Laser Institute of America

Laser structured strain gauges can be used for exact measurement of forces at critical points, such as for highly stressed tooling machines or complex 3-D workpieces. Currently, the Laser Zentrum Hannover (LZH) is developing sensor structures using ultrashort laser pulses, with the goal of making the production of high-quality thin-film strain gauges economically attractive for small and middle-sized batches. (more…)

Newport Corporation, a worldwide leader in lasers and photonics solutions that Make, Manage and Measure Light^®, introduced a new table-top vibration isolation platform designed specifically for sensitive instrumentation and microscopes.  The VIBe, vibration isolation baseplate, is a compact, effective and easy-to-use platform that significantly reduces vibrations that can disturb sensitive instruments.  The VIBe is available in four standard shapes, two rectangular and two triangular, that have been designed to satisfy the widest range of application needs.  All VIBe units feature a black powder-coated steel plate and patented mechanical isolators that provide both vertical and horizontal vibration isolation, there are no air lines, compressors or other accessories needed to provide effective isolation performance. (more…)

Are you new to laser applications and looking to gain insight that can’t be gained in a book or technical manual?  Or are you a “laser jock” who can share years of experience using lasers in applications from micro-machining to chemical analysis?  In either case, you’ll want to join the Laser Institute of America’s newly forming DC/Baltimore Metro area chapter. The four annual local meetings will be a unique opportunity to meet and network with end users, manufacturers of lasers and related products, safety officers and researchers. In the DC area, we have special access to government labs, and the agencies that influence the future of laser technology. (more…)

Up to now it was not possible to use Selective Laser Melting (SLM) on copper alloys. Now, however, research scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT have solved the technical problems that prevented this by enhancing the technique. The new method opens up new possibilities, for instance in plastics processing. (more…)

Spectra-Physics^®, a Newport Corporation brand, introduces the Spitfire Ace, the most technically-advanced, ultrafast regenerative amplifier commercially available.  The Spitfire Ace amplifier sets a new industry standard for guaranteed long-term performance, and delivers superior average power of more than 5W at 1, 5, and 10 kHz with excellent (M² <1.3) beam quality.  The new, highly stable ultrafast amplifier is ideal for pumping multiple optical parametric amplifier (OPA) systems and performing a wide range of ultrafast nonlinear spectroscopy science.

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Coherent Inc. has launched a new family of highly integrated lasers featuring true plug-and-play simplicity. Based on direct diode and optically pumped semiconductor laser (OPSL) technologies and using state-of-the-art miniaturized components, these lasers have all the control functions integrated inside its compact laser head, in contrast to the traditional architecture of head, dedicated cable and controller. Ranging in power up to 100 mW, the initial product offering includes models at seven wavelengths from the UV through near-IR: 375 nm, 405 nm, 445 nm, 488 nm, 640 nm, 660 nm, and 785 nm, all with a circular TEM₀₀ output beam. And the inherent wavelength scalability of OPSL technology will enable new wavelengths to be developed as driven by market demand (more…)

The International Conference on Laser Processes and Components will be held for the sixth time from March 15-16, 2011 in conjunction with the exhibition Laser – World of Photonics China, Shanghai. (more…)

Stephen Capp is the Laser Institute of America’s (LIA) 2011 president. Capp graduated from the Milwaukee School of Engineering in 1978 with degrees in electrical power engineering technology and industrial management. It didn’t take him long to put this education to good use.

“After a short career as an engineer working for a defense contractor, I started in the laser industry in 1979 when my father and I started Laserage. In the beginning, I did everything from laser repair to running the product on the laser prior to taking on a management role as the company grew,” he said.

Today, Capp is CEO of Laserage Technology Corporation and has worked in the laser industry for over 30 years. Laserage, based in Waukegan, Ill., is an international supplier of laserprocessed materials and is now one of the largest laser job shops in the U.S. Laserage, an ISO 9001-2008 and ISO 13485 registered company, specializes in cutting, drilling and welding of a wide variety of materials.

“We currently have about 150 people operating 70 lasers of many different types, and the largest growing market for the company is the medical device industry.” (more…)

Spectra-Physics^®, a Newport Corporation Brand, announces the company is celebrating 50 years of pioneering new laser technologies, products and solutions for industry and science.  Notably, the company became the first commercial laser company in 1961, less than a year after the invention of the laser.  Spectra-Physics will begin the celebration of this milestone year at SPIE’s Photonics West, January 25-27, 2011. (more…)

Femtosecond laser opens up a wide range of applications in micro and macro areas thanks to a previously not attained mean output power of 1.1 kW.

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT have developed an amplification concept for femtosecond lasers (fs laser). As a result, they have been able to achieve mean power in the kilowatt range for the first time. The short pulses of the fs laser enable ultraprecise material processing. Thanks to the high mean power, the throughput in production can be increased significantly. (more…)