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Picture a laser navigating through rain, snow or fog. Imagine trying to do precision work while standing in rain, snow or fog.

Each one of these conditions can hinder a laser’s path and distort its measurements. Ambient conditions can sometimes affect the ability of a precision measurement instrument to do its job properly.

Let’s take a look at how you can control various ambient conditions and their can impact on Ophir’s instruments. – and how to control this impact.

Let’s talk temperature.

We recommend that the optimal operating temperature range for all Ophir power and energy sensors, and meters, range between 15 and 35 degrees Celsius. Sensors and meters should be stored between 0 and 50 degrees Celsius.

When it comes to thermal sensors, the sensitivity to stable stable temperatures is small. Calibration may vary less than plus or minus 1% over the temperature range from 10°C to 50°C.

Yet, vVery low temperatures or very high temperatures outside this range can have an impact on thermal sensors.
Very low temperatures can cause condensation on the absorber, which can affect readings. At very high temperatures, the sensor body might not dissipate heat in an already hot environment. the sensor’s maximum rated power drops, since the sensor body will have a harder time dissipating heat in the already hot environment.
Additionally, That was for stable temperatures. thermal sensors which experience fluctuating Fluctuating ambient temperature – changing by as little as 1 degree Celsius per minute - can cause a change in the sensor’s reading.

The good news is that humidity in the range of 20 to 90 percent causes no significant concern as long as there is no condensation.

We don’t often think about the effect of acoustic vibration, but this too can interfere with measurements for pyroelectric energy sensors. If you need to measure low energy pulses in an acoustically noisy environment, consider a shock absorbing mounting post with rubber insulation. the meter’s “User Threshold” feature allows you to adjust the measurement threshold in noisy environments, which can help prevent false triggering. If need be, some soft foam can be placed under the sensor’s mounting base to damp out any acoustic vibrations, since the main source of acoustic noise is through the base.

And finally, there is light.

Background light can be a problem for low power CW beams but Ophir’s PD300 photodiode sensors have a background light cancelling feature.

You can read more about the effects of ambient conditions on laser measurements on our blog.

The BeamTrack is one a family of Ophir’s line of thermal sensors, which is capable of measuring beam position, size and power all at the same time all at the same time, and in a as well as single energy shot pulse energy.

How does it work?

The signal coming from the sensor’s aperture is divided into 4 quadrants.

Once divided, tThe output signals from these signals 4 quadrants are measured and compared, and the position of the beam centroid is calculated from this.In this way, position of the center of the beam is predicted with a very high degree of accuracy.

In addition to these 4 quadrants, special patented beam size detectors process the outputs and give you the measurements for beam size along with beam position.

What makes the BeamTrack different from other Ophir thermal sensors?

The BeamTrack sensors have a small electronics module situated on the cable from the sensor to the smart plug.

When the BeamTrack sensor is plugged into a compatible displays or PC interfaces meter or virtual meter, it offers a visual display of the beam position and beam size along with a readout of the power, making it very easy for you to log and track changes in the beam.

They say that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

And the same goes for your thermal sensors.

Sometimes, you can use your thermal sensors for years without the need for repairs.

But when we receive these sensors for calibration, we can often tell that misuse led to the sensor’s deterioration.

Here are 3 things that can help prevent deterioration of your thermal sensors from deterioration.

The first is a surface that remains clean from contamination.

Keep the sensor disc clean from foreign substances, such as process debris from often caused by welding industrial environments, or organic contaminants that can find their way to the surface by then be burned onto the disc by subsequent exposure to a laser beam.

So, keep the surface clean and store the sensor properly when it isn’t being used.

The second cause for of deterioration comes when the sensor disc is used at a power level higher than recommended specified, causing overheating.

Major overheating can destroy the detecting element, but even moderate overheating can cause damage to the absorber coating,; both will which requires replacement of the absorber disc.

Overheating can also cause grease contamination which requires disassembling, re-greasing and cleaning of the absorber.

So, avoid overheating by using the right power levels for continuous use versus those for short term use.

Finally, the third cause for of sensor deterioration is localized localized overheating of the coating. It’s the number one cause for disc replacement.

Every coating type has a specific power and energy damage threshold. The spec sheet for each sensor offers guidance on the limits for power and energy damage. Try to stay within those guidelines.

If you follow some of our this advice, early detection really will it can definitely help prevent deterioration of your thermal sensor from deterioration.

Camera-based profilers excel in capturing and evaluating beam profiles, including details like beam shape, size, intensity distribution, and divergence.

And they are particularly valuable in applications where a comprehensive understanding of the laser's spatial properties is needed.

Let’s discuss what hardware and software you need to operate a camera-based profiler.

A camera-based beam profiler system includes a camera, beam attenuation accessories, and beam profiler software.

When it comes to hardware, Spiricon MKS Ophir has the broadest range of cameras to handle wavelengths from extreme UV to long infrared, . Various interfaces are available, for most wavelength ranges providing flexibility for laptop or desktop computers. as well as Spiricon also has the most extensive array of beam accessories for attenuating, filtering, beam splitting, magnifying, reducing and wavelength conversion. Most of the components are modular so they can be mixed and matched to solve almost any requirement.

When it comes to software, Ophir’s BeamGage profiling software comes in two versions: Standard and Professional. Each builds off the next, adding capability and flexibility for your to meet any needs.

BeamGage software is the industry’s first beam profiling software to be newly designed, from scratch, and is based on Spiricon’s Ophir’s patented baseline correction algorithm that helped establish the ISO standard for beam measurement accuracy.

BeamGage performs rigorous data acquisition and analysis of laser beam size, shape, uniformity, divergence, mode content, and expected power distribution. Pass/fail limits can be also applied.

Your data can be displayed in a many different formats, ranging from a live video to 2D topographic and 3D views. Graphical chart time displays, summary statistics, and overlays are also available.

You can even custom configure your screen with multiple views that can be saved for repeated use, and export data to a wide variety of formats.

Most importantly, BeamGage provides high accuracy results, guaranteeing the data baseline is accurate to 1/8th of a digital count on a pixel-by-pixel basis.

Pyroelectric technology uses is used in cameras and arrays for laser beam diagnostics of nearly all IR and UV laser wavelengths, and and in high temperature thermal imaging.

Ophir’s core pyroelectric technology comes from begins with its specially designed sensor array, which has proven to be the most rugged, stable, and precise IR detector array available.

It’s these sensors that are embedded in Ophir’s Pyrocam line of cameras. They can operate at intensities 100 times greater than any other CCD camera, offering precision, stability, reliability, and versatility.

With the Pyrocam line, you get clear quantitative images displayed in 2D or 3D views. It’s the easiest way for you to instantly recognize whether your beam characteristics and what they tell you about affect your laser’s performance.

When and where can you use Pyrocam’s technology?

First, it’s an ideal measurement tool for scientific laboratory investigation of laser beams in physics, chemistry, and electronic system designs.

It’s also useful in assembly lines using CO2 and other infrared lasers. The system’s imaging instantly alerts you to detrimental laser variations and allows you to timely correct the problem and re-tune the laser parameters in a timely manner.

Pyrocam sensors are also used in some of the most sensitive medical applications, such as lasers for eye surgery and dermatological procedures where uniformity of the beam profile is crucial.

Pyrocams come bundled with Ophir’s BeamGage software, a state- of-the-art beam profiling system that performs rigorous data acquisition and analysis of beam size, shape, uniformity, divergence, mode content, and expected power distribution.

Simply connect the Pyrocam to your PC, run BeamGage software, and images are immediately displayed so you can make sure that your lasers remain accurate perform as they are supposed to all the time.

As we previously discussed, pyroelectric sensors are largely used to measure lasers with repetitive pulse rates repetitively pulsed beams, where we want to catch every pulse.

They measure repetitive pulsed energies and average powers at pulse rates up to 25000 pulses per second, and pulse widths up to 20 milliseconds.

Pyroelectric sensors are somewhat less durable than thermal sensors; if you don’t need and we recommend that you don’t use them unless it is necessary to measure the energy energy of each pulse and measuring . If average power is sufficient, there isn’t a need to use a pyroelectric sensor. then a power sensor rather than an energy sensor would be the right choice.

How do these special sensors work?

They are made of pyroelectric crystals that generate an electric charge proportional to the heat absorbed from the laser pulse.

The total charge generated is collected and the voltage difference is measured.

Once the energy is read by the electronic circuit, the charge on the crystal is discharged and it’s geared up to handle the next pulse.

Ophir’s pyroelectric detectors have unique circuitry that allow them to measure long pulses as well as short pulses, even when the pulse width is as much as 30% of the total cycle time.

Our new compact C line of pyroelectric sensors is a significant upgrade from earlier models.

They are more compact, they have a wider dynamic range, they have can handle higher pulse repetition rates and they can measure longer pulses.

Selecting the right beam profiler is crucial for optimizing laser performance and ensuring accurate measurements.

You have lots of choices - CCD and CMOS cameras, scanning slit sensors, pyroelectric cameras, and knife edge sensors, just to name a few.

All other things being equal, Ease of use and absolute spot size dynamic range favors the scanning slit system.

But if you need to know the detailed 2-dimensional picture of the beam, including fine structure and possible hot and cold spots or the image of the beam, lean more toward a a camera-based beam profiling system.

Making an informed decision can be daunting, and we are here to help.

Here are 5 questions you need to ask yourself when searching for a beam profiler.

You first is - what wavelengths do I need to measure?

You next need to ask yourself - what beam width or spot size do I need to measure?

The third question is what’s the power of the beam?

Your fourth inquiry is whether the laser is continuous or pulsed?

Finally – and perhaps the most important question - is how accurate does the measurement need to be?

This might sound like a silly question because we all want accuracy.

But can you live with 98% accuracy?
But it’s not so simple – there will be many tradeoffs depending on the answers to the first 4 questions. Just as an example, the accuracy benefit of using a high resolution CCD camera might need to be weighed up against the accuracy loss due to needing attenuating optics.
The accuracy requirement final decision depends on the beam details, as well as what the data is used for, how the data is used, which application it’s used for, and the environment the profiler is in.

Take a factory floor.

Quality assurance needs a certain level of accuracy, but it also needs high throughput and ease of use. You also might need to embed a profiler into small piece of manufacturing equipment a manufacturing cell so that it performs measurements and communicates with other applications automatically and transmit results to other applications. All of these are considerations when selecting a profiler.

Determining the laser beam measurement environment and which specific measurements are most important to the success of your factory floor application are crucial questions when choosing a profiler.

Ophir’s knowledgeable product specialists can be helpful as you navigate the choices that best suit your needs.

Laser power sensors measure the power or energy level of electrical signals laser beams in various applications.

There are different types of power sensors, each tailored to measure power in specific frequency ranges and power levels for different needs.

Let’s discuss the two types of power sensors Ophir offers – thermal sensors and photodiode sensors.

Use cases differ based on the power you need to measure.

Photodiode sensors are used for low powers from picowatts up to hundreds of milliwatts, and as high as 3W depending on the model. Most of our photodiode sensors have a built-in filter that reduces the light level on the detector and allows for measurement up to 3W higher powers without saturation than would have been possible otherwise.

Thermal sensors are used for fractions of a milliwatt up to many thousands of watts, and can also measure single-shot energy at pulse rates not more than once every 5 seconds.

Ophir’s BeamTrack is an example of a thermal sensor, but in addition to measuring power it also measures beam power position and beam size. Together, This sensor provides you with a wealth of information on your laser beam, for example, centering, position and wander, size, power and single shot energy.

If you have the need to measure repetitive pulses rates, pyroelectric energy sensors are for you. Pyroelectric sensors measure the energy per pulse of repetitively pulsed lasers up to 25,000Hz, and they are sensitive to low energies.

And - If a pyroelectric sensor can measure a given beam’s energy per pulse, it can also be used to measure its average power.

It’s important to note that pyroelectric sensors are less durable than thermal ones. We’d recommend that use pyroelectric sensors only when you need to measure the energy of each pulse.

A scanning slit profiler scans across a laser beam with a tiny slit, rather taking a picture of the entire beam at once. This process exposes details about the beam's shape, size, and how bright it is in different places.

Ophir’s NanoScan 2s slit profiler is the most versatile laser beam profiling instrument available today, providing instantaneous feedback of beam parameters for continuous waves CW and kilohertz pulsed lasers, with measurement update rates to 20Hz.

The natural attenuation provided by the slit allows the measurement of many beams with little or no additional attenuation. The high dynamic range makes it possible to measure beams while adjustments to focus are made without having to adjust the profiler.

Just aim the laser into the aperture and the system does the rest!

The NanoScan 2S is available with silicon, germanium or pyroelectric detectors to cover the light spectrum from UV to very far infrared.

And it’s available in a wide variety of apertures and slit sizes to allow for the accurate measurement of varying beam sizes.

To make it even more convenient and portable, the NanoScan 2s has direct USB connectivity. No external controllers or power supplies are required.

And a the rotation mount offers vertical operation if needed.

The profiler’s software comes in two versions, STD Standard and PRO Professional. The Professional version includes ActiveX automation for users who want to integrate into OEM systems or create their own user interface screens with C++, LabView, Excel or other OEM software packages.
Finally, the NanoScan 2s graphical user interface makes it easy for you to set the display screens to any configuration, so you can see only just the features you need.

Photodiode sensors are semiconductor devices that produce a current proportional to light intensity. These sensors have a high degree of linearity over a large range of light power levels - from fractions of a nanowatt to about 2 milliwatts.

Nearly all of Ophir’s photodiode sensors come with built-in filters that reduces the light level on the detector and allows measurement up to 30 milliwatts.

And most sensors have an additional removable filter allowing measurement to 300 milliwatts or 3 watts.

How do these sensors work?

When a laser photon source is directed at a photodiode detector, a current is created. The power meter unit amplifies this signal and indicates the power level received by the sensor.

Thanks to Ophir’s power meter circuitry, the noise level is very low.

And thanks to our exclusive patented dual detectors, the sensor automatically eliminates any signal that perhaps can illuminate detectors with subtracts background light.

And how accurate are these sensors?

The sensitivity of various photodiode sensors varies from one sensor to another but each one is calibrated in a two-stage process against a NIST photodiode calibration standard.

First the photodiode is calibrated with a monochromator over its entire spectral range.

And then, the calibration is tested using several lasers to “anchor” the results of the first stage, thereby ensureing the most accurate sensor readings.

Companies from all over the world seek out ALPhANOV in France to develop prototypes of ultra-short pulse laser systems, fiber amplifiers, and other optical components.

AlphaNOV is in the business of assisting other companies to innovate and create new products.

And that means that they do quite a bit of R&D on new or untested “Large Mode Area” fibers.

Their engineers were looking for a measurement device delivering reliable and consistent
measurements of the fiber’s modal behavior.

The gauges they were using took half a day to set up and didn’t provide consistent results.

AlphaNOV needed measuring devices that could calculate beam propagation ratio or “M-squared”, astigmatism, and beam shape – at record speed and with consistent accuracy.

Enter Ophir’s BeamSquared BSQ-SP920.

BeamSquared met all of AlphaNOV’s requirements.

It can be used to measure beam waist diameter and position, divergence, Rayleigh length, diffraction index M-squared or “BPP”, astigmatism, and asymmetry.

What’s more, the compact BeamSquared can be positioned horizontally or vertically, giving flexibility when working in small spaces.

It requires only minutes to set up and multiple measurements yield repeatably consistent results.

In fact, results are available in seconds – 100 times faster than AlphANOV’s previous gauges.

To top it all off, the AlphaNOV team was able to install BeamSquared all on their own.

All in all, with Ophir’s BeamSquared system, ALPhANOV saw a considerable increase in quality and they were able to significantly optimize the development process for their customers.

To read more about our work with AlphaNOV, check out our blog.

Battery modules are the beating heart of every electric car. And no one knows this better than the BMW Group, which launched the first fully electric car in 2013.

Laser welding in the production of battery cells requires absolute precision.More than 15,000 spot welds per hour are performed in each system and the quality of the battery modules depends on the consistently high quality of the laser beam parameters.

Precision means proactively and regularly checking the laser beam’s key parameters before the welding process begins. But without disrupting the production cycle.

Ophir’s BeamWatch Integrated system was the answer.
Specifically developed for the automotive industry, BeamWatch Integrated offers fast and non-contact measurements of a laser’s focus position and shift, as well as power.

BeamWatch is able to detect a thermal focus shift, and once this factor is known, adjustments can made in the manufacturing process so that consistent weld depth is attainable.

Contact welding is negatively impacted by spatters on a laser’s protective glass, which affects focus shift and diameter - and that can cause a shallow weld seam.

When integrating BeamWatch into the production process, a defocused laser beam caused by smudged glass is more easily detectable so that shallow seams are pre-empted.

Thanks to Ophir’s BeamWatch Integrated systems, BMW is able to check the laser beams before manufacturing each new battery module. The laser is briefly operated at full power to determine focus shift, and only after the parameters are confirmed does the welding process begin.

If a deviation in a parameter is detected, a warning message is displayed so that an operator can proactively check the protective glass, preventing errors before welding starts.

Today, Ophir’s BeamWatch Integrated System is built into all the automated production lines where BMW’s 5th-generation battery modules are made.

You can read more about our work with BMW on our blog.

Purchases of electric vehicles are on the rise.

Everyone wants to do their part in reducing carbon emissions – and an electric car is one way we can all make a difference.

We all know that electric cars are powered by batteries.

To be more precise, lithium-ion battery packs are installed into each electric vehicle.

Every battery pack is essentially a casing that houses a number of modules. Each module has Lithium-ion battery cells that “store the charge.”

In order to get the most out of a charge, car companies are looking to eliminate battery packs and move directly to installing Lithium-ion battery cells into the car itself – without any casings that house it.

Removing the battery pack, and installing the battery cells directly, makes the car lighter and allows it to function on a charge for a longer period.

But once you install the battery cells directly into a car, without a module casing, it is almost impossible to service or fix it.

Which means that the structural integrity of the battery must be high from the very start.

That’s where laser technology comes in.

Battery cells are made of three thin foils, which are coated with a mixture of an active material, conductive agent, and binder.

These foils are made in long rolls, and the painstaking process of cutting, cleaning and welding the tabs of the foil must be precise.

High-power nanosecond pulsed infrared and UV lasers are used to cut, clean, and weld the foil, because they create smoother edges and reduce the risk of lithium dendrite formation which can cause the battery to fail.

And when it comes time to install the battery directly into the chassis, laser welding can be used because it produces strong and reliable joints.

Kilowatt class fiber lasers are traditionally used for such welding because their 1-micron wavelength is efficiently absorbed by the car’s aluminum and steel. Recently developed green and blue high-power lasers are used to improve the throughput of copper welding, which is used in the power connections.
Laser applications for lithium-ion battery production and installation can only be reliable if you constantly measure the laser beam’s power and profile.

Ophir Photonics products can help you can guarantee outstanding and reliable laser performance, time after time.

You can read more about the use of lasers in lithium-ion batteries on our blog.

The positive effects of red and infrared light on healing have been studied for a long time.

The technical term is “photobiomodulation,” a non-invasive therapeutic approach using low-intensity light to stimulate biological processes in the body, triggering a cascade of biochemical reactions at the cellular level that can help you heal.

Studies since the 1960s have shown that light from LEDs in the 630-850 nm wavelengths has a particularly positive effect on humans.

The Lichtblock Uno, developed by Daniel Sentker, is a red-light lamp consisting of outer and inner LED arrays, that can be used in a variety of modes.

Measuring the parameters of the device, critical to its correct and consistent performance and quality, turned out to be an unexpected challenge.
Most suppliers of red-light lamps use simple solar meters which are usually inaccurate and often result in non-repeatable results, making them essentially useless for Lichtblock’s purpose.

Lichtblock was looking for a reliable and repeatable measurement method for light intensity, or more precisely, power incident per unit area on a surface.

They found the answer in Ophir’s 2A-BB-9 sensor, combined with Ophir’s StarLite meter (or display).

When the LED light falls on the sensor's surface, the heat flow generated inside the sensor by the absorption of the light is proportional to the power in the beam.

Combining that measured power with the size of the irradiated surface, as long as the measurement is always taken at exactly the same distance from the Lichtblock, results in accurate, repeatable, and reliable measurements. The Lichtblock team use this setup for incoming inspection of the externally-manufactured LEDs, quality control testing of the finished product, and even for comparison with competing products.

And the result? A product that does what it promises to do. And happy customers.

Read more about the Lichtblock Uno, and the sensors provided by Ophir, on our blog.

Körber Business Area Technologies develops tailor-made systems for the luxury food and tobacco industries.

Production lines for these industries are often complex.

They process a large volume of items within a given time frame, and they tend to run 24/7.

Measuring laser power during production itself is critical for maintaining product quality.

Korber’s production equipment contains laser-based perforation systems which are used to create holes in filters.

The functionality and accuracy of these laser-based systems require incorporation of power gauges within the production line and seamless monitoring during the manufacturing process.

Working in tandem with Korber, Ophir developed two OEM sensors, which were customized to Korber’s exact requirements.

The first is a power-measuring sensor, which is integrated into the production line equipment,
or can be retro-fitted if need be. It continuously monitors and displays the average power on a nearby screen. In case of a reduction in laser power, there is more than enough time to correct the problem and prevent damaged products.

The second sensor we developed is a quad sensor, which measures the power and position of the laser beam.

This measurement is done during routine maintenance to check the overall settings of the laser unit. Also, in case of any abnormalities found in the production process, the laser unit can quickly and easily be tested to see if it needs adjustment.

The sensors we developed for Korber are so robust and reliable that they are used in Korber’s own R&D lab.

To read more about our work with Korber, check out our blog.

Millions of people around the world wear glasses to correct their vision and have considered what is commonly known as “laser eye surgery” so that they never have to wear glasses again.

Refractive surgery - the technical term for corrective laser eye surgery - has become more and more prevalent.

WaveLight is a global leader in ophthalmological diagnostic and surgical technologies, and it is hardly a surprise that the company attaches great importance to precision and quality in both development and production.

When a patient’s eyesight is at stake, laser sources are selected with great care, they are tested repeatedly, and the requirements for the laser measurement technology are exceedingly high.

Making an incision in the cornea requires special care, and WaveLight was on the lookout for a laser source in the infrared spectrum with a power of 1-2 watts and a pulse width in the femtosecond range.

WaveLight found what they were looking for when they selected Ophir’s Spectra-Physics laser source, which was developed, tested and adapted to meet WaveLight's precise requirements.

The dimensions of the laser, the integrated interfaces, and the power supply were also optimized to meet WaveLight’s needs.

Adjustments of the laser source at WaveLight – as well as production and inspection at Spectra Physics- are done with the help of another Ophir product – BeamSquared - a fully automated, camera-based instrument that reliably measures the beam profile and propagation characteristics of continuous-wave and pulsed lasers in less than a minute.

Ophir products are also used to measure the excimer lasers that ablate the inner corneal tissue.

Ophir’s 3A-FS thermal sensors are used to measure laser power, and Ophir PE50U pyroelectric sensors are used to measure laser energy.

A collection of Ophir laser products contribute to what is known today as the WaveLight® Refractive Suite. Each and every Refractive Suite laser system is meticulously tested with Ophir products.

And it has successfully performed millions of corrective eye surgeries around the world.

To read more about our work with WaveLight, check out our blog post.

Laser-based additive manufacturing has transformed industrial mass production in many industries. Auto, aerospace, and medical industries - just to name a few.

We have long since understood that the performance of laser, in any application, is crucial for a high quality and stable result. But the additive manufacturing industry presents a unique set of challenges when it comes to measuring laser beam performance.

Today, we will discuss some of those challenges and how we can address them. The most common challenges are due to the location of these lasers. Lasers in additive manufacturing are often housed in tight, cramped construction chambers. And measurement devices don’t always fit in these small spaces.

Second, the build chamber is always very dusty from metal powder and the delicate sensor surfaces must be shielded from it. Third, the interior of the chamber makes traditional cooling methods impractical. And fourth, with the chamber door shut, cable connections become problematic.

But these challenges are not insurmountable. Ophir’s Ariel measuring device is an ultra-compact power gauge that was specially developed for measuring high powers in confined spaces.

The Ariel is a battery-operated device that has a footprint similar to a standard playing card and fits comfortably on the palm of your hand.

It displays measurements directly and either saves them within the device or sends them to a storage location outside the chamber.

The system is self-contained, dust-proof and splash-proof. And, due to its high thermal capacity, many measurements can be done one after the other, without the need to cool down.

To read more about measuring lasers in tight spaces like additive manufacturing chambers, visit our blog.

Here at Ophir, we often talk about the importance of measuring beam profile accuracy. And today, we have an opportunity to discuss how one of our customers, Messer Cutting Systems, optimized the quality of their laser cut by integrating Ophir’s BeamWatch system into their production line.

Messer Cutting Systems is a global supplier of products and services for the metal processing industry. Employing more than 800 people at its five main production sites, Messer’s portfolio includes oxyacetylene, plasma, and laser-cutting systems ranging from hand-held devices to special machinery for shipbuilding.

Measurement technology plays a particularly decisive role for Messer’s development of new cutting systems.

Previous measurement techniques were very time-consuming for Messer, and that’s when Ophir’s BeamWatch system caught their eye. Messer was interested in time-saving measurement technologies for many types of high-powered lasers with different cutting heads.

Ophir’s BeamWatch has no upper power limitations on the beams it can measure. Measurements taken at video frame rates allow the focus shift to be temporally resolved and displayed in near-real time.

And that is what interested Messer. With the use of BeamWatch, Messer developed an algorithm to minimize the thermal focus shift that was specific to each type of cutting head, allowing them to measure different cutting heads quickly and easily, without incurring additional costs.

The result?
Simple and fast measuring that optimized the quality of the laser cut. For Messer, Ophir’s BeamWatch technology is ideal. It’s lightweight, compact, easy to transport and easy to operate, without worrying about power limitations.

For more details about the Messer Cutting System’s case study, read in the link below And contact us to see how you can integrate BeamWatch technology into your operation.

More precise, effective, and minimally invasive medical procedures are possible today thanks to laser technology. Patient outcomes have improved and recovery times have come down.

Every medical field -- from the most complex neurosurgery to the simplest outpatient cataract procedure -- has advanced thanks to laser technology. And it goes without saying that accuracy and precision are critical in medical procedures.

Any variation can lead to unpredictable outcomes and potential harm to patients.

How can you guarantee that the lasers in your medical device function at their best?
Let’s explore what needs to be measured - and the most effective ways to go about it. Measuring a laser’s power and energy is the first step in checking the performance of a laser beam.

Laser power or energy is measured with different kinds of sensors – thermal sensors, photodiode sensors, or pyroelectric sensors.

• Thermal sensors measure the power of moderate and high-power lasers, such as solid-state lasers that are commonly used in surgery.
  
  
• Photodiode sensors measure proper functioning of lower power lasers used in some clinical ophthalmological procedures.
  
  
• And pyroelectric sensors measure the energy of pulsed solid-state lasers that are most commonly used in dermatology.

But laser power and energy are not the only parameters you need to measure.

Laser devices used in delicate medical procedures like dermatology, ophthalmology or surgery also need to be measured for their beam profile. Even minor deviations in the laser beam's position or intensity distribution can have significant – and unfortunate - consequences.

For beam profiling, CCD or CMOS camera-based imaging is usually used. Ophir’s cameras include optical components, powerful software, and patented algorithms so that beam profile measurements meet all relevant standards.

How do you know which measuring device is right for you?

Ask yourself these questions:

• Which wavelength should be measured?
• What’s the diameter of the laser beam?
• What’s the power range?
• What pulse rate do you need?

Picking a measuring device is complicated, and to make it easier, use Ophir’s online calculator to guide you.

And one more thing.
Make sure that measuring devices are also regularly checked and that you maintain the recommended recalibration schedule. Because lives depend on it.

Additive manufacturing technologies have taken on an important role in serial production, manufacturing light-weight but complex mechanical parts quickly and efficiently.

Serial production – what we also know as mass production assembly lines – relies on a consistently high level of quality. And consistency in manufactured components means that machines using additive technologies must always deliver the same repeatable and reliable results.

Today, we will discover how one of our customers uses Ophir’s BeamWatch AM to make sure that additive technologies deliver the highest quality.

The Fraunhofer Research Institute based in Germany helps companies produce additive-manufactured components which are frequently subjected to heavy loads – for instance, elements that are used in airplanes, cars, trains, and ships.

Component failure in these industries can bring catastrophic results. And for this reason, Fraunhofer created a quality assurance and certification working group that focuses on just one goal: Delivering. Repeatable. Results.

They want to be absolutely sure that additive manufacturing produces a high-quality product over and over and over again.

The key to meeting this goal?
Making sure that the laser parameters are checked regularly. Fraunhofer found that beam sources age over time, and that output power and beam quality suffer from focus shifts or power losses.

To circumvent this kind of wear and tear, Fraunhofer relies on BeamWatch AM for comprehensive measurements - regular beam measurements performed at short intervals which guarantees meticulous quality assurance.

BeamWatch AM is “contact-less” –it images the beam without contact, measuring critical beam parameters in real time as the beam passes through.

Quick. Compact. With no contact.
Experts at Fraunhofer trust BeamWatch AM to make sure that the quality of the laser beam safeguards reproducibility of manufactured parts using additive technologies.

Read more about Fraunhofer’s use of BeamWatch AM on our blog.