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FRAUNHOFER INSTITUTE FOR LASER TECHNOLOGY ILT

EditorsDipl.-Phys. Axel Bauer | Leader of Marketing and Communication | Telephone +49 241 8906-194 | [email protected] Nolis M.A. | PR Consultant | Telephone +49 241 8906-662 | [email protected] Institute for Laser Technology ILT | Steinbachstraße 15 | 52074 Aachen | www.ilt.fraunhofer.de

PRESS RELEASEApril 29, 2013 || | 5

Using Computer Simulation to Achieve Optimal Results in Laser Material Processing Quickly and Efficiently

At this year’s LASER World of Photonics in Munich, Germany from May 13 to 16, the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT will be showing how findings won from computer simulation can be used to optimize manufacturing processes and products. This requires, in particular, the introduction of new technologies such as the ultra-short pulse laser technology. At its joint stand 330 in Hall C2, the Fraunhofer Institute will be showing, among others, a prototype of the youngest generation of polygon scanners to guide beams and new optical systems, which put the “horsepower of USP” on the street. Furthermore, visitors can get to know the revolutionary potential of “Digital Photonic Production” at the special stand, 340 in Hall C2, on this topic.

Simulation and Modelling for Laser Material Processing

Plant manufacturers and end users of laser processing machines typically aim to optimize the manufacturing processes regarding precision, reliability, as well as the time, material and costs involved. To do this, they need exact information of process-relevant variables from which they can derive concrete measures. Especially with laser manufacturing processes, important process variables can be measured only poorly or not at all in the few micrometers of the process zone due to the small dimensions or the very high temperatures.

Becoming Automatic and Cost-efficient: Looking Inside To optimize laser processes, engineers are employing computer simulations more and more often. These enable them to “look into” the process and – in comparison to experiments – simulations can be more easily automated as well as being more cost-efficient. Moreover, in such

PRESS RELEASE




simulations, deviations and measurement inaccuracies can be not only excluded, but also can be specifically taken into account. This way, key positions can be found, problems recognized early and, thus, solved. For around twenty years, a twelve-member team of highly specialized scientists at the Fraunhofer ILT has been working solely on the computer-supported simulation of laser processes. At their disposal is a high-performance cluster of computers, which was set up on the Fraunhofer premises within the scope of the “Center for Nanophotonics” in 2010. This way, the experts in Aachen can simulate complex questions from laser-material processing with high resolution in the briefest computing time and derive concrete approaches to solutions from this information. When lasers are used to cut display glass, for example, simulation of the processes can both increase the ablation speed as well as prevent damages to the glass.

Simulated Processes: Application Examples at the LASER World of PhotonicsOn account of the systematic findings from the simulations, the ILT experts can contribute significantly to the product and process development of their industrial partners. At the LASER World of Photonics they will be presenting five examples of this kind of successful cooperation. Among these belong simulating the laser processes of cutting display glass with ultra-short pulse lasers for TRUMPF Laser Technology, the water-guided laser cutting for SYNOVA as well as the optimization of metal cutting for TRUMPF Machine Tools. Thanks to the findings of the computer simulations, the Fraunhofer ILT was able to optimize laser beam sources for ROFIN-SINAR. In the sector of product optimization, free-form lens prototypes were calculated for the automotive supplier HELLA.

Using USP Lasers Economically with Beam Guidance

Ultra-short pulse laser systems are achieving new records almost daily regarding laser power and pulse rates. And yet in the power range of 50 to 1,000 watts, only a small part of the energy they have can be used effectively for many applications. If the laser power is too high when it is coupled into the workpiece at the processing point, bulges from the melting effects occur due to the high thermal load, leading to poor processing results. Now, the research work at the Fraunhofer ILT is looking at making the high power of USP lasers useful for material processing: for example, by dividing the laser beam into several individual beams, which then can process the component simultaneously.




This multi-beam technique is used, among others, to generate periodic microstructures.

Planar Ablation at the Speed of SoundA further approach to using the high laser power exists in guiding the laser at high speeds. To achieve this, ILT scientists have developed a polygon scanner system: in it, a polygon mirror rotates at a high, constant revolution and guides the beam along a line on the workpiece. As the laser beam is guided along this line at the speed of sound, the high laser power is distributed evenly along the work piece. An axis perpendicular to this line moves the workpiece so that the area to be processed is clamped. The polygon scanner has a maximum aperture of 20 mm and reaches scanning speeds of up to 360 m/s at a focal length of 163 mm. Thus, it is able to process a surface area of 100 x 100 mm2 with a lateral resolution of 20 µm in 3 seconds. To generate 2.5 D structures, the material is ablated layer by layer at a depth resolution of up to 100 nm. In comparison to this new polygon scanner, galvanic meter scanners with comparable apertures are typically used at scanning speeds of 1-5 m/s. Currently, researchers at the Fraunhofer ILT have succeeded in gating the laser, according to the position of the polygon motor and the workpiece axis, at up to 40 MHz; this way, the work piece is processed at the right location. The challenge facing engineers for future developments of the polygon scanner consist in modulating the laser power corresponding to this precise gate signal, since current laser modulators can be operated at a maximum pulse repetition rate of 2 MHz.

Live Presentation at the LASER World of Photonics. This scanning technology is particularly suitable for processing surfaces, since the workpiece is processed in lines. The polygon scanner system can be employed, in particular, for the structuring of printing and coining plates, as well as injection molds, for the generation of light guiding structures in the lighting industry or for leather grain structures in the automobile and textile industries. Further applications are the cutting of high performance ceramics including structures of form-fit bonds as well as wafer processing in the solar and semi-conductor industry. The process can also be transferred to spatial thin film processing for roll-to-roll processing. At the LASER World of Photonics, experts of the Fraunhofer ILT will be presenting the polygon scanning technology by making metallic business cards.

Digital Photonic Production DPP




“Digital Photonic Production” is the name for the laser-based generation of components or products in nearly any complexity from digital data. The technology ranges from generative processes all the way to high-power ultra-short pulse laser for micro-processing. In contrast to conventional manufacturing processes, the tool “light” can be used to manufacture the smallest lot sizes as well as complex components of the smallest dimensions from the most differing materials and it can do this cost effectively. That is why many speak of a “new technological revolution” in connection with this technology. At Stand 340 in Hall C2, the Fraunhofer Institute will be demonstrating, jointly with the Chair for Laser Technology ILT of the RWTH Aachen University, the enormous potential of DPP using selected examples from the automobile, aviation and aerospace sectors, energy technology, ultra-light construction and medical technology as well as in the consumer sector.

Press Tour at Fraunhofer Stand

Tuesday, 14 May 2013 11:00 - 12:00 h LASER World of PHOTONICS 2013 Hall B2, Stand 421 and Hall C2, Stand 330

Under the motto “Customized Solutions,” the Fraunhofer researchers will be showing new developments from laser technology. Highlights include polygon scanner systems, 3D object recognition, ultra-flat microscopes, 3D high speed measuring as well as an innovative compact processing head for laser wire cladding. The press tour begins at 11:00 a.m. in Hall B2 at Stand 421 displaying production technology for optics and ends in Hall C2 at Stand 330 with laser systems for manufacturing. At lunch, which follows directly thereafter, visitors will have the opportunity to discuss these innovations with the scientists.

Lecture languages: German and English (with interpretation)

Picture:Computer Simulation for Cutting of Display Glass. Source: Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen.




The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is the leading organization for applied research and development in Europe. Under its leadership, 66 institutes work at locations all over Germany. More than 22,000 employees work with an annual research volume of 1.9 billion euros. From this 1.6 billion euros fall under contracted research. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft generates over 70 percent of these services from contracts from industry and publicly funded research projects. International branch offices ensure contact to the most important current and future scientific and economic sectors.

Contact PartnersDr. Jens Schüttler | Simulation and Modeling | Telephone +49 241 8906-680 | [email protected]. Wolfgang Schulz | Leader of the Department of Non-linear Dynamics of the Laser Manufacturing Process NLDTelephone +49 241 8906-204 | [email protected]. Oliver Nottrodt | Process Control and System Technology | Telephone +49 241 8906-625 | [email protected] Abels | Group Leader Process Control and System Technology | Telephone +49 241 8906-428 | [email protected] Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT, Aachen | www.ilt.fraunhofer.de

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