Phone +49 241 8906-662 | petra.nolis@ilt.fraunhofer.de
Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT | Steinbachstraße 15 | 52074 Aachen, Germany | www.ilt.fraunhofer.de
Steinbachstraße 15 | 52074 Aachen, Germany | www.ilt.fraunhofer.de
FRAUNHOFER INSTITUT E FOR LASER TECHNOLOGY ILT
The dominant role of evaporation in the ablation process with USP lasers means
that ablation rates are around a factor of 10 lower than they are with nanosecond
lasers. From a business perspective, this has often made using USP lasers to mass
produce micro components seem unattractive. What is more, current USP laser
systems generally cannot make use of more than 20 percent of the available laser
energy in the 50 to 100 watt power range. In an effort to improve the efficiency of
USP lasers in this range, researchers from Fraunhofer ILT have developed a
technique that allows laser ablation to run in parallel. This multi-beam technology
has now been thoroughly tested and enables the laser beam to be split up into
more than 100 beamlets. As a result, a workpiece can be processed at 100 places
at once, which speeds up the work process accordingly. The technology means
that almost all of the capacity offered by current high-performance USP laser
systems can be brought to bear on the workpiece.
An intelligently networked system
Pulsar Photonics GmbH, a Fraunhofer ILT spin-off, has developed a tool system
that includes not only intelligent measurement technology but also the option to
segment the beam. Beam segmentation essentially boosts the efficiency of
workpiece processing itself; the system’s integrated measurement sensors
simplify and automate both the definition of parameters during machine
preparation and the monitoring of quality once the work has been completed. As
a result, the setup process takes far less time than it otherwise might. For instance,
users can conduct initial machine preparation with the part already in the machine
because its sensors help them to quickly determine which laser parameters will
yield the best processing results. Quality assurance is immediate because the
sensors show users how deep the microstructures are or the diameter of the holes
drilled. In this way, contract manufacturers can hand the customer verified parts as
soon as production is complete. The adaptable USP laser system can also be used
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FRAUNHOFER INSTITUT E FOR LASER TECHNOLOGY ILT
for a variety of applications beyond surface structuring, including drilling and
cutting by ablation.
Recurring structures and large-scale surface functionalization
Because of its design, the multi-beam technology is primarily suited to the
manufacture of components that feature recurring patterns and set structural
arrangements, or else for working on several components with the same structure
simultaneously. And in many applications, this sort of repeating structure is exactly
what is required – such as the large-scale functionalization of surfaces where the
aim is to reduce friction or to produce thin-film masks and microfilters.
Hannover Messe
From April 7-11, 2014, the “young innovative companies” joint booth (Hall 17,
booth C04/2) at the Hannover Messe will play host to the experts from Pulsar
Photonics as they showcase their tool system and multi-beam scanner – now
available commercially for the first time. They will be demonstrating how the
system complements a range of applications.
Scientists from Fraunhofer ILT will be at the joint Fraunhofer production booth
(Hall 17/F14) to showcase techniques for functional coating and micro joining as
well as to demonstrate the diverse applications of the ultrashort pulsed laser.
International Laser Technology Congress AKL’14
At AKL’14 in Aachen, Dipl.-Ing. Joachim Ryll of Pulsar Photonics GmbH will give a
talk on how to improve efficiency when working materials using USP lasers by
ensuring the best possible system setup. The talk will form part of the session
“Ultrashort pulsed laser essentials – applications” and will take place on May 9,
2014.
www.lasercongress.org
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FRAUNHOFER INSTITUT E FOR LASER TECHNOLOGY ILT
About Pulsar Photonics GmbH
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Founded in 2013, Pulsar Photonics GmbH is a technology-focused spin-off of the
Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT. The company’s services focus on
the development and sales of integrated tool and measurement systems for
material processing using short and ultra-short pulsed lasers.
http://www.pulsar-photonics.com
Image 1:
Recurring lettering imprinted on a
steel foil using the multi-beam
scanner. Source: Pulsar Photonics
GmbH.
FRAUNHOFER INSTITUT E FOR LASER TECHNOLOGY ILT
Image 2:
Tool system made up of
galvanometer and multi-beam
scanner, camera and topography
sensors. Source: Pulsar Photonics
GmbH.
Image 3:
Pulsar Photonics GmbH logo.
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FRAUNHOFER INSTITUT E FOR LASER TECHNOLOGY ILT
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The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is the largest organization for applied research in Europe. Its research activities are conducted by
66Fraunhofer Institutes at numerous locations throughout Germany. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft employs a staff of more than 22,000, who
work with an annual research budget totaling 1.9 billion euros. Of this sum, 1.6 billion euros is generated through contract research. More
than 70 percent of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft’s contract research revenue is derived from contracts with industry and from publicly
financed research projects. Affiliated research centers and representative offices around the world provide contact with regions of greatest
importance to present and future scientific progress and economic development.
For further information
Dipl.-Phys. Stephan Eifel | Pulsar Photonics GmbH | Phone +49 241 8906-8079 | eifel@pulsar-photonics.de
Steinbachstraße 15 | 52074 Aachen, Germany | www.pulsar-photonics.com
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