Some of the requirements in nuclear decommissioning include size reduction of contaminated containers, pipework and other structures manufactured from stainless and other steels. Size reduction is generally performed using mechanical saws or shears, with drawbacks of quick wear, significant applied force, difficult remote operation and addition to contaminated waste mass. The use of lasers for ...

A facility for rapid prototyping of MEMS devices is crucial for the development of novel miniaturised components in all sectors of high-tech industry, e.g. telecommunications, information technology, micro-optics and aerospace. To overcome the disadvantages of existing techniques in terms of cost and flexibility, a new approach has been taken to provide a tool for rapid prototyping and small-sc...

Micro-channels are made over the Ag+/Na+ ion-exchanged soda-lime glass surface by interaction of an intense Ar+ laser beam and the silver ions inside the glass matrix. The Ar+ laser beam reduces the Ag+ ions inside the matrix. The Ag+ atoms aggregate into silver nano-clusters around the interaction area, inside the glass matrix. Aggregation of the silver atoms and the thermal effects of the int...

The paper presents results of an analysis of acoustic emission (AE) signals captured in the course of laser cutting of a steel sheet, and the analysis of the signals characteristic of particular phenomena occurring after the cutting process. In the course of cutting, continuous signals, which are related to the quality achieved of the laser cut, are measured. After laser cutting characteristic ...

The paper presents results of an analysis of acoustic emission (AE) measurement in laser cutting of a DC04 steel plate. Laser cutting was evaluated on the basis of monitoring the acoustic emission in the course of cutting and of an analysis of events occurring in the material after the completion of laser cutting. It was found that the cutting oxygen flow was the primary source of AE in laser c...

The paper presents results of an analysis of acoustic emission (AE) signals obtained during laser cutting of a steel plate, which is frequently used in the production of automotive body components. The acoustic emission in the plate, which is produced by various physical phenomena occurring during the laser cutting process, was measured with contact PZT sensors. During the laser cutting process...

Laser diode beam divergence is the main parameter for beam shaping and fiber optic coupling. Increasing the waveguide layer thickness is the conventional method to decrease the beam divergence. In this paper, the broadened asymmetric waveguide is introduced to decrease the divergence without increasing the optical power. The asymmetric waveguide was used to shift the vertical optical field to n...

Wear-resistant coatings improve the machining capability of cutting tools and extend their useful life. However, when a tool needs to be reused, it is mandatory remove existing coating facilitate resharpening recoating. The technique uses electrochemical stripping, which hazardous environment. environmentally friendly pulsed laser stripping causes melting mixing materials, makes difficult separ...