Autor: Frank Vollertsen

As a result of economic and production-orientated advantages, laser sources have established in a wide range of manufacturing engineering in the last 30 years. In particular, due to the possibility of realising small focus diameters for material processing applications, the laser is one of the most important tools in micro technology. In this contribution, fundamental methods of laser micro processing are presented. In this context, well-established as well as nascent technologies are described. Concluding, a view on the market potential of laser-based manufacturing processes in micro technology is given.

Micro-forming presses are barely to find at the market, especially if it comes apart from high precision and high dynamic to free stroke and force control. The Bremer Institut für angewandte Strahltechnik has developed and built such a press, which is additionally featured with double axis, high stroke and air bearings for high precision force measurement and control.

New concepts in the field of solid state lasers with output powers up to several kW, which are close to the introduction to industry, in combination with fast or modular handling units, open up a wide range of new applications within the field of laser material processing. Beside production-technological aspects, such as high output power and good beam quality, the new laser concepts offer economical advantages compared to conventional solid state lasers due to their high energy efficiency of more than 20 %.