Continued innovation and major customer wins keep SPI Lasers at the forefront of the fiber laser micro-machining market
SPI Lasers continues to lead the market with the launch of its next generation of CW/M Laser technology
Customer base of more than 150 system integrators, end users and research centers worldwide
SPI Laser technology is chosen for Rofin and Crafford Laserstar welding stations
SPI Lasers is celebrating its continued success in the micro-machining market on stand 627 in Hall B3 at LASER 2007 with the launch of a new range of 45-200W laser modules, and two new application-specific 300W lasers the redPower Cut Laser and redPower Weld Laser.
SPI Lasers’ business has grown over the last two years to encompass 150 micro-machining customers worldwide, the largest of which has already deployed more than 85 laser systems. SPI laser technology has recently been chosen for major new welding stations launched by Rofin and Crafford Laserstar.
The company puts its success down to its strong focus on the development of new processing techniques. CEO David Parker explains: “SPI continues to place micro-machining at the heart of its business. Over the last two years in particular, our US application facility has partnered with laser and research institutes around the world to create a unique structured approach to developing new markets and applications for fiber lasers. As a result, our products are now being used in silicon processing for the semiconductor industry, in the manufacture of solar cells, in alumina cutting applications for electronics assembly and in diamond processing, to name but a few. We can also report excellent results in fine plastic welding for biomedical parts such as micro channels with fluidic devices.”
Development of the new lasers is based on applications research and SPI Lasers’ longstanding experience of more than one million hours of field use in the micro-machining market, since the first products were first introduced in 2004.
The new 45-200W range features interlock circuits designed for easy integration, and enhanced control features, including full analogue control and diagnostic capability. A range of communications protocols is offered as optional extras.
Other new features include:
Hardware implementation of high-integrity safety interlock circuit with dual redundancy
Compliance with machinery directive IEC/EN954-1 safety circuit category 4
Level 4 surge performance against EN 61000-4-5
Extended I-O capability enabling full functionality without host computer
Fast machine readable communication command set
Additional service interface and options for additional communications interfaces
SPI’s new 300W redPower Cut Laser is designed for rapid cutting of materials such as metal, silicon and alumina. The new 300W redPower Weld Laser is optimized for rapid welding of a wide variety of similar and dissimilar metals and plastics. Work at SPI Lasers’ US applications facility shows that fiber lasers at these powers overcome key processing thresholds and so open up access to significant new markets. Both have been price/performance-optimized to provide a highly cost-effective solution for integrator partners.
SPI fiber lasers are used commercially for a wide range of high-precision micro-machining applications including rapid prototyping, anilox processing, plastic and metal welding, sinter marking, anneal marking, layer ablation, heating, diamond anvil and trapping. The stable power output and superior beam shape of the SPI fiber laser ensure reliability of process and consistent, accurate results to very tight tolerances. Traditionally difficult applications such as the welding of dissimilar melt-point metals or ablating thin pa