Cutting/machining micro-components with lasers

Laser technology satisfies the need for the fine cutting and micro machining applications to be found across a diverse range of products and industries.

Fine cutting and micro-machining applications can today, be found across a diverse range of products and industries, said Rofin-Baasel.

The increasing demand for smaller and more accurate components, especially within the medical and electronics sectors, can now only be met using laser technology.

The speed and productivity of laser cutting clearly exceeds the capabilities of traditional mechanical or chemical machining processes.

* Providing precision, performance and flexibility - the introduction of solid state lasers brings many process advantages such as burr free edges, low heat input and the ability to machine most metals and alloys.

The power and performance of the laser is only one part of the solution.

To make the most of the latest generation laser technology, the laser source needs to be coupled with other elements of automation such as motion stages, safety enclosures and control systems to provide a complete solution.

* StarCut Universal system - the StarCut Universal system neatly integrates everything required for fine cutting applications into a standard machine, said Rofin.

A large work envelope of 600mm x 300mm x 200mm combined with three high precision CNC axes provides flexibility and 50 micron precision for fine laser cutting operations.

Additional capability can be achieved by the use of an optional rotary axis enabling complex 3D geometries to be produced within the system.

The fully integrated CNC controller and software is compatible with all prominent CAD formats enabling easy set up and quick programme changeover.

Users will also find the PC based control system simple to operate.

* Choice of lasers - the StarCut Universal is available with a choice of laser sources from the latest StarCut generation, which provide high beam quality and high cutting speeds in a compact package.

Options include the proven StarCut 18, which has a power range of 7W to 25W and achieves kerf widths of 18-20 micron.

Additional laser options include the StarCut 12fm, a 12W fundamental mode laser, which because of its novel pulse characteristics, can cut material up to 1.0mm thick.

Materials can be in fine tube or plate, and a cutting kerf width of 15 micron is possible.

All laser sources within the StarCut family provide excellent pulse to pulse stability, said Rofin to manufacturingtalk.com, and the full range provides up to 300W of power and frequencies of up to 3,000Hz.

With all of the main elements such as the laser source, motion stages and control system incorporated within a stand-alone system, Rofin said that its StarCut Universal has been designed to be a practical and ergonomic turnkey solution for fine cutting applications.

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