LASER 2017

••• 7 ••• Messewelten Material processing pixel by pixel Industry 4.0’s core: New dimensions of industrial production with Photonics 4.0 T hanks to Photonics 4.0 simu- lation, digital design and real production processes are grow- ing ever closer together. During the trade fair Laser World of Pho- tonics, leading manufacturers and research institutes will present tailor-made solutions for tomor- row’s networked and highly auto- mated world of production. Light is the most important tool in the 21st century. In semicon- ductor factories UV lasers and high-performance optics are en- suring increasingly more efficient and cheaper microprocessors. The broadband Internet would be inconceivable without optical data transmission. Cost-efficient, perfect miniaturization is only feasible with accurate measuring and inspection systems. The three cornerstones of Industry 4.0 are thus defined: inexpensive pro- cessors, efficient data networks and precise process monitoring. At its core, Industry 4.0 is there- fore Photonics 4.0. However, photonics is not only the basis of networked production, it is also the driving force to an increasing extent. In particular, precisely ap- plied and digitally controlled la- ser technology is now absolutely essential. Lasers drill, cut, solder, weld, and perforate. They harden steel and process metals, plastics, glass, diamonds, wood and ce- ramics , and many other materials with extreme precision. The concentrated light works with- out contact. It therefore does not introduce any mechanical forces into the processes and, converse- ly, is not affected by wear and tear. Other advantages of laser tech- nology include its high degree of flexibility and speed. However, the greatest potential for digital pro- duction is cold material processing using ultrashort laser pulses. Mod- ern ultrashort pulse lasers have frequencies up to the megahertz range together with high pulse energies. Metals and many other materials can therefore almost be removed atom by atom. Heat influx into the workpiece is mini- mal. Unwanted melts and material splatters no longer occur. Translat- ed to the digital production world of Industry 4.0, this means the fol- lowing: material processing pixel by pixel. Simulations and digital design match real processes more precisely than ever before. Pacemaker according to Moore’s law. High-preci- sion lithographic optics will in future expose wafers using extreme, ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 13.5 nanometers. Photo: ZEISS Visit us at Hall B3 / Booth 167 High performance cooling. For high performance lasers. www.curamik.com curamik® COOL PERFORMANCE PLUS www.rogerscorp.com/pes designhouse