Ophir Photonics Featured Articles

41. Testing High-Volume LED Luminaire Builds 4/20/2017

    The lower operating costs of LED luminaires drive growing demand for them in consumer and commercial markets. This increased demand requires an adaptation to improved quality testing methods that can provide superior measurements and not slow down the process of production. 

42. Assuring Correct Metallurgy In Direct Laser Melting 4/20/2017

    This application note presents how Ophir Optics’ BeamCheck system is able to measure critical laser beam parameters for laser-based additive manufacturing.

43. Laser Engraving Resolution Chart 1/25/2017

    This article reports the measurement results acquired when a metal sheet was scanned with a resolution chart engraved on its surface.

44. Intro To Laser Management: Laser Profiling 101 1/25/2017

    Traditionally, laser operators only verify a laser’s average power or energy to improve efficiency and, if everything is in order, put their laser back into service. This article discusses steps required to identify and use a camera profiling system (arrayed camera, attenuator, and beam dump) for laser management.

45. Reducing Production Waste With Laser Profiling And Characterization 1/25/2017

    A critical component in a laser manufacturing process is the understanding of which process parameters or key control characteristics must be measured and how they will relate to product quality and waste. A laser profiling system can be a great benefit for characterizing and identifying which variables affect product quality and waste minimization. Unfortunately, many companies realize this too late and incur more expenses and extended downtime than necessary when trying to implement the system near the end of the process. This article dives into a method of using in-house tools, like laser profiling, to characterize and optimize a process in advance so that product quality and process variability may be understood and maintained.

46. Utilizing A New Autofocus Technique For Laser Systems With Optimet's Non-Contact Distance Sensors 11/30/2016

    Many of today’s conventional marking, welding, drilling, and cutting laser systems have the challenge of focusing the laser accurately on the object’s surface. As the demand for faster and more precise manufacturing processes increase, the need to control the focal point of a laser becomes much more critical. This application note discusses a new laser measurement method that integrates Optimet sensors into laser systems, offering the benefits of autofocus capabilities while upgrading a number of system performances.

47. Materials Processing: When Laser Measurements Absolutely, Positively Must Be Made 11/30/2016

    To improve laser-based processes, a variety of parameters must be measured. There are five times within a laser system’s lifetime where the collection and application of laser performance measurement data are critical to the process’ outcome.

48. Measuring Small-Beam MFD: Overcoming the Challenges 10/7/2016

    Accurate beam size measurements for beam sizes under 10 μm are critical for many applications such as fiber optic coupling efficiency, defect scanning, optical design, and optical fabrication process control. The challenges for such a measurement include the use of focal plane arrays that are too large to reasonably profile without magnification, the high mechanical precision of the beam profiling apparatus, and the beams’ high divergences and rapid expansion. Reliable profiles for such small beams, however, can be obtained using near-field or far-field profiling techniques. This article presents and in-depth discussion of each technique, diagrams for their systems' set-up, and the benefits for using each one.

49. Additive Manufacturing And 3D CAD 10/7/2016

    This article discusses the process of transforming a 3D CAD model into a mechanical component, as well as how to use a camera based beam profiling system to assist in achieving consistently accurate constructs.

50. Select The Right Laser Power Sensor By Asking The Right Questions 10/7/2016

    When a sensor turns out to be an incorrect choice, the system could procure inaccurate measurements, premature failure, and costly full disc replacement and recalibration. This article presents three critical questions to ask before selecting a laser power sensor for a specific application.