| The Laser (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission | | | | micromachining did exist before laser technology, |
| of Radiation) technology which was discovered in | | | | however the cost effectiveness due to scale was |
| 1960 has started to make an impact across a | | | | only achieved after the introduction of lasers. |
| diversified industries and business fields. One of the | | | | A Brief Guide into Laser Technology based |
| main reasons for this impact is the precision and | | | | Micromachining: |
| accuracy in results which have resulted in laser | | | | In simple words laser technology based |
| technology being used in medical, aerospace, energy | | | | micromachining is the cutting, drilling, splitting and |
| drilling activities, biotechnology and semiconductor | | | | skiving various kinds of material such as glass, plastics |
| technology. But its immediate impact was felt in the | | | | and certain kinds of material. The precision of laser |
| area of life sciences. Laser technology was used in | | | | technology is unmatched and so is the speed by |
| advanced areas like neurological implants, cell and | | | | which it is done. The technology has non personnel |
| tissue reconstruction and DNA analysis as well. In the | | | | contact with the material therefore is an ease of |
| past the most active user of this technology was | | | | conducting the process. Laser micromachining is |
| the US Defence Department of Research. | | | | mostly used in creating specifically small three |
| In the industrial world it made a profound impact as | | | | dimensional devices. |
| the technology has become a cost effective method | | | | The most notable area of laser micromachining is the |
| for micro-fabrication, precision engineering and any | | | | medical instruments industry. High precision equipment |
| form of scaling up or down of a particular process. | | | | is mostly made by the use of this technology such as |
| Laser micromachining has brought a new dimension to | | | | angioplasty devices. The other very complex and |
| manufacturing of items with exact dimensions. | | | | highly sophisticated is the use of laser micromachining |
| Laser Technology - The Economies of Scale | | | | when it comes to treatment of cardiac problems. |
| An area where the technology has been seen as | | | | The other notable example of laser micromachining is |
| irreplaceable is manufacturing items in small numbers, | | | | the use of this process on silicon. A precision drilling |
| which could then later be scaled up in quick time. | | | | and cutting of silicon or the micro-structuring of silicon |
| Industries experienced a complete turnaround in | | | | can be only with high quality lasers. This process |
| terms batch production process, where earlier it could | | | | results in silicon being used for chips in the |
| only produce large quantities to benefit from volume | | | | semiconductor industry. In fact in the area of |
| sales; now with laser technology it can produce | | | | precision marking or engraving laser micromachining is |
| smaller batches at faster speed and therefore take | | | | used on glass and other materials as well. |
| advantage of the cost effectiveness. Though | | | | |