A university in Istanbul, Turkey, has enhanced its medical research and development capability with a laser system custom built by the American company Precision Automated Laser Systems (PALS).
The multi-axis machine features a 400 W fiber laser (JK400FL) that enables students from the Dept. of Biomedical Engineering Institute of Medical Research at Bogacizi University to cut small, intricate devices such as stents and catheters. The system is also capable of flat-cutting and welding.
"We worked closely with the university and JK Lasers to create a flexible, turnkey system that is cost-effective and compact," said Richard Swindell, owner of PALS. "It also had to be safe and easy to use because the students are not experienced laser users.
"With this in mind, we created a user-friendly interface that incorporates JK Lasers' intuitive FiberView software with our own GUI interface. This means students can easily view all the laser information, cutting process data, and camera on one screen."
Fiber Lasers for Precision Cutting
To cut any length of tube from 0.5 mm upwards, students simply input the measurements, the laser parameters, and the required number of parts. The machine then laser cuts programmed features utilizing tubing from 0.5 mm to 6 mm in diameter at a feed rate of around 7.5 mm per second.
Fiber lasers such as the JK400FL are a popular choice for precision cutting intricate medical devices. Their high beam quality and small focused spot sizes create dross-free cuts with a minimal heat affected zone. In addition to their processing capabilities, JK Fiber Lasers are up to 10 times more energy efficient than traditional Nd:YAG lasers and their all-bulk design means that routine maintenance is virtually eliminated. Headquartered in the UK, JK Lasers is a global company that manufacturers lasers for the medical device, aerospace, automotive, electronics, and semiconductor industries.
PALS has supplied laser cutting and welding systems to companies around the world for over 40 years.