Product category:
CNC laser cutting and profiling machines
News Release from: Rofin-Baasel UK | Subject: StarDisc Q-switched disc laser
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 29 August 2007
Lasers drill and cut sensitive materials
Conventional 'single pass' laser operation dos not generally suit pre-coated or heat-sensitive materials, which is why a high speed, multi-pass process has been developed.
While lasers are becoming the preferred method in the automotive industry for cutting and trimming vehicle interior trim components, like for example, door panels, roof linings and load space trim components, there have been limitations While lasers are used on interior components and on body in white applications, they have not been used on finished or painted and lacquered surfaces
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 30 Apr 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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The problems are that the heat generated by the conventional laser cutting process can potentially marking or damage the surface finish and cut edge.
** High material removal rates with low heat input - the conventional laser cutting process removes the molten material from the cutting path in one pass.
This high heat input can cause edge melting and form burrs on heat-sensitive or non-homogeneous materials.
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Pulsed YAG lasers, fitted with dynamic beam positioning, offer an easy package to integrate into production automation equipment for the automotive and other industries.
Rofin's StarDisc Laser now eliminates such process problems and so considerably enalarges laser cutting applications.
A Galvo Deflection Head on the StarDisc ensures rapid and precise beam positioning in two dimensions.
The system ablates material at rapid removal rates and at impressive speed using multiple passes with very high peak laser power.
The StarDisc laser does not normally require assist gas and the multiple pass process provides efficient material removal, which is expelled upwards with minimal melt creation.
Therefore, the StarDisc laser processes a much wider range of materials, and can be applied to applications previously considered unsuitable for laser cutting.
** New applications - it is now possible to customise car, van or truck bodies by using laser cutting after final painting and lacquering.
While most 'optional accessories' are easily fitted during the vehicle build process, some have to be added at the end of the production line, when the vehicle is fully painted and lacquered.
These include such as additional aerials or body styling kits and and 'spoilers' .
When the StarDisc laser is applied to cutting applications on painted and lacquered automotive body panels, a cutting speed of approximately 2.0mm/s is achieved on a typical material thickness of 0.68mm.
The result is a clean cut on the panel, with no damage to the painted surface, and no dross or debris on the inside of the cut panel.
The colour of the panel being cut has little or no impact on the laser cutting process performance.
Another major benefit provided by StarDisc, is that the cut component does not fall inside the panel.
Instead it remains attached to the parent material, ready for removal using a vacuum or magnetic gripper.
The benefits of a clean cut with no internal debris will also enable the StarDisc laser to be used on a wide range of thin sheet metal cutting applications, in applications such as the production of electronic enclosures where metal particles within the panel are unacceptable.
** Laser specification - StarDisc is a Q-switched disc laser and provides material removal rates which are unrivalled by any other laser source.
It has high average power, excellent beam quality, (TEM00 - Gaussian Mode), and an unusually long Q-switch pulse length.
** Technical background - the performance capability of the StarDisc can be illustrated by making a comparison of this laser with another Rofin Laser - PowerLine E-20.
Both are Single Mode/TEM00/Gaussian lasers, with average and peak power levels as follows.
* Average StarDisc power - 60W; peak power - approximately 2kW.
* Average PowerLine E-20 power - 18W; peak power - approximately 250kW.
If average power levels are considered, one might expect the StarDisc to outperform the PowerLine laser, as the StarDisc has the higher average power level.
This assumption is then reversed if the peak power levels are considered, with the PowerLine laser having a much greater peak power level than the StarDisc Laser.
The StarDisc Laser achieves ablation rates that are an order of magnitude greater than other Q-switched lasers of a similar power, owing to the novel combination of the high average power, together with an unusually long pulse duration. Request a free brochure from Rofin-Baasel UK ...
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