The world of photonics is opening up a brand new era of innovation, leaving almost no sector untouched. The ability to generate, detect and manipulate light with remarkable precision is proving particularly beneficial for quality assurance in the manufacturing industry, with novel laser imaging technologies providing everything from individual droplet analysis during spraying operations to assessment of welded joint integrity. The use of laser technologies isn’t limited to verification techniques though, and fabricators are taking advantage of powerful laser micromachining systems to generate ultra-fine features in glass, metals, plastics and composites that would be impossible to reproduce with conventional milling or drilling processes. Combining real-time control of laser power, wavelength and pulse characteristics with ultra-precise multi-axis staging technologies – for accurate and repeatable laser-workpiece alignment – is enabling the manufacture of products with previously unimaginable tolerances, and at blistering speeds.
LASER World of PHOTONICS 2023
Many of these innovations will be on display at this year’s LASER World of PHOTONICS, and Physik Instrumente (PI) will be attending this prestigious event to showcase its portfolio of optical alignment solutions for photonics applications, including piezo-based scanners, motorised fibre positioners and high throughput automated sub-systems. PI’s team of technical experts will be on hand at Stand 461 in Hall A3 to discuss how the company’s active alignment technologies can offer photonic device manufacturers the flexibility and scalability needed to keep up with market demand, positioning them for continued success.
One such success story is PI’s recent collaboration with Oxford Lasers, a UK-based provider of innovative laser micromachining solutions for research and commercial applications. Themistoklis Karkantonis, an application engineer at Oxford Lasers, will be presenting an oral paper on the laser drilling of high density micro-holes on Wednesday the 28th June at 14:45. This project aimed to minimise dimensional and positioning hole variations caused by residual laser heating, and successfully used PI XYZ stages for the precise alignment of workpieces.
For more information about PI’s activities at LASER World of PHOTONICS, taking place 27th to 30th June 2023, please visit https://www.physikinstrumente.com/en/about/events/laser-world-of-photonics?utm_medium=foc&utm_source=pn&utm_campaign=2023_PI_UK_PHO_FSOC&utm_content=KDM
