To make the report more accessible and digestible, the Centre and AILU decided to publish a short 2 page version of the findings of the Roadmapping exercise. The document will be widely circulated to the Community and is available from the Centre or can be accessed here . 

Roadmapping Conclusions

The priority laser-based manufacturing application areas identified were predominantly around manufacturing techniques that are applicable to a variety of products and markets as follows:

·         Additive Manufacturing including Repair;

·         Joining materials including both thin and thick, similar and dissimilar materials;

·         Surface processing and modification;

·         Micro-manufacturing.

The most important underpinning technologies and R&D priorities required to deliver these application techniques were identified as:

·         Fundamental laser process science to improve the understanding of laser-material interactions and eliminate the “black art” associated with some current processes;

·         Development of better process output monitoring, analysis and control;

·         Development of improved and new lasers and laser systems as well as their integration into machines, tools and equipment;

·         Improvements of the laser beam delivery and control to enable better manufacturing precision and speed;

·         Development of better and more sophisticated, high speed scanners and scanning systems.