A leading North American turbine engine builder has ordered a six axis 790 BeamDirector system, equipped with a CP3500 CO2 laser provided by Convergent Lasers, from Prima North America.

Prima North America, announced that its Laserdyne Systems Division, a world leader in multi-axis laser machining systems, has received an order for a six axis 790 BeamDirector system from a leading North American turbine engine builder. This system is equipped with a CP3500 CO2 laser provided by Convergent Lasers, also a division of Prima North America. Dr Paolo Cigna, president of Prima North America, announced the order and said, 'The sale included the customer trading in a Laserdyne system'.

'This represents the launch of our new 'Technology Trade-up' programme for valued customers who have made a long-term commitment to Laserdyne's unique laser system technology for providing exacting laser-based manufacturing solutions for difficult aerospace applications'.

' By trading in a 1991 780 BeamDirector Nd:YAG laser system, which served the customer well for nearly 14 years, the company transitions to Laserdyne's newest system design, the 790 BeamDirector,' reported Cigna'.

''For the last two years Laserdyne has offered complete mechanical rebuilds and controller upgrades for customers' 780 systems'.

'In fact, this customer has another 780 BeamDirector system scheduled for remanufacture'.

'The choice between remanufacturing and acquiring a new 790 is partly economics and partly application driven'.

'Our new programme expands the options for our customers'.

'The 780 will be brought back to Laserdyne and will also be remanufactured'.

' The demand for remanufactured 780 systems is high,' Cigna stated'.

''After remanufacturing and retrofitting the system with a new laser and controller, the system will most likely be again used for laser hole drilling'.

'There are many laser applications such as drill on the fly hole drilling where the 780 BeamDirector is a proven and productive system.' The 790 BeamDirector with the Convergent Lasers CO2 laser has the flexibility to perform cutting as well as welding operations.

Laserdyne Systems has been providing equipment to turbine engine manufacturers for over twenty years.

Laserdyne laser systems are used worldwide for laser processing a wide variety of turbine engine parts.

Most of these parts are produced from difficult to machine higher temperature materials such as inconel and super cobalt.

With the newest Laserdyne laser systems, these parts are produced accurately and with greater productivity than in the past.

With over 340 multi-axis laser systems in use worldwide, Laserdyne products have become the technology standard for the aerospace industry and are used in turbine engine manufacturing facilities across North America, Europe and Asia.

Digital automation platform with a 32-axis motion engine features pulse synchronised output, with error mapped systems for enhanced accuracy laser machining.

Aerotech's A3200 Digital Automation Platform is a powerful, software only machine control system combining a high-performance, 32 axis motion engine with decentralised drives interfaced via Firewire and other machine control function modules such as HMI and soft PLC, for a completely integrated solution. Widely used in semiconductor, data storage, laser processing, automotive, and machine tool industries, the A3200 includes a wide range of advanced motion control commands aimed at increasing and improving the finished quality and throughput performance of demanding production and test applications. Along with an extended range of advanced commands for motion including electronic gearbox, cam profiling, high speed registration/position capture and velocity profiling, Aerotech have developed a number of commands targeted to augment application specific performance in combination with its wide range of mechanical positioning systems.

An example of such enhanced performance is that of Position Synchronised Output or PSO.

Widely used for high performance laser machining applications, PSO allows the precise, 'on-the-fly' synchronisation of the laser's pulse, power level and firing pattern with the exact position of a multi-axis positioning system typically moving the work piece undergoing laser feature generation.

PSO will acquire and analyse the position of all axes of motion on the A3200 using real time encoder feedback and will process a two or three axis vector position to provide an output for laser firing control which is exactly synchronised to the 2D or 3D contoured position.

For extremely high accuracy requirements, PSO can be combined with positioning systems that have been interferometer calibrated and error mapped using Aerotech's HALAR option, where micron level linear errors are analysed and the resulting calibration information is included as a look-up table in the A3200 motion controllers' parameter file.

The combination of PSO and HALAR is unique to Aerotech and allows the real time encoder information to be read then error corrected before the vector position is processed, resulting in laser pulse synchronisation that achieves an unsurpassed level of accuracy.

Aerotech's PSO provides a versatile and easy method of interfacing laser firing with high throughput positioning systems and has been broken down into a number of simple commands and parameters to allow for output modes including fixed pulse, analogue, PWM, ramping and bit pixel mapping.

Other PSO commands cover encoder position tracking input set-up, definition of distance and firing trigger, pulse sequence and pulse on/off characteristics as well as a command to define a window for absolute or incremental position window firing.

There is also provision for an array to be used to define bitmapped firing, used to fire the laser at only specific axis locations.

Interfacing with lasers that allow external control, including CO2, YAG and Excimer lasers is easily achieved.

Tracking latency varies depending upon the drive product used in conjunction with the A3200; the best performance is achieved with the Aerotech Nservo digital drive with 140 nsec for a single axis and 220 nsec for dual and triple axis tracking.

In addition to laser firing applications PSO has been successfully applied to non-destructive testing applications where its ability to provide a fixed pulse spacing along complex contours has been found ideal for ultrasonic, eddy current and X Ray inspection systems.

Aerotech's A3200 Digital Automation Platform is a software based machine control system for IEEE-1394 (Firewire equipped PCs combining synchronised motion control for up to 32 servo axes with fully integrated modules for HMI, machine vision and soft PLC functions.

Programming and software development tools allow the Automation 3200 to be programmed in native RS274 G-code and a software development kit may be used to program with ActiveX based components as well as other languages including C, C++, VisualBasic and Labview.

The high speed Firewire interface delivers fully deterministic position and velocity motion updates to all axes with no system degradation as the number of axes increase.

A range of compatible digital servo drives with high performance, 20kHz position, velocity and current loop update rate can be supplied in stand alone or rack mounted configuration.

All drives come complete with local I/O and an optional 10/100 BaseT Ethernet interface which may be used add third party I/O and PLCs if required.

Choices of PWM or Linear power stages are available with sinusoidal commutation and onboard encoder multiplication.

The A3200 also includes extensive system commissioning tools for servo tuning and system analysis.

A range of stepper drives for open loop control systems is also available.

When compared to traditional PCI card solutions, which usually include numerous breakout modules requiring complex wiring and interfacing, the reduced cost benefit of the A3200 in terms of its simplified wiring, fewer components and Firewire based plug and play interfacing, offers OEMs and System Integrators a complete machine control solution with lower startup and lifecycle costs.

Aerotech design and manufacture a wide range of mechanical position systems and associated control and drive products for laser machining applications.

These include the new VasculatheTM, single machine platform for the production of cardiovascular stents.

All Aerotech systems are supplied complete with motor power and encoder cables, all performance and calibration related documents and a CD with complete interconnection drawings to help integrators with their own system documentation.

In addition, all motor parameter set-up data for the software configuration file is included; with full technical support and product training always on hand, system commissioning is straightforward requiring little more than connecting cables and applying power before programming application software.

Among a range of 2D and 3D laser cutting, welding and drilling machines being introduced to the UK is a machine that combines laser cutting and high speed milling in one unit.

The Lasertec-Series for precision 2D and 3D cutting, welding and drilling combines the respective talents of DMG and Sauer to create a range of machines that are both flexible and highly dynamic. As well as dedicated machines for drilling and filigree cutting, the product programme includes laser cutting and high speed milling on a single combination machine. The user can also choose the best laser source to suit the application, Nd: YAG or CO2 and the optimum power from 15W to 1kW.

Designed for high precision cutting and drilling of sheet metal between 0.1mm and 3mm thick, the Lasertec 80 Series is characterised by its accuracy of 10 micron, high positioning speeds up to 120m/min and acceleration of up to 2G.

The massive, vibration-damping machine bed with 3-point support, linear drives and solid X-Y compound table enhance the performance of this machine.

Working area is 800 x 500 x 700mm.

Control of all machine functions is provided by the Siemens 840D powerline, accessed via the DMG ControlPanel with 17in TFT screen.

The overall footprint of the machine is just 3 x 3.5m and to facilitate servicing, a walk-on panel is provided for fast access to the laser.

The modular concept of this machine with 3, 4 and even 5 CNC axes makes the Lasertec 80 ideal for fine 2D and 3D cutting and for a broad spectrum of laser drilling and welding applications.

This flexibility allows it to be configured for specific needs in the automotive, electronic and aerospace industries.

Typical applications for the Lasertec 80 FineCutting model include the production of electronic circuits, surgical instruments, prototype car parts and hydraulic valves.

Its dedicated counterpart for drilling, Lasertec 80 PowerDrill is best suited to hypodermic needle, micro tool, oil filter and turbine blade manufacture.

Five-axis control has allowed for better positioning of deep mold cores and cavities, laser engraving with optimum tool orientation, and precise repeatability.

In response to the growing complexity of part design, Precision Laser Technology (PLT) provides 5-axis laser technology for both engraving and micro-machining applications. In today's domestic market, many mold makers are being called upon by their customers to provide complex surface machining. PLT is stepping in to offer precision laser services as a solution to multi-axis surface etching and micro-machining.

'In addition to offering a cost-efficient service, the true driver was the ability to provide our customers with a solution to expand their mold design and construction capabilities,' adds Ron Natale Jr, PLT Co-Owner.

'As a service partner, our objective is to increase our customers' capacity.' 5-axis control has allowed for better positioning of deep mold cores and cavities, engraving with optimum tool orientation, and precise repeatability.

Ideal for extreme contour surfaces, the 5-Axis technology has reduced the number of required set-ups yielding higher savings to customers.

Laser cutting/engraving machine offers power, precision and flexibility, yet is as simple to set up as a printer and is affordable for industrial and educational users.

The new Legend 36EXT laser cutting/engraving machine is setting new standards in accuracy, performance and throughput according to Unimatic Engineers of London. Yet it is as simple to set up as a printer and offered at a price that is affordable for both industrial and educational users. The Legend 36EXT offers high energy optics that enhance the natural characteristics of its CO2 laser beam, software that precisely coordinates the firing of the laser with the position of the work piece carriage and a large work area.

Combined with the precision and repeatability of linear encoders and a vacuum table with an integrated vector grid that permits cutting of materials from paper to wood without the risk of under-side burning of the work piece, these features ensure users can achieve high levels of throughput worked to the tightest of tolerances (1200 DPI).

Unimatic's 'Radiance' high energy optics system has been developed to shape and refine the laser beam to create the best possible beam profile for engraving and cutting applications to ensure both high accuracy and maximum productivity on work pieces up to 355mm thick.

Indeed, to handle the higher volume of gases resulting for the increased throughput, Unimatic has installed a twin exhaust facility.

'HyperDrive', Unimatic's own motion control software, provides the total harmonisation between laser beam firing and work piece positioning.

This facilitates process operation whilst ensuring quality of output.

With its work area of 914 x 609mm, the Legend 36 EXT can handle the largest of engraving/cutting work jobs.

It also permits multiple task working; either straight forward step and repeat jobs or quantities of one-offs.

Other features include 'NeverWear' stainless steel bearings, advanced B-stile Kevlar precision drive belts and high speed, continuous loop DC servomotor system.

Direct-drive, brushless linear and rotary motion platform that includes automated workpiece handing and tooling platforms is intended for cylindrical laser machining applications.

Aerotech's LaserTurn combines high performance, direct-drive brushless linear and rotary positioning stages with automated workpiece handling and provision for customised tooling - for a completely integrated motion solution for high-throughput cylindrical laser machining applications. The new LaserTurn series is the result of Aerotech's dedicated research and extensive experience to provide improved productivity, industry-specific motion sub-systems, for high-throughput manufacture and test applications. The LaserTurn series features direct-drive brushless linear and rotary stages with non contact encoders for high speed, zero backlash performance with micron level precision and repeatability.

The integrated linear and rotary design allows a low machine centre of gravity that reduces the potential for dynamic pitch error under rapid acceleration and reversal conditions - offering a vast performance improvement over separate linear and rotary stages.

Other benefits include superior productivity, higher rigidity, smoother motion with faster settling times, and consistently improved high quality of the laser machined part.

Available in two sizes for workpiece diameters up to 30 mm with a choice of 200mm or 300mm linear travel, the smaller LaserTurn 2 has an ER16 collet supporting tube and bars from 0.5mm to 10mm diameter.

The LaserTurn 5 has a larger width footprint and is available with options of an ER25 or ER40 collet for 0.5 to 16mm and 16mm to 30mm workpiece diameters respectively.

In addition the larger model may be fitted with a three-jaw gripper.

All workpiece handling may be pneumatically automated and includes a clear aperture for product feed through.

The linear stage includes a hard top design with side seals for full protection and the complete assembly is fully protected against laser machining debris.

As well as motor power and encoder wiring, pneumatics and customer specific cabling is routed through an e-chain cable management system with interfacing connectors provided.

This greatly simplifies machine design and commissioning time and ensures high reliability and a long maintenance-free life.

For custom fixtures such as workpiece alignment supports and automated material advance, the LaserTurn's front facing end-plate provides a tooling platform with a matrix of M6 holes on a 25mm square pattern.

As this tooling interface is an integral part of the linear stage, a common reference is guaranteed for maximum system stiffness.

An optional rear tooling platform may also be specified and customised mounting patterns or additional fixtures may be provided upon request.

With a choice of linear encoders, overall accuracy of +/-5 micron is achievable, alternatively a 'Halar' calibrated option provides for +/-1 micron accuracy over the full travel range.

Positional repeatability is within +/-0.5 micron and straightness and flatness is within a total deviation of +/-1 micron.

Maximum linear speeds are up to 2m/s.

For both models, rotary stage accuracy is +/-15 arc-sec with repeatability at +/-3 arc-sec for the smaller LaserTurn 2 and +/-6 arc-sec for the LaserTurn 5.

Axial and radial runout and wobble specifications correspond with the overall high precision of these assemblies and rated speeds for the smaller and larger models are 2000 rev/min and 600 rev/min respectively.

Complementing the performance capability of LaserTurn laser machining systems, Aerotech's A3200 Digital Automation Platform is a powerful PC based, software-only, machine control system combining a high-performance, 1 to 32 axis motion engine with decentralised digital servo drives interfaced via a high-speed Firewire network.

The A3200 has integrated machine control function modules such as HMI, Vision, soft PLC and a 10/100 Base-T Ethernet interface for third party I/O and PLCs.

It includes a wide range of advanced motion and machine control commands aimed at increasing and improving the finished quality and throughput performance for demanding applications.

An example is the acclaimed Position Synchronised Output or PSO command that maintains precise, 'on-the-fly' synchronisation of the laser's pulse, power level and firing pattern with the exact position of the multi-axis positioning system typically moving the work piece undergoing laser feature generation.

Aerotech are able to meet and often exceed a customers' performance requirements by providing engineered systems with fully tested and calibrated mechanical stages and associated control and drive equipment.

This reduces the overall cost of ownership when compared to individual design, purchase and assembly of motion control components.

Typical systems include all motor power and encoder cables plus performance and calibration related documents to help integrators with their own system documentation.

All motor parameter set-up data for system configuration is included, making commissioning straightforward.

These features are standard for every Aerotech product and with full product training and comprehensive on-line technical support, the true cost of ownership is extremely competitive.

Ultrafast laser micromachining system is the first of its kind in the UK and provides ultimate flexibility in laser processing as it can machine virtually any material with micron scale resolution.

Ultrafast Laser System For Micro and Nanotechnology Oxford Lasers announce the supply of key enabling technology to create the most advanced micro technology and nanotechnology manufacturing centre in the UK. An Oxford Lasers Ultrafast Laser Micromachining System will be employed in the MicroBridge Project at the Manufacturing Engineering Centre (MEC) in Cardiff, UK. The PicoLase 1000 system from Oxford Lasers features a state-of-the-art picosecond laser system with 532nm and 355nm harmonics and 12 axis motion control system.

It is the first of its kind in the UK and provides the ultimate flexibility in laser processing as it can machine virtually any material with micron scale resolution.

Special features of the system include dual beamline, automated trepanning systems and special micro-milling routines for ablating complex structures.

The system will be used for product miniaturisation and for developing future manufacturing platforms for the next generation of microsystems-based products.

The project will provide a vital resource for improving the effectiveness of UK industry by generating a critical mass of facilities and expertise that will underpin the development of microtechnologies beyond the ones that rely on conventional IC tools and materials The PicoLase 1000 is an enabling technology within the MicroBridge project at MEC which is part funded by the UK's DTI under the Micro and NanoTechnology Initiative with matched funding from the other industrial partners including Oxford Lasers and other funding from the Welsh Development Agency.

MicroBridge is a GBP 7 million, 5 year project to provide Facilities for Micro-Machining and Micro Fabrication of Non-Silicon Components.

This project extends the existing micro-manufacture facilities at the MEC and creates a much-enhanced 'bridging' capability for micro-machining and micro-fabrications in a range of materials not currently available in the UK.

In particular, the aim is to use picosecond laser ablation and focused ion-beam machining to bridge the existing 'machining gap' between classical precision micro-machining and the lithographic/direct write semiconductor patterning technologies.

The new facility will be commissioned in 2006 and will be one of nine open access facilities within the UK to promote the use of micro and nanotechnology and to provide specialist training alongside these unique facilities.

Oxford Lasers are a partner in the MicroBridge project and will be working closely with MEC through the 5 year project to develop and support picosecond laser-based microprocessing.

Laser system delivered to EBTEC has the capability to drill a wide range and size of parts and products range from sheet metal combustors to nozzle guide vanes.

Prima North America has announced that Laserdyne Systems, the world leader in precision multi-axis laser machining systems, delivered a Laserdyne 790XL BeamDirector Nd:YAG drilling system to EBTEC Corporation, Agawam, Massachusetts. Dr Paolo Cigna, president and CEO of PRIMA North America, announced the shipment saying the delivery was made to EBTEC to expand their capacity for laser drilling with the latest system technology. 'We are pleased to have the opportunity to provide this system to EBTEC, a pioneer in high energy beam processing.' stated Dr Cigna.

'EBTEC has over 40 years of experience providing parts for the aerospace, medical, defense, power generation and commercial industries.

We are grateful for their positive evaluation of our system technology and the Convergent P50L laser, another product of Prima North America.

Laserdyne products are in use in aerospace and turbine engine manufacturing sites around the world.' stated Dr Cigna.

EBTEC Corporation is owned by Aquasium Technology, Cambridge, England, and has been a supplier of electron beam welding and laser processing services to North American industry since 1963.

As an early user of these processes it has developed an expertise in the supply of difficult to weld and drill components.

According to John Leveille, president of EBTEC Corporation, the Laserdyne 790XL system was purchased as the first new laser system outlined in an equipment phase replacement plan.

The 790XL was chosen over other systems primarily for overall processing versatility.

The 790XL system is a 6-axis system with a 2m x 1m x 1m (40in x 40in x 40in) work envelope with a 25in diameter high accuracy rotary table and Laserdyne's latest software features including Optical Focus Control (OFC) and BreakThrough Detection.

OFC complements the 790 BeamDirector's patented Automatic Focus Control (AFC) and BreakThrough Detection has been shown to not only produce parts with a shorter cycle time but with a better flow consistency.

This will enhance EBTEC's capability to provide precision drilling of cooling holes in thermal barrier coated turbine engine components.

An additional feature of the EBTEC system is the ability to drill parts programmed for Laserdyne's new 450 systems on the 790 as a result of the Part Surface Coordinate, or PSC, programming feature of the Laserdyne control.

Laserdyne products have become the technology standard for the aerospace industry and are used in turbine engine manufacturing facilities across North America, Europe and Asia.

A laser galvo head control has been added to a software based motion and machine control platform to produce a single integrated development platform for laser applications.

Aerotech's PC based A3200 software machine control system combines 1 to 32 axes of Firewire distributed motion control with HMI, PLC and vision control modules and is now available with the Nmark galvo control package for vector and graphics based laser marking applications. OEMs and machine builders of laser marking systems are able to significantly reduce application development time and cost by controlling industry standard XY2-100 protocol galvo scanning heads and additional axes of servo based linear and rotary motion with other machine control functions within a single, integrated programming environment. Two versions of Nmark are available - the Nmark VCT (vector) suits vector laser marking applications where lines, arcs and circles define the marking path, and the Nmark GRC (graphic) is available for raster-scan based marking.

Both versions are supported with a comprehensive range of programming commands and parameters that are used in conjunction with the A3200 Digital Automation Platforms' powerful software to achieve complete control of multi-axis laser machining applications including marking 'on-the-fly' for continuous web processes and Z-focus height control for 3D processing.

All Nmark galvo motion and functional parameters can be controlled in synchronisation with motion and machine control commands directly from within the Automation 3200 program space, providing a single integrated program development environment for the complete application.

Galvo based laser marking provides a fast and convenient means of coding and identification, and is used extensively in the aerospace, automotive, industrial, and medical industries.

Galvo's can also be applied to other medium accuracy marking and machining applications such as micro-hole drilling and decorative work on a range of thin metal and non-metal substrates.

Aerotech's Nmark products use the industry standard XY2-100 serial protocol to communicate with galvo scanning heads from a wide range of manufacturers.

Aimed at laser marking, cutting, welding, sealing and ablation applications, the Nmark VCT is programmed from the A3200 in the industry standard RS-274 G-code language with Aerotech's own AeroBASIC command extensions for laser and I/O control.

As all major CAD/CAM suppliers support RS-274 output, a direct conversion path from CAD to galvo motion is available.

The Nmark VCT is used in conjunction with a PCI interface board and via a Windows DLL, is able to access all commands, status and diagnostic information from the galvo head in real time.

The Nmark GRC is targeted at applications such as barcoding, engraving, serialisation, and character scribing.

Laser marking projects are created using a simple Windows tool that is used to import and manipulate bitmaps, graphics and barcode images and store the resulting marking profile in a project file.

Straightforward AeroBASIC commands within the A3200 are used to download the file at run time and additional commands are available to manipulate the properties of objects such as text strings or barcode values during the marking process for serialisation applications.

Commands are also available to scale, rotate and change the orientation of the object.

Aerotech's A3200 Digital Automation Platform is a powerful PC based, software-only machine control system combining a high-performance, 1 to 32 axis motion engine with decentralised drives interfaced via Firewire with other machine control function modules such as HMI, Vision and soft PLC.

A 10/100 Base-T Ethernet interface is also available to add third party I/O and PLCs for a completely integrated solution.

Typically used with Aerotech's extensive range of high performance direct-drive, linear and rotary positioning stages and digital servo drives, the A3200 based motion and machine control system includes a wide range of advanced motion and machine control commands aimed at increasing and improving the finished quality and throughput performance for demanding applications.

Laser engraver performs deep engraving direct from 3D CAD models on workpieces up to 500mm3, including cutting complete tool cavities, adding fine detail, textures, logos or producing electrodes.

To accommodate the first ever UK exhibition for the FOBA Laser Engraving machine Kaye-Dee have had to move to the larger C52 stand Hall 3 at the forthcoming PDM show. Centrepiece will be the G5 Laser Engraver demonstrating its capability of deep engraving direct from 3D CAD models. You can engrave work pieces up to 500mm3 and applications include cutting complete tool cavities, adding fine detail, textures, logos or producing electrodes in copper or graphite.

Kaye-Dee invites you to come and see how you can totally transform your mould and tool manufacture with this equipment.

In addition to the G5 there will also be a second FOBA laser showing you its expertise of marking a wide range of materials using fibre laser technology.

As the market leaders in the pad printing industry we will also be displaying the exceptional Teca-Print pad printing machines.

On show will be the TP printer series designed with the operator in mind, equipped with sealed ink pot system and extended pad stroke to allow mouldings to be printed in either a fixed jig position or whilst being indexed on a production line.

Also on show will be the TPX 100 Open Ink Well System with touch screen control panel, easy learn logic and an extremely user friendly programming menu.

Next to this state of the art machine will be a working 30 year old TC70 unit highlighting the quality and value for money you get from this precision Swiss manufactured equipment.

To ensure you get the best print on your product we can also advise on pad and screen printing inks from the extensive Ruco ink range.

This includes the new T40 ink with excellent opacity and no harmful cyclohexanone or hydrocarbonates.

Another addition to our collection of marking equipment and on show is the new range of Hot Foil machines.

With an extensive model range manufactured to the height of British excellence, automation and a wide range of accessories, foils and dies Kaye-Dee can accommodate your every hot foil requirement.

We look forward to you visiting our stand so we can help make your marking requirements simple, reliable, cost effective and most importantly allow you to achieve the ultimate marking perfection! Written invitations will follow for your personal attention shortly.

A 400W laser power source for a major OEM manufacturer of medical equipment and features a 60A constant current source and can drive up to 35W CW laser diodes.

UK Power supply specialist, Ferrus Power, has demonstrated its extensive design capability by developing a new 400W laser power source for a major OEM manufacturer of medical equipment. Featuring a 60A constant current source and nominal voltage of 2V DC the product can drive up to 35W CW laser diodes. In addition a TEC output rated at 250W/25V DC is provided with reversible polarity for driving external peltier devices for diode cooling or heating.

Laser and TEC current is controlled via 0-10V DC external programming in each case.

Current monitoring for both laser and TEC is provided in 0-10V DC format with voltage monitoring proportional to output.

For safety purposes a further laser interlock control offers beam attenuation and shuts down the laser output to meet the requirements of 21 CFR 1040.10.

Signal and control connections are via 16W IDC whilst laser and TEC are via high current screw terminal block.

The need for an external power supply to drive ancillary microprocessor control circuitry is removed as the product also features low voltage outputs of +5V DC,+/-15V DC and 24V DC via six-way 0.156in header.

The product is suitable for worldwide applications and offers universal mains input operation of 90 - 264V AC with active power factor correction to meet the line harmonic distortion requirements of EN61000-3-2 class D.

The product is currently undergoing medical approvals testing to EN60601-1.

Ferrus has the capability to design and manufacture similar products to suit the laser and opto-electronics industry and would welcome enquiries.

A flexible, modular robot system for 3D laser processing offers high productivity and availability thanks to short programming times and guarantees a uniformly high workpiece quality.

For the first time Trumpf presented itself at euroblech as the manufacturer of a robot welding cell, the TruLaser Robot 5020. From the laser beam source to the safety enclosure, from the peripherals to the integration expertise - all the required know-how has been brought together in one spot. Only the standard robot continues to be an outside product.

It comes from KUKA.

The complete solution TruLaser Robot 5020 from Trumpf is a flexible robot solution for 3D processing.

The TruLaser Robot 5020 distinguishes itself with high productivity and availability thanks to short programming times.

In addition, the robot solution guarantees a uniformly high quality in the workpieces.

Its modular, standardized design allows the TruLaser Robot 5020 to be individually expanded or delivered ready for operation according to the user's requirements.

At EuroBLECH, Trumpf offered several innovations for the TruLaser Robot 5020.

Functionalities such as electrical cabinet, cable channels, suction lines, lighting and safety devices are integrated into the new, cost-optimized safety enclosure.

It is easy to connect several enclosures.

More sophisticated welding optics with minimized interference contour or a new collision protection using a magnetic coupler embody the innovations specifically, like the optimized shielding gas supply.

An observation camera with crosshairs is also available for moving in the workpieces.

The automatic adjustment of the focussing orientation is a special feature: It is now possible for the first time to switch between deep welding and thermal conduction welding in a single processing cycle.

Oxford Lasers, a provider of laser-based solutions for micromachining and imaging-based instrumentation, has been wholly acquired by its management team.

Oxford Lasers, a provider of laser-based solutions for micromachining and imaging-based instrumentation, has been wholly acquired by its management team. This follows a very successful period when sales have grown by over 60% in 12 months and the company has completely updated its product line. New products include the advanced PicoLase micromachining system recently installed at the Manufacturing Engineering Centre, Cardiff, UK and the industry proven ProbeDrill series.

Previously the company was majority owned by private equity backers but following the new deal, the management team now owns 100% of the equity.

John Baker, Chief Executive of Oxford Lasers said, 'We are absolutely delighted.

The company has an outstanding range of new products and services and we are ideally positioned to supply a complete range of laser solutions to our customers.

We have had one of the most successful periods in the company's history and have clear plans to continue this strong growth.' Oxford Lasers was founded in 1977 by a team of Oxford physicists in order to exploit the significant advances in laser technology made by Professor Colin Webb's research group at the university.

In recent years the company has become a world leader in using advanced laser techniques in commercial applications.

Its goal is to supply complete technical solutions to its customers in the areas of precision laser micromachining and high speed imaging of small particles.

Oxford Lasers is based in Didcot UK and Boston, USA.

It has a wide distribution network in other countries, notably Japan.

The company designs and manufactures imaging systems using a light source, usually a laser, a camera and software to give a complete package for making quantitative measurements of small particle or droplets.

The company has introduced a revolutionary solid-state laser illuminator for flow and motion analysis which, together with specially designed software packages, enables large amounts of data to be obtained and analysed quickly and efficiently.

Oxford Lasers Imaging systems produce size, velocity and acceleration data for powders and sprays of micron sized particles moving at high speed.

They also provide information on plume geometry and spray pattern.

The company offers a comprehensive range of standard qualitative and quantitative imaging systems for research and industry.

The range of systems includes: VisiSizer - which uses image analysis to measure particle and droplet size; VisiVector - a PIV (particle image velocimetry) system with 3D capability; VisiWeld - for the analysis of welding processes and Envision for characterizing spray pattern and geometry.

THE INDUSTRIAL DIVISION: Oxford Lasers has three main sectors within this Division.

Laser Systems - the company offers a comprehensive range of standard micomachining systems covering; industrial development and pilot production; continuous volume production; and advanced RandD in commercial or academic environments.

All of these are based on the company's expertise in light sources, optics, ablation processes and system integration.

As an example of an advanced RandD system, the latest PicoLase system features 532nm and 355nm output, high power picosecond pulses and 12 axis motion control.

In addition the company designs bespoke systems where there is a particular customer requirement.

Sub Contract Micro Machining.

- the company offers a micromachining service to support customers RandD and production programmes, The company's expertise can frequently dramatically accelerate these projects and allow laser micromachining to be used where volumes do not justify the capital cost of a laser system.

Field Service - with its extensive range of laser system skills the company offers a range support services to customers on their own site including, maintenance plans, training and system upgrades.

Based on a Nd:YAG laser marking system, an effective deep engraving system, is far more versatile and gives much faster cycle times than traditional engraving methods.

Deep engraving using a laser-based machine is now possible, giving reduced production time, less scrap, improved engraving accuracy and greater profitability. Electrox, one of few fully integrated laser marking manufacturers and the only one in the UK, has developed a laser-based system for deep engraving. Based on the proven Scriba lamp pumped Nd:YAG laser marking system, to create an effective deep engraving system, it is far more versatile and gives much faster cycle times and therefore greater productivity than traditional engraving methods.

Metal removal rates are up to 12mm3/min.

The system has been developed by Electrox's Letchworth-based research and development engineers in response to demand from customers, particularly those in the mould, tool and electronics industry.

The laser system ensures minimal material recast.

All types of metal, including hard materials such as tools steels and soft materials such as aluminium can all be engraved using the Electrox system.

Metal removal rates are up to 12mm3/min (in 2D contours) and the removal rate can be adjusted to remove between 2 and 10 micron per pass.

The laser-based system is a contact free means of metal processing so can be used on a wider range of components easily, including components where surface finish could be damaged by clamping systems, those which can be distorted and those which are difficult to hold.

It uses an amplified beam of light, focussed on a very small spot, to create a wide variety of images including alpha-numeric codes and all types of graphics including logos.

The new Electrox system uses the company's proprietary, intuitive software, the result of over 60-man years development.

It is compatible with all current versions of Windows and can import a wide range of graphic file formats, generate bar codes, two dimensional codes and data codes as well as perform automatic serialisation, conduct merges with data from external sources and control up to four axes of motion.

No swarf is produced to cause wear.

In addition, no coolants or dielectrics are necessary.

Health and safety considerations are minimised because there are no hazardous materials such as acids or solvents involved in the process and the vaporised material can be extracted locally to reduce dust and contaminants.

The system has USB communications, a galvo beam scanning system, DSP Galvo drives and a range of scan lenses which, along with all the electronics and the software, have been developed in-house by Electrox engineers.

A hand-held console facilitates control of the laser and can hold up to 64 previously downloaded marking files.

An LCD display provides access to saved files as well as showing the status of the laser and comprehensive diagnostics.

The new deep engraving laser system is the latest in a long line of innovative laser-based systems from Electrox, all designed and developed to enhance its customer's productivity and ease of manufacturing.

Known for its innovative and proactive product development programme, the company also provides second-to-none service and support for its customers.

General manager, Howard Moore, said 'Customers made us aware that deep engraving could cause a log-jam in production and was fraught with potential problems.

As with other production problems, our design and application engineers have developed a solution accommodating the requirements of our customers for a fast, productive, versatile and easy to use deep engraving system.

The new system is typical of our product range - created to the highest standards using the very latest technology in order to meet a perceived customer need efficiently and at a realistic cost.'