Functional properties of many components stand or fall with polishing, and it therefore plays a major role in many process chains. Initial industrial applications show that lasers offer an alternative to conventional polishing processes. Experts from around the world are working to expand the range of applications for laser polishing.
LaP: Meeting place for the international laser polishing community
One of the pioneers in the field of laser polishing is Dr. Edgar Willenborg, who has been working intensively on laser-based deburring and polishing at Fraunhofer ILT as head of a research team for more than a decade. Since 2014, experts under his leadership have presented the latest findings and research results in the field of laser polishing at the international "Conference on Laser Polishing - LaP" every two years. This time, speakers from China, Japan, Canada, the USA and Europe will report on the latest status of laser-based alternatives for polishing glass, metal, plastics and additively manufactured components, among others.
Laser polishing recipes for glass, plastic and metal
Presentations will focus on laser polishing, as well as related topics such as metrology, process control and deburring. October 12 is of particular interest to companies and scientists who, for example, manufacture optical surfaces and polish glass and plastics. October 13 focuses on polishing functional surfaces of metals and deburring sheet metal parts. The LaP organizers are also taking into account the growing number of additively manufactured components made of metal: Four lectures on October 13 will take a detailed look at how additively manufactured surfaces made of sophisticated metallic materials from the aerospace industry such as γ-TiAl or Inconel can be laser polished.
Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT