SPD News | Blogs

Precision Glass Micromachining: Where Innovation Meets Transparency In an age where miniaturization defines progress, glass has emerged as a material of choice for engineers, scientists, and designers seeking precision, durability, and chemical stability. Yet, machining glass with micron-scale accuracy has long been one of the industry’s toughest challenges. Traditional methods such as mechanical drilling, etching, or grinding often leave chips, cracks, or surface stress that compromise both function and yield. That’s where our advanced laser microfabrication and micromachining services come in. Partnering with two of the world’s most capable technology providers, our team offers contract manufacturing, rapid prototyping, and production solutions that deliver clean, accurate, and repeatable features in virtually any type of glass. The Power of Ultrafast Laser Micromachining Our principals use cutting-edge femtosecond laser systems — ultrafast, non-thermal tools that modify materials at the molecular level. Glass laser cutting & dicing: Smooth, chip-free edges on glass thicknesses from 30 µm to 3 mm. Micro-drilling: Circular or square holes down to 20 µm; aspect ratios up to 1:100; positional accuracy ±3 µm. Complex geometries: Blind vias, through holes, multi-depth channels with zero taper and ultra-smooth sidewalls (Ra < 1 µm). Metalized glasses: Process coated layers such as Au, Pt,

Guide to Laser Micromachining In the ever-evolving landscape of manufacturing, precision is not just a goal; it’s a necessity. One technology that stands at the forefront of achieving microscopic precision is laser micromachining. In this article, we will delve into the intricacies of laser micromachining, exploring its technology, applications, and the pivotal role it plays in pushing the boundaries of precision manufacturing.   Understanding Laser Micromachining At its core, laser micromachining is a highly advanced and precise material processing technique that utilizes lasers to create intricate patterns or structures on a variety of materials. Unlike traditional machining methods, laser micromachining operates on a microscopic scale, allowing for unparalleled precision and accuracy in the manufacturing process.   Technology Overview Laser micromachining leverages the focused energy of lasers to selectively remove or modify material. The choice of laser technology depends on the specific requirements of the application. For instance, ultrafast lasers, such as femtosecond lasers, are ideal for applications requiring minimal heat impact, ensuring precision in heat-sensitive materials like polymers or biological tissues. The precision in laser micromachining is further enhanced by advanced optics and control systems. These systems enable precise control over the laser beam, ensuring that the material is removed

The demand for smaller and more intricate products and components, driven largely by the medical device and consumer electronics industries, has encouraged the development of advanced micromachining systems capable of meeting the needs of these and other high-tech product markets. Laser micromachining systems incorporating ultrashort pulse femtosecond lasers are meeting these manufacturing challenges thanks to the ability to machine a wide variety of materials at high speed with submicron accuracy and little or no thermal damage. Metals and metal alloys Ceramics Polymers Carbon fibers Glass & sapphire Optical fibers Thin films Delicate materials like Nitinol and PLLA And more The ultrashort pulse length and high peak power vaporizes material before heat can transmit into the part, thus preventing unacceptable functional or cosmetic changes to the material, including delicate or brittle materials. The final part quality is such that no post-processing, such as polishing, is required. Whatever the micromachining task – cutting, welding, drilling, marking, ablation, or some combination thereof – a femtosecond laser micromachining system will do the job accurately, rapidly, and economically. The combination of precision, quality, and processing speed makes femtosecond laser micromachining the process of choice for the manufacture of complex parts and components. Do you have

Laser welding has applications in virtually every industry, as it offers numerous benefits including fast welding speeds, short weld cycles, low heat affected zones (HAZ), and minimal distortion. Laser welding is a fast and efficient non-contact method of joining similar or dissimilar materials, requiring access to the weld area from one side only. Since no physical forces are applied in the laser welding process, a much wider range of materials can be joined than with competing welding processes. Laser welding machines are used extensively in the manufacture of implantable medical devices and components. Medical implants such as pacemakers, defibrillators, and spinal cord stimulators require smooth hermetic welds that are easily achieved with laser welding. Laser welding is the technology of choice for high technology applications where speed, exceptional accuracy, and high reliability are critical requirements. Laser Micro Welding Transparent Materials Laser micro-welding enables joining a wide range of transparent materials with transparent and non-transparent materials, like glass-to-glass and glass-to-metal. No bonding materials are required for laser welding, resulting in reduced costs and increased durability. After material resolidification, strong covalent bonds are formed, providing high stability of the joined parts. Dissimilar glasses can be welded with breaking strengths in the range

Laser marking offers a unique combination of speed, accuracy, performance, repeatability, and versatility that cannot be matched by any other marking or product identification method. Because it is a non-contact process, laser marking can be used on parts whose surfaces would be damaged by competing technologies such as hot stamping, dot peen marking, and pad transfer printing. Laser marking can be accurately applied on a much wider range of part surfaces and part geometries than competing technologies, including smooth, textured, flat, contoured, cylindrical, spherical, and complex shaped parts. Laser marking is an environmentally friendly process, as it requires no inks or solvents that are required for pad printing and screen printing, and no acids as are required for chemical etching. Because there are no consumables required, and no environmentally unfriendly materials to be disposed of, laser marking is a cost-effective process. Although the initial investment in a laser marking system can be more than for some competing marking equipment, the payback period is typically less than one year. Content that can be laser printed includes anything that can be programmed into a computer, from: Logos Photographic Images Serial Numbers, 2D Codes, UID Codes and Bar Codes. The print quality is