Paul Boughton
Precision Micro says that the essence of Laser Evolved Micromachining is the ability to combine laser technology's ultra precision with the scale economies offered by other precision manufacturing processes, namely advanced electroforming and photo etching. The company has developed two new process routes that are said to be capable of creating true and precise micro components or component features in prototype to high-volume quantities. One of the advantages is that increased complexity does not incur a cost penalty.
The high definition and precision of these new process routes takes the company's manufacturing capabilities, already in the ultra high precision range, firmly into the realms of true micro manufacturing.
Precision Micro's Laser Evolved Etching Process (Leep) incorporates laser technology in the precision etching process. Laser Direct Imaging (LDI) gives the process the capability to create highly accurate micro components, with both fine features and high complexity, to exceptionally tight tolerances measured in microns.
The technology completely eliminates the need for traditional phototools and further streamlines the manufacturing operation. Feature alignment is exceptionally precise and the higher resolution exposure guarantees that edges are sharper and more precisely defined. It is now possible to create micro channels in the 25-micron range - features that were once only possible using more expensive micro laser or advanced electroforming techniques - with a four-fold improvement in pitch accuracy across an 800mm x 600mm sheet.
Photo-electroforming is very effective when requirements call for extreme tolerances, complexity or light weight. Parts created in this way have superior edge definition and a near-optical finish with fine feature limits being defined by the photographically produced pattern on the substrate. By direct imaging the pattern on the substrate (using advanced LDI) far tighter tolerances can be maintained and features smaller than 15 microns can be achieved with high repeatability and excellent process control. Laser Evolved Electroforming (Leef) facilitates higher levels of complexity at tighter tolerances, with features finer than can be achieved by conventional photo-electroforming, without the use of prohibitively expensive glass master tooling.
For more information, visit www.precisionmicro.com
The high definition and precision of these new process routes takes the company's manufacturing capabilities, already in the ultra high precision range, firmly into the realms of true micro manufacturing.
Precision Micro's Laser Evolved Etching Process (Leep) incorporates laser technology in the precision etching process. Laser Direct Imaging (LDI) gives the process the capability to create highly accurate micro components, with both fine features and high complexity, to exceptionally tight tolerances measured in microns.
The technology completely eliminates the need for traditional phototools and further streamlines the manufacturing operation. Feature alignment is exceptionally precise and the higher resolution exposure guarantees that edges are sharper and more precisely defined. It is now possible to create micro channels in the 25-micron range - features that were once only possible using more expensive micro laser or advanced electroforming techniques - with a four-fold improvement in pitch accuracy across an 800mm x 600mm sheet.
Photo-electroforming is very effective when requirements call for extreme tolerances, complexity or light weight. Parts created in this way have superior edge definition and a near-optical finish with fine feature limits being defined by the photographically produced pattern on the substrate. By direct imaging the pattern on the substrate (using advanced LDI) far tighter tolerances can be maintained and features smaller than 15 microns can be achieved with high repeatability and excellent process control. Laser Evolved Electroforming (Leef) facilitates higher levels of complexity at tighter tolerances, with features finer than can be achieved by conventional photo-electroforming, without the use of prohibitively expensive glass master tooling.
For more information, visit www.precisionmicro.com
