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PRESS RELEASE
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Two successful stories of laser applications in aerospace industry
Thursday, 27 August 2020

-- The AeroMark® and NoNic® from Control Laser Corporation --

Control Laser has been the leading laser equipment manufacturer for the aerospace industry applications for over 38 years since it was founded in April 1965. Today we will take a close look at its two brands; AeroMark® and NoNic® with respect to two successful business cases.

One of Control Laser's customers watched a YouTube video, and noticed that laser marking technology can replace the traditional chemical etching processing on backlit control panels. He researched the market, sent the sample panels to Control laser for free tests. With the results from the test, he finally found AeroMark® and bought a system to start his backlit control panel processing service business.

The raw material cost for each panel is less than $150, while the selling price reaches $1,700 per piece. With the quality and delivery time no one can compete. Within 6 months, he earned back his capital investments, and after that, “the machine runs just like a banknote printer” he said with a smile.

Let us set this case as an example and brief how the AeroMark® can do what others cannot, and significantly contribute to the avionic parts manufacturing business profit.

* AeroMark® helps the owner output super precision and high quality

We realize that this does not mean any laser equipment can easily replace the traditional processing, even though many people realize that lasers can do most material processing.

The first approach considered for avionic backlit control panels were the plotter style CO2 lasers with large beds because most of the work pieces are larger than 6 inches. Once the results were examined by their customers, the proposed processed parts were typically refused due to lack of precision and poor quality.

The critical reason is caused by the CO2 laser having a large spot size. The large spot cannot reach the low end precision criteria. If you consider equipping the system with the high precision motorized actuators, not only will the cost be increased, there will be a significant stretch in the cycle time.

The AeroMark® is designed in an innovative way, Control Laser developed the proprietary “Dual Precision Calibration” in equipment setup program, which has woven the precision of laser beam scanning into motion control precision benchmark settings. Furthermore, Control laser developed the sectioning and stitching tools and 7 modes of beam motion control in the software, which is not available on the market.

The systems come along with specific laser sources, the extreme precision can be controlled between 5 to 15 microns based on the work piece material, about 10+ times better than standard market laser marking equipment on the market. The ability to keep non-compromised sharp marked shapes, is why we call it “Perfect Panel” Laser System. This design is rooted from Control Laser's in-house firmware and software. The software code is designed line by line, there is no similar design on the market this concept provides the owner exclusive processing, precision quality and always wins orders from microscope level “picky customers”.

* AeroMark® helps the owner achieve unbeatable productivity

A highlight of AeroMark® is the cycle time optimization.

A quantitative description shows the cycle time difference. We setup real job trials, using shapes on a panel surface, and the data comparison table is listed below:

AeroMark / Plotter Laser
Moves # : 4 5000
Lasing Cycle Time(s): 24 25
Motion Cycle Time(s): 4 1200
Total Cycle Time : 28 1225

There is a rather significant difference between that of the motion control pattern compared to laser beam delivery. The last generation plotter style laser equipment heritage is the inkjet printer or plotter motion pattern. That motion is along the motion of the actuator, the plotter system simply controls the switching on and off of the laser beam. AeroMark® technology uses a two axis beam steered laser

The X axis and Y axis galvanometers with mirrors mounted on their shafts are used to deliver the laser beam to the work surface. The typical speed of this system reaches 5 to 10 meters per second and with high acceleration. The important thing to keep in mind is that the Galvo system saves almost all the retrace actuator motion time.

Control Laser uniquely customizes the 12x12 inch lens for AeroMark® so that there is less shift in motion with the lased field. In the diagram below, for a 24x24 inch size, AeroMark the system will utilize only 4 moves, while the regular 7 inch lens scanning laser will need 9 moves. AeroMark® provides the owner with efficiency that more than doubles the productivity, simply put, one AeroMark® equals more than two other laser markers!

Cure the “Red Plague”

Traditional mechanical or thermal wire stripping caused the unavoidable damage of metal core, as time passes, the wound spreads and shows as the dark red or black scares, which influence conductivity and performance. It is a headache and called as the “Red Plague” for years.

Since 1997 Control Laser started a R&D project, after hearing this issue from a safety manager of Lockheed Martin. At this time there is a full set of solutions with 2 standard models as well as multiple custom models having been developed the solution has is branded as NoNic® laser wire stripper and proven by the market. The major players like SpaceX, Boeing and Amphenol all acknowledged this brand.

“I appreciate all of your efforts and the innovative products, we are very glad to cure the Red Plague together”, the original safety manager said with a smile.

* NoNic® helps the owner to ensure 100% safety in wire stripping processing

NoNic® is specially designed for the high reliability requirement products, not for the ordinary industrial or consumer good products. The budget range starts from $30k. The typical applications for the products such as rocket, missile and aerospace Technology. The technology is to include submarine, military vehicles, and nuclear experimental devices.

The key technology is the laser source and its beam delivery, the aim of NoNic® development is to remove the wire stripping defects from the failure analysis checklist. Control Laser insist on using the right laser sources and manufacturing with the proprietary design of laser beam delivery. “We will never fool a customer with the low cost blue or NIR fiber lasers, the FIR laser can guarantee that there is no damage of wire metal core, the physics principle of photon energy absorption rate guarantees it. The company reputation is as important as the customer safety concerns”, said by Rodger, the president of Control Laser.

* NoNic® helps the owner handle all application scenarios

NoNic® series includes two standard models and one custom engineering based product line. The handheld model fit for the onsite repair occasion, the laser beam delivered through a wave guide, used to strip the short wire heads for post reconnection, without disassembly of the full harness. The benchtop designed for harness board makers, provides the handy convenience and eliminates reworking. Last but not least is the custom models. The below right hand column picture shows a reel to reel auto feeding system, which resolves the issue of stripping the extremely hard insulation with 6 inch long cut. In a word, NoNic® satisfies all types of application scenarios.

* Control Laser helps the owner to control cost and profit

Control Laser is a solution provider. The “solution” means not only the regular warranty or services, but also our application consultancy based on 50+ years' of experience. We offer an unlimited custom engineering service. This simply describes our core competence, we can help a business starter resolve all laser technical issues and custom any industrial laser system as requested, which brings true cost structure control and profitability for your business.

Fred Nielsen, Vice President of Control Laser Corporation, who had worked for Control Laser 40+ years, says of the AeroMark® Perfect Panel system :
“Control Laser invented the back-lit button laser technology for the aerospace industry over 30-years ago. Our company took that knowledge and listened to the industry demand in terms of precision and flexibility, to come up with the AeroMark® Perfect Panel laser engraving system.”

We can offer every detail of laser processing, including the pre-processing of coating selection and crafts. The qualified material suppliers recommendation, MIL standards compliance guidance, post-processing crafts and even provide a financing service.

Control Laser is a technology driven company. We have the most mature and stable software – Laser Maker's Studio, along with the laser system controller – APEX. Whether you need a standalone workstation, or need to integrate a laser into your existing production line, we are able to provide the custom engineering services. Our systems can integrate an auto loading and unloading ancillary sub-system, machine vision along with the 6 or 7 joints industrial robots. There is custom design for harsh environments as well. If you want a laser system to work as a sub-system or your production line the data communication patterns, we support in part are OPTO 22, OPC, Profibus, Gem Secs, or SMEMA automation protocols.

We believe the most valuable service is to provide the application consultation and delivery for the exact configured equipment required. The effective cost control is designed to eliminate the waste from countless trials and errors.

You are welcome to send your sample work pieces to do free application tests, 
through web request at https://www.controllaser.com/services/samples-tests-request/

We aim to resolve your material processing issues first, ensure you find the correct configuration equipment before you purchase.

Contact details from our directory:
Control Laser Corp. Marking Equipment, Etching, Laser Cutting, Laser Welding, Manufacturing Consultants
Related directory sectors:
Production Equipment
Processes
Metal Processes