Laser Wire Stripping

By Author: Solder Training
Total Articles: 4
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As laser power sources have become more mainstream and the sources themselves more affordable, laser wire stripping services and service providers have become more common. Beginning in space applications in the 1970s laser wire stripping services, the technology was developed I order to not cause insulation of wire strand damage in the most demanding IPC/WHMA Class III applications such as the launching, steering, controlling and some cases returning systems found in space vehicles. This stripping technology was developed in order to reduce the risk of damage to both conductors and insulators using other wire stripping methods-especially mechanical methods.

Laser wire application acceptance became more pronounced as the data cables become complicated and multi-stranded as well as medical devices in body instruments had every finer gauge wires. All of these market demands for a precise, fast, clean method of stripping off the wire insulation on the ever smaller gauge and ever more complex multi-conductor cable sets came about.

There are numerous benefits of laser stripping compared to other stripping approaches ...
... that have helped this technology gain favor. One of the still common denominators in this approach to wire stripping is that it used on high valued electronics and higher value electronic applications.

The benefits to the precision, accuracy, and repeatability of this stripping show up in many other positive attributes of the process. Many times other methods for wire stripping or impractical or impossible. Due to the nature of laser wire stripping there or no nicks or scrapes like there are with mechanical methods meaning the end strip quality is of the highest caliber. The laser light, when chosen properly, reflects from the conductor thereby removing all of the insulation without wire damage. This stripping can accommodate ultra fine gauge wires with no damage to the wires during the stripping process.

How it Works

BEST has a variety of laser sources meaning that the likelihood of us having the right source for your application is high, The idea is to find the right laser source that strongly interacts with the layer you want to remove and yet is reflected from the underlying layer. With changes to the pulse duration and the different frequencies of light with the different lasers, a wide range of different processes can be achieved. This means BEST laser systems can cut wires, clean off surfaces, cut metallic shields for the top of insulated wires as well as the traditional cutting and or vaporizing of the insulation from the wires.

Laser Wire Stripping

Laser Wire stripping-The Method of Choice

There are numerous applications where this stripping is the stripping method of choice. One of the applications where other stripping methods do not strip to the precision required are simply do not work at all are I instance of very small diameter wires. These ae typically below 36 gauge and are typically found in medical devices. Most stripping methods cannot adequately remove enamel from enamel coated wires or other wires with bonded on insulated. Window-pane stripping, or removal of the insulation in a given length of wire and not at the cut ends, is another place where laser wire stripping can shine. Ribbonized cables are stripped easily using this stripping, especially when bonded to the wire. When cables are out of round and mechanical means of stripping are not possible, this stripping is the answer as ablation of the insulating material, regardless of where is it is can be done. The above are but a few of the application areas where laser wire stripping is the right solution to your wire processing outsourcing needs. For more about Laser Wire Stripping just visit: http://www.solder.net/services/fine-wire-stripping-ablating/

I am the principal of BEST Inc and I have the passion for teaching in a variety of life skills as well as in soldering and PCB repair as well in Social Media Marketing.