Laser 2019

••• 7 ••• Innovationen New laser beams for glass processing Researchers are developing innovative manufacturing technology to meet customers’ needs S eparate glass with any desired contour? The Fraunhofer Insti- tute for Laser Technology (ILT) is developing a technology that – with refractive and diffractive op- tical elements – gives laser beams a form optimally adapted to the respective task. In future, head-up displays for the automotive indus- try will also be produced. The smartphone displays raised the question of how round shapes in tempered glass can be sepa- rated, both quickly and easily. The question has significantly ad- vanced the development of laser systems for ultrashort pulse (USP lasers). For glass can be modified with these pulses and be broken along virtually any contour with- out releasing residues. The laser pulses do not scratch the surface, but generate small mechanical stresses inside the material volume, which result in a clean edge when the material is separated. For this, however, a special intensity distribution is needed in the laser beam, with a long beam waist and a steeply sloping intensity profile. Modern diffractive optical ele- ments (DOE) can shape light into almost any desired shape. Thanks to their diffraction structure, the laser beam can be adjusted pre- cisely. Special beam profiles or complex patterns can be gener- ated from a single beam. Alterna- tively, the DOE distributes the en- ergy of a single beam to a whole array of similar partial beams. Complex diffraction structures are a special feature of DOEs. Developing such hightech optics begins at a computer: There, sci- entists calculate tiny phase pat- terns, which produce the desired beam distribution. Using a pro- grammable spatial light modula- tor, they then test the calculated structures with pixel-based phase adjustments and analyze the gen- erated beam with a microscope. After a few iterations, the optimal structures of the DOE are litho- graphically inscribed in glass. Laser beams are optimized by beam shaping for in-volume structuring of glass to manufacture 3D parts. Photo: Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen / Volker Lannert Anzeige Mark the Unmarkable Laser marking has become in- creasingly important during the last years. To overcome existing boundaries Pigmentum GmbH, with the markSolid product line, has developed solutions that with- stand both, the rapid developments in technology and the high quality and economical demands of their customers around the globe. MarkSolid markings are always highly resistant to aggressive me- chanical or chemical influences in UV light or extreme temperatures. The heat input into the material is marked down; high contrast and good readability over the entire service life were the declared goal. Through tireless development in the in-house laser laboratory, as well as close contact with custom- ers to obtain first-hand experience reports. With markSolid, Pigmen- tum has created a product line “Made in Germany”, which guar- antee improved efficiency in use and greater durability for longer and better visibility. The product line markSolid in- cludes products for standard appli- cations for permanent marking of all kind of metal as well as a large number of customised products and colours for industrial users in the metal and glass or ceramic process- ing industry. Always keeping the customer in view, the markSolid products are constantly being developed further to ensure the best possible results and the highest possible productiv- ity for future technical developments. Goes beyond the usual limits of :YAG-, fibre- and CO 2 -lasers • Marking all metals by CO 2 lasers • Marking glass and ceramics by :YAG or fibre lasers • Marking substrates independently from wavelength or type of marking laser Products and Solutions for Additive Laser Marking • Marks all metals, all metal surfaces and also anodised aluminium • Marks all glasses, all ceramics and also sapphire substrates • Marks permanently with high contrast over total lifetime • Marks in colours and preserves substrate integrity Contact: +49 911 21260-0 office@markSolid.de · www.markSolid.com