Contract Services

Initial focus applications for the new laser technology are targeted to the formation of spray holes in diesel injector nozzles and cooling holes in high pressure turbine blades for next generation aerospace turbine engines. Diesel injector applications are being driven by the reduced emission standards dictated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which drastically reduces allowable diesel emission levels by the year 2007, with a further reduction mandated for the year 2010.

The ability of the orion™ Laser Machining System to accurately install spray holes as small as 50 microns to high precision positional tolerances is of great interest to diesel manufacturers, because smaller spray holes atomize diesel fuel better, resulting in a cleaner burn, yielding lower emissions. The more efficient burn of the fuel will also provide greater fuel economy, which is of high interest to the Army, whose diesel powered vehicles consume over 600,000 gallons of diesel fuel daily.

Aerospace manufacturers face similar challenges with the manufacturing of cooling holes in advanced materials required for next generation turbine engines. As turbine temperatures increase, fuel economy and thrust is improved; however, adequate cooling is required to cool components such as turbine blades, which often operate at temperatures that exceed the melting point of the material from which they are manufactured. Next generation turbine engines will operate at even higher temperatures, will be constructed from advanced materials including ceramics, or may be clad with an advanced thermal barrier coating. These materials are typically non-conductive, making the use of the currently used electrical discharge machining to install the holes impossible. Since laser machining does not require conductivity of the component being machined, turbine blades from these exotic materials can be machined as easily as metallic turbine blades.

Contact us for more information about the use of Luxcelis™ custom laser machining and manufacturing services for metals, ceramics and other materials, including services of the orion™ Laser Machining System, for your projects and applications.