Motion control system provider launches laser micro-machining system

Aerotech, a provider of motion control and positioning systems, is launching the AGV3D, a new 3D beam deflection system for laser micro-machining. 

The thermally stable three-axis laser scanner is particularly suitable for high-precision manufacturing of complex components in industries including medtech. User-friendly functions simplify integration into a machine, system or subsystem.

3D laser scan heads are particularly suitable for applications where flat-field objectives (f-? lenses) cannot be used or the contour of the workpiece requires focus tracking in the z-direction. Most 3D scanners available on the market to date employ a third rotary galvo motor with a tangential arm for tracking the focussing optics. However, these designs can become thermally unstable. This limits the dynamics and precision in continuous operation, which is becoming increasingly important in many markets and applications.

Simon Smith, European director at Aerotech, said: "With our AGV3D, we offer a rapid, flexible and high-precision laser scanning solution featuring direct operation of dynamic linear tracking of the focusing optics with high-resolution feedback.

"As the only scanner on the market with a DFM (Dynamic Focusing Module) based on a linear focussing axis with a powerful direct drive, the AGV3D provides superior dynamic performance with smooth motion as well as high-resolution positional feedback for accurate and repeatable focussing.”

With integrated water and air cooling, the new scanner can achieve maximum thermal stability. Temperature gradients within the AGV3D are avoided, reducing errors caused by thermal drift. This results in consistent performance over the entire processing cycle with high laser processing accuracy.

Smith added: "In this way, the AGV3D achieves the greatest working volume of all currently available 3D scanners - and all that at a wide range of laser wavelengths. This enables versatility and efficiency in the manufacturing process and eliminates the need for manual focus adjustments when changing workpieces."

The AGV3D keeps the laser focus constant over the entire working volume. Unlike designs that require tedious manual DFM adjustments when changing the usable working volume, the AGV3D offers two simple user-selectable configuration settings covering fields of view from 100x100 mm to 1000x1000 mm and above.

Depending on the process requirements, the three-axis scanner is available with different apertures for different beam diameters. Aerotech can supply the AGV3D as a fully configured scanning system including flat field optics. The use of the AGV3D is particularly relevant in applications where parts with variations in height or thickness are processed, or in multi-layer, additive processes.