A breakthrough optical measurement technology developed by two physicists at Queen’s University (Kingston, Ontario) opens up broad new avenues for the use of high-power lasers in both the manufacturing and eventually the medical sector.

The technology, discovered by principal investigator Dr. James Fraser and doctoral candidate Paul Webster, solves a significant problem inherent in the use of lasers in automated industrial welding, drilling and machining.

Lasers are often used to drill, cut and weld materials, such as steel, because they are efficient, accurate and effective. While lasers are easy to aim, it is difficult to control how deep the laser penetrates into the material.

This problem is particularly acute in high-performance welding of thicker materials, wher there is no effective means of monitoring the depth and quality of laser welds on the fly. Since the depth of individual welds cannot be accurately controlled, industry tends to rely on destructive testing methods to optimize the process and minimize defects. This results in higher labour costs, inconsistent product quality and high final product costs.

The Queen’s technology provides a way to measure, in real time, how far into a material (metal, semiconductors, plastics, or even tissue) a laser beam has penetrated. Capable of gauging depth differences finer than the width of a human hair, this technology is the first step in enabling automatic depth control for laser processing.

“Lack of predictability in weld quality is a major hurdle in expanding industry’s adoption of high-speed laser welding,” says Stephen Adolph, Director of Commercial Development at Queen’s University’s PARTEQ Innovations, which is commercializing the technology. “By controlling the weld depth, this technology has the capability to dramatically improve the speed and quality of welded parts in a wide range of industries, leading to improved manufacturing and competitiveness.”

“It also holds promise as a key enabler for the use of lasers in precision robotic and remote surgeries, wher the ability to selecively cut tissue with lasers is impossible without precise depth control of the laser.”

The technology was recently recognized with the university’s Atherton Entrepreneurship Award. It has also attracted the interest of industry, and been recognized with more than $700,000 in development funding from PARTEQ Innovations, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the ontario Centres of Excellence.

High performance, high throughput automated laser welding is an important process for industry in North America in a wide range of applications, including automotive manufacturing and oil and gas production.

To accelerate the technology’s path to market, PARTEQ has created a company around the technology, Laser Depth Dynamics Inc. The Atherton Award provides seed funding of $34,000 to help launch the company.

The award, established in 2005 by Professor David Atherton of Queen’s Dept. of Physics, aims to assist young Queen’s University entrepreneurs to start up an entrepreneurial science or engineering business in Canada. The award is administered by PARTEQ Innovations.

about Laser Depth Dynamics:

Laser Depth Dynamics is a spinoff company of PARTEQ Innovations, focusing on the development of industrial laser depth control equipment for major manufacturing sectors, including automotive and aerospace.

about PARTEQ Innovations:

PARTEQ Innovations is the not-for-profit technology transfer office of Queen’s University, part of the Rideau Commercialization Network. PARTEQ works with institutional researchers and the business and venture capital communities to bring early stage technologies to market. Since 1987 PARTEQ has been instrumental in the establishment of 45 companies developing a variety of products, from potential drugs for Alzheimer’s, cancer and heart disease to automated bacteria detection for water systems, solar-powered appliances, and advanced materials used in the plastics, automotive, aerospace and household appliance industries.

about the Atherton Award:

The Atherton Award was established in 2005 by Dr. David Atherton of Queen’s Department of Physics and financed from the proceeds donated by Prof. Atherton and the Pressure Pipe Inspection Company (PPIC) of Mississauga, ON. Prof. Atherton’s patented electromagnetic technology for inspecting prestressed concrete water supply pipes formed the basis for PPIC in 1997. The award encourages research partnerships between young entrepreneurs and faculty at Queen’s.

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