Product category:
Micro- and nano-machining
News Release from: Rofin-Baasel UK | Subject: StarCut Tube laser cutting system
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 01 November 2007
Laser-machining micro-tubes
Linear motor technology together with directly driven rotary axes provide enhanced speed and accuracy for the laser machining of complex geometries in micro components.
Rofin-Baasel informed manufacturingtalk.com that it has been perfecting the fine cutting of micro-tubes, which are used for the production of stents and medical implants, for a period of 10 years The result of this process of ongoing development is StarCut Tube, a high precision laser cutting system, which is compact, self contained and up to 10 times faster than the first generation systems
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 30 Apr 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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* Performance and flexibility - the significant increase in performance and capability of this latest generation of StarCut Tube can be attributed to a state of the art motion system.
Linear motor technology together with directly driven rotary axes provide enhanced speed and accuracy.
The addition of an advanced laser control system allows the laser cutting parameters to be optimised to match the travel speed of the various axes.
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It enables the micro-machining of complex geometries, including cutting small radii, to be achieved easily.
Now, the StarCut Tube can process tubes with diameters of less than 200 microns with kerf widths of less than 15 microns.
Radial and non-radial cutting angles can be achieved without any damage to the opposite wall thus making it possible to open tubes laterally or to cut hollow needle points.
New and unusual cutting geometries are also possible for example, spiral cuts or interlinked structures in just one process and operation (e g, for flexible instruments).
The performance characteristics of the system are demonstrated by its ability to produce a coronary stent which is 8.0mm in length in less than 60s.
Accuracies of only a few microns can be achieved repeatably thanks to the stability of the granite mounting platform.
Choice of lasers - StarCut Tube is available with a choice of laser sources including the following.
* The proven StarCut 18 which has a power range of 7 to 25W and achieves kerf widths of 18-20 microns.
* StarCut 12fm, a 12W fundamental mode laser.
* StarCut Tube Fibre which has 20W maximum power.
These lasers offer kerf widths of less than 15 microns.
Practical and expandable solution - with all of the main elements such as the laser source, motion stages, control system and tube loading mechanisms incorporated within a stand-alone system, StarCut Tube has been designed to be a practical and ergonomic solution for Micro-Machining.
The cutting process can be viewed using a high quality stereo microscope or an optional camera.
The system is also capable of being enhanced with options for fluid flushing inside of the tube and the 4-axis version allows non-radial cutting operations to be performed.
Flat sheet components can also be processed within the system using the optional cutting support box, said Rofin-Baasel. Request a free brochure from Rofin-Baasel UK ...
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