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17 Nov 2006
The Manufacturing Engineering Centre, at the University of Cardiff, Wales, UK, has installed a laser-based, ultrafast micro machining system.
The MEC's new PicoLase1000 system, from Oxford Lasers, is set to be a key enabling technology at the MicroBridge facility, offering flexibility in laser processing with the ability to machine virtually any material to microscale resolution.
The £7.5 million MicroBridge facility at the MEC, Cardiff University, was opened in October 2006 by Welsh Assembly Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks, Andrew Davies who said that MicroBridge would "enhance Wales' reputation as a world centre of expertise."
The MEC, founded in 1996, has established a positive reputation for design, development and manufacturing engineering and is ready to move forward as a major player in the field of nano technology where experts have predicted a global turnover of a trillion dollars by 2015.
PicoLase1000 features the latest picosecond laser system with 532 nm and 355 nm harmonics and 12-axis motion control. Amongst its capabilities is a dual beamline, automated trepanning system and special micro milling routines for ablating complex structures.
A confocal depth sensor with 10 nm resolution is incorporated for accurate profiling of milled structures and a high magnification microscope for precise alignment tasks. The excellent beam quality of picosecond lasers means that it is possible to focus on spot sizes of less than 1 µm within a practical working distance. The PicoLase1000 drills holes and cuts profiles with excellent burr-free edge quality at high speeds.
Manufacturing expansion
Cardiff's MicroBridge facility will use the PicoLase1000 to complement its other manufacturing equipment and in particular to enable product miniaturization and development of new manufacturing platforms for the next generation of micro systems based products.
Funding for the MicroBridge project was provided by the UK government's Department for Trade and Industry (DTI), the Welsh Assembly Government and industrial partners, including Oxford Lasers.
Martyn Knowles, Oxford Lasers' Industrial Division Director says "We were happy to contribute to such a worthwhile venture and will be working closely with the MEC throughout the five year project to develop and support picosecond laser micro processing. We will be working with the MEC staff to provide specialist training in micro and nano technology."
"By producing such small components, manufacturers can save on materials, reduce component count and reduce labour - dramatically lowering overall costs and adjusting market pricing to become more competitive and increasing profits," said Frank Marsh, the MEC's marketing director. "The benefits from this jump in technology will be almost immediate and will have implications across a range of sectors, including communications, optics and the automotive industry."
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