Manufacturing Knowledge Base

Published by the Laser Institute of America, this 715-page handbook includes the work of more than 170 contributors and provides comprehensive information about laser techniques such as cutting, drilling, welding, brazing, hardening, cleaning, and making of metals, ceramics and other materials. It also includes information about laser-related instruments, safety procedures, as well as laser applications in the aerospace, automotive, computer and electronic industries. A chapter on rapid prototyping contains a multi-page table relating each RP method to the materials it will process, the application each is best suited for, the process characteristics and post processing requirements. With several hundred tables and graphs of data, the handbook provides key comparing laser with nonlaser processes, costs for alternate processes and the selection of lasers and components.