On 24thApril 2012, the Laser Connect First Workshop on Short pulse laser processing of thin films was held at M-solv Ltd (Kidlington, Oxford, UK). The workshop provided a comprehensive overview of the application of short pulse laser energy to selectively pattern a thin film coating on an engineering substrate. The workshop attendees were informed about recent developments in short laser sources. Discussion about integration of laser sources in industrial production system was followed by the demonstration of M-solv processing machines. After the lunch break Dr. David Ashkenasi (Laser‐ und Medizin‐Technologie GmbH, Berlin, Germany) presented perspectives on ultra‐short laser materials processing. The workshop was concluded by a dissemination of research progress in Laser connect project.
Participants were experts from the three Laser Connect partner institutions as well as engineers and scientists interested in the selective patterning technologies, for touch panel displays, photovoltaics and high density electronics – about 4o people in all. Studies of selective ablation off different thin film by ultrafast lasers were performed during this secondment. Laser tests and characterization analysis were done on a wide range of materials of interest in industry.
During November and December several secondments took place. First, Helios Chan (M-solv HK) spent a month at NCLA. During his visit Helios had a chance to investigate interaction of ps laser pulses with different stacks materials of interest to advance packaging applications. During his secondment at M-solv UK, Cormac had a chance to study and compare how process parameters for ablation of thin films depend on pulse duration and laser wavelength. He got a chance to use new generation of programmable laser fiber sources. The measurements during processing of selective ablation constituted first step for development of on line monitoring systems. Improvments of process windows for complicate laser material interaction is not possible without a deep theoretical understanding and modeling. During Gerard's visit to M-solv deep insight into laser-material interaction of thin films on glass was approached taking in account optical and electronic properties of materials before and during an interaction with laser.
Active Transfer of knowledge between academy to industry during a seminar to R&D department at M-solv As part of the technology transfer between partners, recruited researcher Camilo Prieto spent two weeks in Galway. That stay allow him to get in the contact with ultrafast laser facilities and advances characterization techniques available at the NUI Galway as well as to share good practices and experiences for ongoing research activities. This visit will help in the efficient time and R&D resource planning of next activities and secondments
Cormac Mc Donnel (PhD student at NCLA) spend three weeks in China.
During this period he was an active member of the team responsible for the machine testing, its implementation and at the end a production validation at M-Solv HK. Gaining such kind of experience and training in a real industry is invaluable for one recently graduate student and his future carrier. Mark Aranzanso, a placement student of M-solv UK, spent in June two weeks at NCLA. During this period Mark was investigated interaction of ps laser pulses with thin layers relevant to PV industry.
Since March 2011 two new people have joined the Laser-connect project team. Camilo Prieto will be working on laser process development at M-solv Ltd for a period of 18 months. Approximately at the same time Danijela Rostohar has been employed at the NCLA as a leading researcher. During a period of two years Danijela will investigate laser selective ablation by ultra fast lasers. NCLA researchers have completed the first secondment at M-Solv UK in November 2010. Ths period focussed on project definition and reveiw of M-Solv activities. From left to right: Dr David Milne (Strategic Technologist, M-Solv UK), Cormac McDonnell (PhD student, NCLA), Dr James Pedder (Strategic Technology, M-Solv UK), Dr Adam Brunton (Strategic Technologist, M-Solv UK), Dr Phil Rumsby (CEO, M-solv UK), Alan Conneely (Centre Manager, NCLA) The first secondment of the Laser-Connect project took place at the NCLA in September 2010. Dr James Pedder of M-Solv UK conducted a wide ranging scoping study on ultrafast laser machining. From left to right: Dr. Ger O'Connor (Research Director, NCLA), Cormac McDonnell (PhD student, NCLA), Dr James Pedder (Strategic Technologist, M-Solv UK) A job vacancy for a Lead Researcher - Laser Ablative Machining has been posted by the NCLA. This recruited researcher will have responsibility for progressing the research of ultrafast laser ablation of thin films on this project. See here for further details.
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