United States

Femtosecond lasers are now a key technology for high precision manufacturing. They offer high quality, small feature size, and can process virtually any material. However, due to the relatively small amount of ablated matter per pulse, they have so far been limited to small parts processing. The growing availability of high average power femtosecond lasers, now reaching the kiloWatt level, enables to bring the benefits of femtosecond laser micro-processing to the macro-scale. An attractive application is large area surface functionalisation. We report on new developments aimed at improving plane wings aerodynamics by femtosecond laser micro-texturing. The creation or riblets, which are grooves engraved in the direction of air flow, can lead to a reduction of up to 9% in fuel consumption and contaminants emission. Riblets have a small feature size: The pitch and height of the groove is typically on the order of a few tens of micrometers. Achieving the required precisionand processing speedover large surfaces is challenging. We report on a combination of high average power femtosecond laser and beam shaping, to enable beam splitting and square top-hat generation. We present texturing tests that demonstrate the feasibility of the propose technique. We show that changing the beam profile from circular gaussian to square top-hat significantly improves the process speed. The combination of high power laser and advanced beam shaping has the potential to enable the production of high quality surface structures for new aerospace applications.

ICALEO 2023

Large Area Femtosecond Laser Surface Texturing for Improved Aerodynamic Performances

aerospace

texturing

surface processing

ultrafast

laser

technical paper

**General Chair Welcome**

![](https://assets.underline.io/markdown_image/1/image/d6e6dddc08bf2371b9136ea9c18dc5ab.png)              

Welcome to ICALEO® 2023!
	
We were excited to host the world’s leading international conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics in Chicago. The Laser has been shown to have the potential to revolutionize solutions for major global challenges like energy usage and supply, global warming, and CO2 footprint. Even the fusion energy breakthrough is based on laser technology. The conference, with peer-reviewed scientific and technical presentations, focused on the newest results in Micro Applications, Macro Applications, Additive Manufacturing, Beam Shaping and Frontiers in Laser Applications. Additionally, the Battery-Manufacturing Track gave an overview of the process combined with the newest advances in laser application results. 

The Business Session brought the business aspect and environment of the laser to the audience and the possibility to discuss with seasoned industry leaders from around the world. 

Whether this is the first time you are hearing about ICALEO or you are a longtime attendee, you will find something of interest, new ideas, and an excellent opportunity to network with other laser specialists worldwide. 

**Klaus Löffler **  
ICALEO General Chair   
Managing Director, Precitec GmbH

**What is ICALEO?**

ICALEO® brings together the brightest minds, seasoned professionals, and pioneering researchers from around the world. With a laser-focused agenda, ICALEO offers an exceptional platform to delve into the cutting-edge advancements, diverse applications, and transformative research that define lasers and electro-optics.

Participants will be immersed in a dynamic environment that fosters collaborative learning, networking, and idea exchange. Through engaging plenary presentations, technical sessions, an industry business panel, and networking events, attendees gain insights into the forefront of laser technology. From industrial applications to medical breakthroughs, additive manufacturing to materials processing, ICALEO covers the entire spectrum of laser-related disciplines. Moreover, the event serves as a launching pad for synergistic partnerships, paving the way for professionals to forge connections that shape the future of our industry.

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ICALEO is tailor-made for professionals, researchers, academics, and enthusiasts who are deeply passionate about the world of lasers and electro-optics. If you're an industry trailblazer, an academic luminary, an aspiring expert, or a postgraduate student looking to dive into the latest developments and trends, this is an event you won't want to miss.

Industrial leaders seeking to stay ahead of the curve in their fields, engineers working on laser applications, and manufacturing experts interested in additive manufacturing and materials processing will find ICALEO to be an invaluable platform. Researchers and scientists exploring the forefront of laser technology, from fundamental principles to groundbreaking applications, will also discover a wealth of knowledge and networking opportunities.

Medical professionals investigating laser-based medical advancements, entrepreneurs seeking to innovate with lasers, educators aiming to stay updated with the latest in laser education, and policy makers shaping the industry's landscape are all essential attendees. Whether you're an established expert or a rising star, the 42nd annual ICALEO promises to offer a diverse ecosystem of expertise, connections, and knowledge sharing that caters to the laser and electro-optics communities.

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Please register for the ICALEO 2023 Conference to join the event.

ICALEO® brings together the brightest minds, seasoned professionals, and pioneering researchers from around the world. With a laser-focused agenda, ICALEO offers an exceptional platform to delve into the cutting-edge advancements, diverse applications, and transformative research that define lasers and electro-optics.

Laser surface texturing (LST) has been demonstrated to be an effective method to induce the icephobic characteristics on metallic surfaces, which can be exploited for several applications including aerospace, energy, and communication. Using femtosecond (fs) lasers, highly-repeatable multiscale surface topographies comprised of microscale patterns and self-organized micro/nanoscale features such as laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) can be fabricated. This study investigated the influence of multi-scale surface textures produced on aluminum plates by fs-LST on the anti-icing performance. Firstly, surface features with different morphologies were fabricated by varying the fs-LST process parameters such as hatch spacing, scanning speed and the number of scanning passes. Surface topography of the textures was characterized using optical profilometry and scanning electron microscopy whereas Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy was used for analyzing the chemical composition. The wettability of the surfaces was studied using static, advancing and receding contact angle measurements. Further, icephobicity evaluation was carried out using two main techniques: &nbsp;i) by measuring the freezing time delay using an optical goniometer equipped with a subzero Peltier cell and, ii) by measuring the ice adhesion strength using an ice adhesion set-up based on horizontal shear stress application. Icing analysis and ice adhesion tests indicated that optimal microscale patterns overlapped with LIPSS features effectively increase the freezing time, mostly through the existence of the Cassie-Baxter regime at the interface between ice and textured surface, with a beneficial reduction in the ice adhesion strength. These results highlight that surface texturing by fs lasers is effective in achieving icephobic surfaces.

Effect of Femtosecond Laser Textured Surface Morphology on the Icephobic Characteristics of Aluminium

GHz burst mode femtosecond (fs) laser processing that contains a series of fs laser pulse (intra-pulse) trains with a pulse interval of several hundred picoseconds, has been attracting considerable attention, since it can offer some distinct characteristics in material processing compared with the conventional fs laser irradiation scheme (single-pulse mode). Specifically, laser ablation with the GHz burst mode can be achieved higher-quality with enhanced ablation efficiency than that by the single-pulse mode. Most of the research using GHz burst mode to date has been focused on ablation of materials. The objective of this study is to examine the possibility of GHz burst mode fs laser processing for the fabrication of novel nanostructures, that is different from laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) by the conventional single-pulse mode. 
In the experiment, linearly-polarized fs laser pulses (central wavelength 1030 nm, pulse width 220 fs) were focused onto crystalline silicon and titanium surfaces. It’s well known that the single-pulse mode creates nanoripple structures on both substrates, whose direction is perpendicular to the laser polarization direction. &nbsp;Interestingly, we found that GHz burst mode fs laser pulses can form unique two-dimensional LIPSS on both substrates with periodic structures perpendicular and parallel to the laser polarization direction. The formation mechanism of 2D LIPSS is discussed and their surface properties are characterized.

Novel 2D Periodic Surface Structures Fabricated by Femtosecond Laser Pulses with GHz Burst Mode

Seurat Technologies has developed an optically-addressed light valve used for high repetition rate dynamic laser beam shaping for primary use in Metal Additive Manufacturing [1]. This patented Area Printing® process—analogous to a programmable stamp—delivers high-power laser pulses to a bed of metal powder that locally sinters and bonds to form fully dense metal parts across a wide range of industrial applications. 
Area Printing® enables physical and economic scaling for Additive Manufacturing, while maintaining high spatial resolution, capable of printing features beyond reach of conventional manufacturing; with greater efficiency and minimal spatter defects. 
In this presentation, we address the optoelectronic properties of the optically-addressed photoconducting insulator (semiconductor) and liquid crystals that control the dynamic beam shaping, in addition to the limitations and challenges met with the use of industrial power laser intensities. Specifically, we focus on the contrast ratio achieved between dark and bright fields, the resulting spatial resolution of the beam delivered to the print bed, and the temporal response of the processed beam, as it relates to the semiconductor photoexcited carrier dynamics and mid-bandgap states mediated relaxation pathways, and the related electrical properties of the beam shaping device. 
Parasitic absorption imposes further device-level constraints that we characterize temporally and spatially via multi-physics finite element analysis of the thermomechanical response when the device is exposed to kW or MW levels of laser power. Key focus is placed on semiconductor and thermal management challenging the performance capabilities in light valves used in high power Additive Manufacturing. 
[1]&nbsp; https://www.seurat.com/area-printing

Light Valve Technology for Rapid, High Resolution 3D Area Printing

Extreme High-Speed Directed Energy Deposition (EHLA) is a modified variant of the laser based Directed Energy Deposition (DED-LB) and is being applied as an efficient coating process for rotational symmetric components. Characteristic for EHLA processes are feed rates of up to 200 m/min which result in smaller weld bead deposition and thinner layer thicknesses compared to conventional DED-LB. When transferred to Additive Manufacturing (AM) this characteristic utilizes the potential of depositing thin-walled filigree structures at deposition rates which are comparable to typical DED-LB processes (EHLA3D). 
Due to the high feed rates typical EHLA handlings are lathe type machines which realize the relative movement by rotating the rotational symmetric component. During the recent years the transfer to AM processes were demonstrated on a tripod machine developed by ponticon GmbH in collaboration with Fraunhofer ILT. The results of this work were achieved with a modified CNC-type machine which is capable of feed rates of up to 30 m/min. 
In this work process parameters were developed for the deposition of thin-walled filigree structures with the Ni-based superalloy IN718. Single tracks with constant feed rates and variation of beam diameter and powder mass flow were deposited and analysed regarding the resulting weld bead dimension. Then process parameters were selected and transferred to the deposition of thin walls and guidelines of the parameter adaption towards thin-walled deposition were defined. Depending on the developed parameter sets wall thicknesses between 300 µm – 500 µm are achieved.

Process Development and Process Parameter Guidelines for Thin Wall Deposition with IN718 using Extreme High Speed Laser

Laser metal deposition (LMD) is a blown powder process used for the additive manufacturing of large as well as complex parts. The laser spot size is determined by the fiber optic cable and by the imaging ratio of the process optics. Spot sizes typically used for LMD can range between 200 µm up to several millimeters. Zoom optics are able to change the laser spot focus within seconds during the process. However industrial powder nozzles are still static in their powder spot size. Changing the powder spot size accordingly to the laser spot size could lead to a desirable union of time savings when printing large volumes while also generating fine near-net-shape features. 
To overcome the current limitations in the LMD process, this work examines an adaptive powder nozzle system. In this discrete coaxial layout of three single powder nozzles the individual powder nozzles can be adjusted closer and further from the process to dilate or shrink the powder focus. Different diameters of powder channels are examined. The resulting powder propagation behavior is characterized for different settings of the single powder nozzles. Single tracks are welded with different nozzle settings for a fine and coarse powder spot, while accordingly changing the laser spot size with a zoom optic. The laser power is closed-loop controlled by a 2-color pyrometer to achieve comparative process temperatures. The single tracks are evaluated with regard to their geometry. High-Speed imaging gives supplementary information on the welt track generation.

Adaptive Power Nozzle Setting for Enhanced Efficiency in Laser Metal Deposition

We report a series of in-situ monitoring experiments on the high-speed laser directed energy deposition (HSL-DED) with a discernible distance between the identified laser spot and melt pool boundary, termed melt pool lag, during the high-speed laser-substrate interaction. The experiments investigated the melt pool lag feature on both mild steel and 300M high-strength steel substrates at processing speeds from 5 to 20 m/min with and without powder delivery. The analysis of results indicates that the correlation between melt pool lag measurements and several deposit characteristics could shorten the parametric investigation cycle in HSL-DED. The melt pool lag measurement is positively proportional to the processing speed at a given incident laser power level. Further examinations also found that substrate material properties significantly impact melt pool lag for a given set of process conditions. The melt pool lag measurements obtained from the mild steel substrate was significantly higher than that on the 300M high-strength steel substrate. An analytical model on melt pool formation has been developed with temperature-dependent thermophysical data of substrate materials to estimate the melt pool lag in HSL-DED. The observation of melt pool lag feature and the proposed analytical model enhance the understanding of the melt pool dynamics in HSL-DED. They also provide insights to improve powder utilisation during HSL-DED deposition.

The Melt Pool Dynamics on Different Substrate Materials In High-Speed Laser Directed Energy Deposition Process

Automotive industry's shift towards low-emission electric vehicles and induce a huge demand for EV-batteries. Along the entire process chain of Li-battery production you will find a variety of potential new or already established laser applications which are crucial for the output of GW battery capacities. Within electrode manufacturing there is the already established laser cutting and notching with ns lasers but also new developments like laser-based drying processes by VCSEL or other diode emitters which are getting high attention. These technologies offer dedicated advantages in surface heating of coated electrode foils by IR-laser radiation resulting into a significant reduction of operating and energy costs and hence to a decrease of CO2 footprint. In cell assembly laser welding of demanding materials such as copper and aluminum are still essential for the entire battery system to secure technical functionality like electric conductivity, strength, and tightness. A common approach for internal connection of stacked foils combines both, a pre fixation of stacked foils by ultrasonic welding followed by laser welding to ensure highest electric conductivity. In addition, new laser-based production solution trends in cell assembly like e.g., media-tight welding of cover assembly in prismatic cell housing “Can-Cap” and busbar welding will be exemplified to meet highest quality and productiveness. 
Finally, in battery module and pack manufacturing laser and combined sheet metal manufacturing processes are key elements in smart factory solutions. Ground breaking new technologies like multi focus beam shapes open new horizons in e.g. gas tight welding of aluminum battery heat exchangers.

Laser Applications Trends in EV Battery Manufacturing

Laser beam welding is a very efficient process for joining copper pins in electric drives, which are referred to as hairpins. The occurrence of pores reduces the conducting cross-sectional area, which increases the electric resistance and further impairs the tensile strength of the joint. 
The present work compares different welding strategies regarding the formation of pores and spatters during welding cu-hairpins. The welding strategy was varied by different geometries of the scan contour, different beam shapes and an adaptive line energy. Different beam shapes were realized using a two-in-one beam delivery fiber and using a civan laser. In order to capture the formation of pores, the processing zone was observed by means of X-ray imaging at the IFSW in Stuttgart and at Petra III at Desy in Hamburg. The formation of spatters was observed using a high-speed camera. With the observation it was possible to separately determine the influence of scan contour and beam shape on the formation of pores and spatters. Finally, these findings were applied to identify beneficial welding strategies to reduce the formation of pores and spatters. Furthermore, tensile testing proves the increase of the tensile strength of the hairpins, which were welded with the optimized welding strategies.

High-Speed X-Ray Imaging of Pore and Spatter Formation During Welding of Copper Pins

Pulsed laser material processing with high repetition frequencies is able to initiate heat accumulation effects that can decrease processing quality even for ultrashort laser pulses. In order to gain deeper insights into these effects, a fast temperature measurement system was developed using infrared detectors and dedicated optics. The system evolved through years when responding to different challenges, like homogeneous nanosecond laser melting of metals and semiconductors or laser marking of stainless steel for corrosion resistance conservation. Appropriate calibration methods were developed for temperature evaluation from measured signal to be used in different application fields. Evaluation algorithms were invented for analyses of thermal characteristics from the signal. Hardware implementation of the analyses using field programmable gate array (FPGA) was prepared for online evaluation of heat accumulation in nanosecond time resolution during the laser micro-processing. The system was used for example for real-time analysis of thermal processes in laser surface texturing by nanosecond laser and polygon scanner for increasing adhesion of thermal spray coatings, LIPSS formation by high power multibeam picosecond laser system or processing of lithium-ion battery electrodes for enhancing charging speed. The presented diagnostics system can be applied for analysis, monitoring and control of processes in a wide range of pulsed laser applications, e.g. laser surface texturing, micromachining, polishing, drilling or 3D printing.

Infrared online diagnostics for pulsed laser micro-processing

This presentation showcases various methods for producing laser-induced micro and nano structures with controllable spatial features, scale, and shape. These structures can be directly fabricated on dielectric surfaces and thin metallic films to enable efficient light manipulation, polarization control, and perfect absorption. By selecting the appropriate structure and processing conditions, we achieve optimal combinations of super-transmissivity, anti-glare, and extreme wetting properties for variable dielectric materials and optical fiber tip use cases. The nanostructured glass surfaces exhibit a high lased damage threshold, even more, that double in particular wavelengths. In addition, we demonstrate a method for producing polarizing plates exclusively via direct laser nano-structuring. Our grating-type planar metasurfaces, consisting of periodically aligned infinite ridges on a uniform transparent substrate, can be used as wire grid polarizers for far or mid-infrared electromagnetic frequencies. We also show that perfect narrow-band absorption can be achieved with gap plasmons polarizing metasurface plates operating in reflection at IR and mid-IR via laser structuring, specifically, laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) formed on sub-micrometer metallic films. The polarizing efficiency along with the optical responce of these structures was validated through numerical calculations and experimental results. Our study demonstrates that exploiting nanostructure formation on sub-micron metal films and dielectric materials is a promising approach for sophisticated light manipulation and may pave the way toward laser-induced meta-optics.

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Effect of Femtosecond Laser Textured Surface Morphology on the Icephobic Characteristics of Aluminium

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Next from ICALEO 2023

Effect of Femtosecond Laser Textured Surface Morphology on the Icephobic Characteristics of Aluminium

Stay up to date with the latest Underline news!

PRESENTATIONS

CONFERENCES

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RESOURCES

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