News

"Revolutionary" weld joins glass to metal - the CIM does it again!

Submitted by Emma Williams on Wed, 06/03/2019 - 14:24

A method of welding glass and metal using an ultrafast laser system, the subject of a CIM project, has been described as a breakthrough for the manufacturing industry.

The materials are fused together using very short pulses of infrared light; the pulses last only a few picoseconds - a picosecond to a second is like a second compared to 30,000 years. To weld the two materials, the laser creates a microplasma - described as a tiny ball of lightning - between them.

The process could have direct applications in the aerospace, defence, optical technology and healthcare fields.

CIM-Laser comic has arrived!

Submitted by Emma Williams on Wed, 31/10/2018 - 09:23

CIM-laser has teamed up with Dekko Comics to produce a special issue introducing the concept behind using ultra-short pulsed lasers for very high precision manufacturing.

The use of a comic provides an innovative outreach medium and is intended to reach the largest audience possible from experts through to children raising awareness of the capabilities of laser based production processes.

Professor Chris Sutcliffe given prestigious award

Submitted by Emma Williams on Thu, 16/08/2018 - 12:29

On June 27th, 2018, Professor Chris Sutcliffe (Liverpool Univiersity and part of the CIM-Laser's Management Team), Director of Research and Development (R&D) at Renishaw’s Additive Manufacturing Products Division (AMPD) was awarded a prestigious Silver Medal from the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE). This award recognises his role in driving the development of metal 3D printed implants for use in human and veterinary surgery.

CIM Conference 2018

Submitted by Emma Williams on Tue, 14/08/2018 - 15:20

The annual CIM Conference took place at the end of May hosted by Cranfield University, where 3 international speakers and a number CIM project members took to the stage during an exceptionally interesting day.

Below are the some of the presentations given on the day.

Marius Vermeulen - Aeroswift

Andrew Moore - Heriot-Watt University

LPM 2018 - Laser Precision Manufacturing Conferences comes to Edinburgh

Submitted by Emma Williams on Wed, 04/07/2018 - 12:52

Laser Precision Microfabrication (LPM) international conference 25 to 28 June 2018

Delegates from all over the world attended LPM2018 at Heriot-Watt Edinburgh, hosted by Professor Duncan Hand and the EPSRC Centre for Laser-based Manufacturing in Laser-based Production Processes (CIM-Laser).

Westminster Launch of National Strategy Report

Submitted by Emma Williams on Tue, 20/03/2018 - 11:55

The UK laser industry has urged the UK Government to take up its recommendations as part of a strategy to grow a sustainable and competitive manufacturing sector, by ensuring all manufacturers have the skills, finance, knowledge and confidence to deploy lasers within their production processes, to substantially increase productivity.

Lasers for Productivity: a UK Strategy was developed with UK industry by the Association of Industrial Laser Users (AILU) and the Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Laser-based Production Processes (CIM-Laser) based at Heriot-Watt University.

IPaQS Fellowship Appointment

Submitted by Emma Williams on Mon, 18/12/2017 - 14:26

Following his succesful interview we are pleased to share the news that Dr Richard Carter, one of the Research Associates associated with CIM-Laser has been appointed to the Fixed Term Fellowship within IPaQS.

As a member of the academic staff, this will give Richard the opportunity to develope his own research activity whilst enhancing that of the Applied Photonics Manufacturing activity.

We wish him all the best in this new role which commences at the beginning of 2018.

Congratulations Richard - well done!

Best poster Award at COLA 2017!

Submitted by Emma Williams on Wed, 27/09/2017 - 16:33

A member of CIM-Laser, Riccardio Geremia who is an EngD student working at Oxford Lasers, has beaten all competition to lift the "Best Poster Award" at the International Conference on Laser Ablation, otherwise known as COLA, held in Marseille at the beginning of September.

Congratulations Riccardo!

Laser Munich World Trade Fair

Submitted by Emma Williams on Thu, 06/07/2017 - 15:18

CIM-Laser had a busy but thoroughly enjoyable time at Laser Munich last week.

We had a stand in the world Trade Fair, see image, and chatted to many interested visitors, and many Heriot-Watt Alumni also!

We also had a number of Centre staff presenting at the multiple Conference's running at the same time, as can be seen in the image of Prof Hand in action above.

Our thanks to the Organisers and all who stopped by the CIM-Laser stand!

CIM-Laser at Laser Munich June 2017

Submitted by Emma Williams on Fri, 09/06/2017 - 15:47

Members of CIM-Laser will be both participating as speakers and also attending the Conference that runs from Sunday 25th June to Thursday 29th June, not only that but we will also be participating in the Trade Fair that is be being held, Monday 26th June to Thursday 29th June.

The CIM-Laser stand is in the UK Pavillion, Hall B2, stand 130 - we would love for you to drop by and chat either about existing projects (we will have some sample on view) or, if there is a new area/possible project you would like to collaborate on in the future, please come see us.