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MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT

Picosecond lasers feature many of the same attributes as femtosecond lasers but are less sensitive to environmental conditions.

Picosecond lasers suited for micromaching operations produce minimal heat while ablating materials. Additional benefits of the units offered by Lumera Laser GmbH (Kaiserslautern, Germany) include low recast and a high repetition rate of about 500 kHz.

Available in several power versions, the Rapid and Super Rapid picosecond lasers ablate any material. Owing to their low average power and pulse energy, these picosecond lasers are configured for micromachining materials with thicknesses of 1mm or less. The Super Rapid 8-W laser will remove about 1 mm3/min in most metals.

Picosecond lasers have several advantages over nanosecond lasers, according to the firm. For example, nanosecond lasers can leave microcracks in glass or ceramic that could lead to device failure.

Processing materials by means of nanosecond lasers can also lead to the formation of burrs, which will need to be removed in a separate operation.

Femtosecond (10^–15 second) lasers, on the other hand, share many of the picosecond lasers’ attributes. However, femotosecond lasers are too sensitive to temperature and vibration to perform adequately in most industrial settings.

Designed for industrial use, the picosecond lasers are sealed and thermalized. In addition, control software enables operators to program the number of pulses in a group as well as the delays between pulse groups.