Potomac Photonics Adds New Coherent 193NM Laser

Laser micromachining company Potomac Photonics is pleased to announce the purchase of its second Coherent excimer laser in less than 6 months. This laser, which will be set-up at the 193nm wavelength, will be optimized for laser micromachining of challenging materials such as Teflon, Polystyrene, Glass, PEEK, Bio-Absorbable materials, and more and will target applications from the medical device, biotech, electronics, semiconductor and energy industries.

Deep UV laser micromachining can be a very effective process for rapid prototyping to production of miniature parts. The cut quality for high absorption materials can be extremely clean and non-thermal due to the ability of the laser to disrupt the molecular bonds via a process called ablation. This characteristic is important for customers who want to minimize debris and limit often costly and time consuming secondary cleaning processes.

Customers simply send a drawing on a .dxf file or .pdf and the team at Potomac Photonics can quickly and cost-effectively fabricate their parts. Microhole drilling, microcutting, etching, patterning and marking are all applications for which this laser will be used.

“We are extremely pleased to add our seventh UV laser to our expanding Micromanufacturing Unit that now has close to 20 lasers spanning 193nm to 1064nm wavelengths,” states Mike Davis, director of 0perations, Potomac Photonics. “It means we’re more able to meet the expanding demands of our customers.”