Bespoke 3D lasers to add extra precision to manufacturing
3D lasers tailored for specific manufacturing processes are to be developed in a £586,000 project led by researchers at the National Robotarium.
Lasers are used widely by industry to produce precise incisions and mould materials into specific shapes.
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According to the National Robotarium, this approach to laser-based manufacturing depends on melting or vaporising the material, which requires the laser’s energy to be focussed on the right points. The standard laser beam shape makes it difficult to tailor this for specific manufacturing processes, decreasing efficiency and limiting what can be made.
The EPSRC-funded research will develop laser beams which have been specifically designed to meet the exact manufacturing requirements of products, which will improve efficiency and precision.
"This is cutting-edge technology in every sense of the phrase,” Iain Stewart, UK government minister for Scotland said in a statement. “These 3D lasers are set to unlock previously unheard of levels of precision and so transform our manufacturing and medical technology industries, boosting the UK's global reputation for innovation and attracting jobs and further investment.”
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