This article provides a comprehensive technical guide on managing and minimizing thermal effects in laser processing. It explains core concepts such as the Heat Affected Zone (HAZ), thermal relaxation time, and absorption rates. By identifying heat sources across three levels—source-level (wavelength mismatch), process-level (pulse accumulation), and path-level (scanning patterns)—it offers systematic solutions including optimizing optical configurations, selecting "colder" light sources (e.g., UV or ultrashort pulse lasers), and adjusting process logic through multi-pass strategies and auxiliary gases. Detailed parameter tables for various materials and a troubleshooting guide are included to help engineers achieve high-precision results with minimal thermal damage.
This study investigate the critical influence of wire feeding angle on the stability of droplet transition and process consistency in wire-laser additive manufacturing (WLAM). By employing a comprehensive fluid dynamics model, researchers analyzed the evolution of liquid bridge morphology and molten pool behavior across a range of wire feeding angles (25° to 65°). The findings reveal that increasing the wire feeding angle triggers a transition from a stable state, dominated by surface tension (at 25° and 45°), to an unstable state governed by inertia and gravity (at 65°). This instability is primarily caused by a mismatch between the melting rate and the wire feeding rate due to weakened heat transfer at larger angles. The study provides a theoretical framework for optimizing process parameters to ensure high fatigue performance and forming quality in complex geometric components for aerospace and automotive industries.
This research from Shanghai Jiao Tong University proposes a novel Fusiform Attention Network (FANet) for the real-time visual monitoring of penetration status in laser welding. By integrating Ternary Multi-head Linear Attention (TMLA), the model effectively aligns its receptive field with the physical geometry of the molten pool, balancing local detail extraction (spatter, plasma) with long-range morphological perception (molten pool length). The network achieves a high recognition accuracy of 93.24% with an end-to-end latency of only 5.41ms, meeting the stringent requirements for high-speed online industrial monitoring (100 FPS) and providing a robust solution for closed-loop quality control in automotive, aerospace, and shipbuilding industries.
This research systematically investigates the distinct microstructural evolution mechanisms of densified silica glass under high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) treatment and femtosecond laser direct writing (FLDW). While both techniques induce permanent densification and refractive index enhancement, they follow divergent structural reorganization paths. FLDW uniquely drives the glass network into a non-equilibrium state characterized by a high fictive temperature (1600–2000 K) and the formation of edge-sharing SiO4 tetrahedra (binary rings), leading to significant non-bridging oxygen (NBO) defects and unique photoluminescence responses. In contrast, HPHT densification primarily relies on the deformation of rigid unit modes without generating such localized bond-breaking defects. Supported by machine learning molecular dynamics simulations, these findings provide critical theoretical insights for the precision design of advanced photonic devices and integrated optoelectronic systems.
Professor Min Qiu’s research team at Westlake University has introduced a novel strategy for fabricating structural colors with high brightness, a wide color gamut, and high spatial resolution via ultrafast laser-induced oxidation. By constructing a Ti–TiO₂–Ti sandwich thin-film structure and utilizing picosecond laser pulses to precisely regulate the thickness of the nanoscale oxide layer, the team achieved vibrant and finely tunable physical colors.
This study developed a hybrid manufacturing method integrating nanosecond laser direct drilling and electroless copper plating for high-hardness and high-brittleness aluminum nitride (AlN) ceramics. The effects of three atmospheres—air, water, and argon—on microhole quality were compared. The results show that microholes processed in an argon (Ar) atmosphere exhibit the optimal geometry, with a metallic aluminum content as high as 97.47% on the hole wall, which effectively induces a dense and uniform electroless copper plating layer. Ultimately, high-quality metallized microholes with a resistance as low as 7.35 mΩ were achieved, providing a reliable interconnection solution for high-density electronic packaging and heat dissipation substrates.
The article reviews the latest developments and future prospects of beam shaping technology in laser welding. It discusses how different beam morphologies—such as Gaussian, elliptical, flat-top, and dual-mode beams—control molten pool dynamics to reduce defects like porosity and spatter, especially in high-reflectivity materials like aluminum and copper.
As the global DIY and personal manufacturing markets expand—spanning Maker education, home workshops, and designer startups—more people are looking to experience the thrill of "making anything." Within the "Big Three" of desktop fabrication, 3D printing and CO2 laser engraving have already matured,
In response to the surging demand for laser processing in industries such as window & door, ladder, auto parts, and animal husbandry, and given the massive price gap ($10k to $100k+), this guide is designed to help you see through the fog and make wise investment decisions.1. Configuration: Precisio