OREANDA-NEWS. Shvabe Holding has proceeded to development of flexible manufacture of optical and optical electronic devices of new generation based on laser three-dimensional micro processing of components. One of the top priority directions in the nearest time will become the creation of process laser stations.

The work will be performed by Shvabe - Defence and Protection JSC (Novossibirsk), a Holding's enterprise, according to the results of victory in the open competition, "Implementation of integrated projects for creation of high-technology production", as a part of the state program of the Russian Federation, "Development of science and technology", for 2013-2020. According to scientists, the creation of process laser stations will lead to appearance of even more improved method for processing of complicated optical surfaces of parts to be used in microscopes, medical devices,geodesic and other new generation high-precision devices.

At present the research studies are performed for determination of the optimum modes of laser micro processing of various grades of optical glass and crystals as well as the preliminary tests accompanying them are conducted.

"Flexible production implies the ability of fast re-adjustment of manufacturing chains for new products and the possibility of implementation of technologies without shutdown of the main conveyor. This large-scale task, which the Holding is solving in a target-oriented manner, and several stages of research studies are already far behind. As to industrial lasers, their use allows to perform precise micro processing of the glass surface with application of special figures and optical device mark systems; in doing so, the matter is about multi-layer dielectric coatings of nanometre thickness", told Nickolai Rakovich,Shvabe JSC's deputy general director for R&D and innovative development.

Micro processing by methods of direct laser recording of optical scales, circles and nets provides essential advantages in the manufacture of glass, crystalline, polymer and composite blanks of products to be used in the optical and mechanical industry.

The peculiarities of the new technology consist of application of a figure by the method of laser removal of some substance from the olptical surface. It allows to obtain the image of scales having various width of lines, which is impossible to make in case when the standard engraving method is used. The technology is performed with the use of ultra-short compressed laser pulses equal to 10-15 seconds whereby a high density of the energy that evaporates the material in the figure application area is achieved.

In using this method, the radiation wavelength, power, duration and frequency of the pulse shall be selected for each particular problem depending upon what parameters are to be obtained.