Hamamatsu Photonics’ T-SMILS® Laser Heating system represents the future of laser processing technology, affording users revolutionary laser processing capabilities via real-time temperature monitoring.
The company’s corporate philosophy is focused on advancing photonics technology through extensive research, allowing it to bring state-of-the-art products to the market.
Hamamatsu Photonics’ products have been designed to accommodate the whole optical spectrum, offering robust solutions in an array of analytical, industrial, consumer, and medical applications.
Hamamatsu’s range of laser products is less widely recognized, but its comprehensive range of semiconductor laser-applied products is ideally suited to numerous applications, from research and development through to full-scale production.
The company has recently introduced the newest addition to the SPOLD product line: the T-SMILS Laser Heating system (L15570 series).
The T-SMILS Laser Heating system is the optimal solution for applications requiring critical temperature control. Representing a major upgrade from Hamamatsu’s earlier generations of laser heating technology, the T-SMILS offers a faster sensing regime for monitoring while shifting to temperature instead of power as its core laser processing metric.
Product Functionality
The T-SMILS system is designed to use laser energy to heat materials for precise thermal processing. It typically employs powerful diode lasers with an output power of 360 w and a wavelength of 940 nm.
These lasers can be adjusted to produce a wide range of outputs, with line optics and spot sizes varying from 0.1 to 6.4 mm in diameter, allowing for customizable laser properties to meet specific needs.
Hamamatsu has refined the laser beam’s shape to achieve a ‘top hat beam profile’ through a specialized process, ensuring a uniform and homogeneous heat distribution across the processed objects.
A key feature of the T-SMILS system is its integrated process monitoring capability. Unlike most temperature monitoring systems that measure relative temperature, the T-SMILS provides accurate absolute temperature readings. This real-time monitoring enables superior process control during laser treatment, enhancing precision compared to other systems.
The T-SMILS system is currently applied in plastic welding, sintering, soldering, and curing. It addresses many challenges in the plastics industry by ensuring optimal temperature control, which is critical for achieving desired joint strength in plastic welding. By maintaining temperatures within very narrow limits, the system helps to minimize inconsistencies between welding batches.
Image Credit: Hamamatsu Photonics Europe
For instance, when welding plastics, achieving consistent joint strength requires precise temperature control. Without optimal laser power or traversing speed, maintaining the necessary temperature is challenging. The T-SMILS system’s advanced sensing technology enables automatic and continuous temperature control at the melting point, reducing variability.
In the figure below, the left image illustrates the impact of temperature feedback control on a laser weld. It shows a microscopic view of a weld along a corner with constant power, resulting in uneven laser power distribution and inconsistent melting. In contrast, the right image demonstrates a uniform weld achieved with effective temperature feedback control, highlighting the system’s ability to deliver consistent results.
Comprehensive Service
Hamamatsu leverages its extensive experience to offer a comprehensive service, ensuring users can implement their systems quickly and efficiently. The company supports customers throughout the evaluation process, providing expert advice on key considerations such as the most suitable spot sizes and laser heads for specific applications.
Product image: T-SMILS Laser Heating System (L15570 series). Image Credit: Hamamatsu Photonics Europe
With a highly flexible laser range and a variety of spot-size options, Hamamatsu can tailor laser heads precisely to meet customer requirements. The integrated real-time temperature monitoring capabilities of its devices are opening new possibilities in laser processing.
Hamamatsu's laser laboratories in Germany and Japan are equipped with a wealth of experience and resources, offering customers worldwide valuable support in both the evaluation and implementation of their solutions.
Acknowledgments
This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Hamamatsu Photonics Europe.
This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Hamamatsu Photonics Europe.
For more information on this source, please visit Hamamatsu Photonics Europe.