Laser processing is a well-known technology, with COâ‚‚ lasers, fiber lasers, and semiconductor lasers being the most commonly used in industrial applications. These traditional lasers operate on a microsecond or nanosecond scale. However, over the past decade, ultra-short pulse laser finishing technology has advanced rapidly. Today, we're focusing on laser micromachining, which operates at the femtosecond and picosecond levels.
Laser micromachining has been explored for many years. Initially, due to long pulse widths and low laser intensity, materials tended to melt and evaporate, causing thermal damage. Even though the laser beam could be focused into a small spot, the heat generated was still significant, limiting the precision of the process. To improve quality, reducing thermal impact became essential. When the pulse duration is in the picosecond range, the machining effect changes dramatically. The energy density becomes high enough to strip electrons from the material's surface before heat can spread, resulting in a "cold" ablation process that minimizes thermal effects on surrounding areas. This makes it ideal for precise, high-quality micromachining.
Ultra-short pulse lasers are now widely used in industrial production because of their cold working capabilities. They allow for highly accurate and clean material removal without damaging nearby regions.
How fast is it? Short-pulse lasers operate at picosecond (10â»Â¹Â² seconds) or femtosecond (10â»Â¹âµ seconds) scales. To put this into perspective, light travels about 0.3 mm in one picosecond — a distance smaller than the width of a human hair. This incredible speed allows for extremely precise and controlled interactions with materials.
What can you do with such speed? The rapid development of short-pulse laser technology has led to widespread use across various industries. Some key applications include:
1. **Drilling**: Picosecond lasers are ideal for creating tiny, precise holes in materials like circuit boards, ceramics, plastics, semiconductors, and sapphire. These lasers ensure high stability and uniformity during the drilling process.
2. **Scribing and Cutting**: Lasers can create fine lines by scanning multiple pulses, allowing for deep penetration in materials like ceramics. This technique is used to separate modules along score lines. Another method involves direct ablation cuts, offering greater flexibility in shape and size.
3. **Line Ablation (Coating Removal)**: Precise removal of coatings without damaging the underlying material is possible using picosecond lasers. This is useful in solar cell manufacturing and automotive coating removal for welding preparation.
4. **Surface Structuring**: By creating submicron structures, lasers can alter surface properties, such as making them hydrophobic or hydrophilic. This is applied in engine components and metal-plastic bonding.
5. **Engraving**: Lasers can machine complex three-dimensional shapes with high precision. For example, they are used to engrave polycrystalline diamond tools, which are extremely hard and require non-contact, high-accuracy processing.
In summary, laser micromachining has a vast range of applications and is becoming increasingly important in modern manufacturing. From micro-holes in PCBs to surface structuring and engraving, the technology continues to evolve, bringing more everyday products into our lives through precision and efficiency.
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