Laser Scanners Demand Attention as Technology Improves
October 7, 2019
Metrology-grade laser scanners are expanding their range of applications. New users are finding the main attractions of laser scanners—speed and ease of use. What prevented more widespread use in the past were laser scanners’ perceived tradeoffs. Using one usually meant sacrificing accuracy or working with noisy data.
By Bruce Morey
Senior Technical Editor,
SME Media
Adapting Metal Cutting to Higher Power, Higher-Speed Lasers
October 25, 2019
Using lasers to cut metal, especially sheet metal or tubes, continues to show its value. The market is becoming dominated by the newer solid-state fiber laser over its CO2 gas rival. Fiber’s advantages in ease of operation, packaging and efficiency are clear.
By Bruce Morey
Senior Technical Editor,
SME Media
Latest News & Resources
New System Improves Fiber Laser Welding of Aerospace and Defense Assemblies
October 30, 2019
Fiber laser welding is all about control of the process, according to Kurt Magedanz, laser process engineer at Ace Precision Machining Corp., Oconomowoc, Wis. With its new Laserdyne 430 systems, Ace Precision has made huge strides with weld quality while reducing operator intervention in the process.
Traditional Versus Laser Welding
October 28, 2019
With much faster processing speeds and higher quality, you might think laser welding would quickly take over the field. But traditional welding hangs on. And depending on who you ask and what applications you consider, it may never go away.
By Ed Sinkora
Contributing Editor,
SME Media
Adapting Metal Cutting to Higher Power, Higher-Speed Lasers
October 25, 2019
Using lasers to cut metal, especially sheet metal or tubes, continues to show its value. The market is becoming dominated by the newer solid-state fiber laser over its CO2 gas rival. Fiber’s advantages in ease of operation, packaging and efficiency are clear.
By Bruce Morey
Senior Technical Editor,
SME Media
Laser Scanners Demand Attention as Technology Improves
October 7, 2019
Metrology-grade laser scanners are expanding their range of applications. New users are finding the main attractions of laser scanners—speed and ease of use. What prevented more widespread use in the past were laser scanners’ perceived tradeoffs. Using one usually meant sacrificing accuracy or working with noisy data.
By Bruce Morey
Senior Technical Editor,
SME Media
GF Machining Demonstrates New Technology, New Applications
July 26, 2019
Necessity, as the saying goes, is the mother of invention, and this symbiotic relationship between need and solution was on full display at a recent two-day, two-location event hosted by GF Machining Solutions.
By Alan Rooks
Editor in Chief,
Manufacturing Engineering
By Larry Adams
Contributing Writer,
SME Media
Pulsed Laser Deposition for 3D Printed Parts Repair
June 30, 2019
Laser welding is a superior technology for repairing defects in tooling, plastic injection molds, stamping dies, blow molds, turbine blades, and nearly any tooling component made of stainless steel, aluminum, copper alloy, cast iron, and all tool steels.
By Wes Wheeler
Sales Manager,
Alpha Laser US
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Expert Opinions
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Expert OpinionLaser Welding for Sheetmetal Fabricators
April 18, 2017Although laser welding is a well-established manufacturing solution, many sheetmetal fabricators have been hesitant to implement the process at their shop. -
Lasers
Fiber Lasers Continue to Gain Market Share in Material Processing Applications
February 1, 2016The first kilowatt-class fiber laser for material processing was introduced by IPG Photonics in early 2002. Since that time, the adoption of fiber lasers for production applications has grown at a rapid rate. Today, fiber lasers are becoming the choice for most major production laser applications as well as converting traditional welding and cutting processes to fiber laser technologies. -
Expert Opinion
Lasers Grow Manufacturing
June 1, 2015Today, laser technology in manufacturing touches all of our lives on a daily basis; lasers cut air bag material and weld air bag detonators for our in-car safety; lasers weld the batteries in many of our mobile devices; lasers drill aero-engine components for planes; lasers cut the glass for our smart phones and tablets screens; lasers weld the drivetrains in our cars and trucks; lasers cut medical stents that increase and enhance our lives, just to name a few.
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