Ultrashort Pulse Laser Processing

Overview

Our range of services

Since ultrashort pulsed (USP) laser radiation is characterized by both short light-matter interaction times and high intensities, it can be used for precise and almost material-independent laser material processing with negligible heat input into the workpiece. This means that difficult-to-process materials such as carbides, ceramics and glasses can be processed with high precision.

Fraunhofer ILT develops USP beam sources that provide application-specific optimized wavelengths, powers or pulse frequencies. USP laser radiation is used for structuring of surfaces, drilling and cutting of precision components or selective thin-film ablation. Different processes can be used, for example, to achieve precise drilling diameters in the micrometer range or particularly high drilling rates. Furthermore, since the process has such low heat input and, thus, prevents melt films from forming, it can generate structure sizes down to the sub-micrometer range. In addition, composite materials such as carbon fiber-reinforced materials can be processed without wear of the tool and with low heat input into the matrix material. By developing high performance USP lasers with medium power up to the multi-kilowatt range, Fraunhofer ILT helping to scale the developed processes and thereby significantly reduce processing time.

The range of services offered by Fraunhofer ILT includes feasibility studies, experimental investigations, simulations, development of system components, validation of plant concepts, and the implementation of machine concepts.

Chromatically confocal 3D image of pyramid structure enhanced with ps-laser radiation.
© Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen, Germany.
Chromatically confocal 3D image of pyramid structure enhanced with ps-laser radiation.
Multibeam ablation.
© Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen, Germany.
Multibeam ablation.
Different geometries produced by selective laser-induced etching.
© Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen, Germany.
Different geometries produced by selective laser-induced etching.

Laser Ablation

  • Laser ablation of a wide range of materials (metals, ceramics, plastics, glasses, composites) with high precision and low melt formation
  • Production of tools and tool inserts
  • Production of functional surfaces for alteration of wettability, friction behavior and optical properties.
  • Structure sizes < 1 µm at surface precisions below 200 nm

Laser Drilling

  • Precision drilling with diameters > 30 µm at drilling depth of up to 2 mm
  • Microdrilling with hole diameters < 1 µm

Three-dimensional Volume Structuring

  • Manufacturing of waveguides in transparent materials
  • Micro-machining by selective etching

Multiphoton-Polymerization

  • Fabrication of three-dimensional polymer microstructures with lateral resolutions < 1 µm

Available Laser Systems

>30 (ultra) short pulse lasers with various parameter combinations

  • Wavelength: 248 nm - 1064 nm
  • Pulse duration: 100 fs - 100 ns
  • Pulse energy: <= 10 mJ
  • Average power <= 1 kW

Learn More

Our brochures offer a quick view onto our service portfolio. Find more detailed information in the “project results“ tab.

Video: Stifterverband Prize for Multi-beam Laser Processing

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The ultra-short pulse laser is seeing ever wider acceptance among industrial users as a tool for precision manufacturing. In particular, these advances are due to new developments or technological progress in system technology, which increase productivity considerably. Increasing productivity significantly was also the goal of a team from industry and research, which was awarded the Science Prize of the Stifterverband for Collaborative Research at the annual conference of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft on October 9, 2020. The team has developed a technology in which a laser beam is split into up to 16 partial beams. That means there are 16 tools controlled in parallel and individually to produce functional surfaces.

Video: A new generation of high-power ultrafast lasers for industry and research

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In the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Advanced Photon Sources CAPS, 13 Fraunhofer Institutes bundle their expertise for the development of laser systems that reach highest powers with ultrashort pulses and the exploration of their application potentials. The Fraunhofer Institutes for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen and for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF in Jena contribute their competence in the development of high-power ultrafast lasers, which is combined in the cluster with the expertise of other Fraunhofer Institutes in the fields of systems technology and applications. 

Partners from industry and research are invited to participate and use the new laser systems in the application laboratories in Aachen and Jena for their innovations.

Markets

Laser technology can solve demanding tasks in many different industries. Whether as a tool in automotive production, as measuring equipment in the environmental sector, as a diagnostic or therapeutic instrument in medical technology or as a communication medium in space technology, the laser provides multiple uses with high productivity and high efficiency.

Read up about the innovations of the Fraunhofer ILT in a few selected industries and convince yourself!

 

Research with us!

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about general topics! Our contact persons are happy to get in touch with you.