Laser Cutting
Laser cutting allows custom flexibility with precise microscopic incisions and gas-assisted material removal to achieve demanding geometrical features and tolerances that can’t be achieved with other processing methods. By combining advancements in laser cutting and motion control, we enable new MedTech innovations with high-volume metal and polymer-metal components that help solve some of the most significant challenges in medical device manufacturing.
Laser Cutting Process
Laser cutting uses a focused laser beam to melt or ablate material which is removed via a coaxial gas nozzle. Depending on the application, different types of lasers can be used to perform the cutting process, including Nd:YAG or fiber, picosecond, and femtosecond. We custom-build our laser processing equipment, motion control, and fixturing to produce the best manufacturing solution for each application. For the most challenging and micro-scale products, we use our femtosecond laser cutting systems that eliminate heat input and minimize post-processing.
Laser Cutting Specifications
min | max
- Feature Sizes: 0.012 mm | 10 mm
- Material Thickness: 0.012 mm | 0.5 mm
- Material Diameter: 0.125 mm | 10 mm
- Material Length: 0.5 mm | 3 mm
Laser Cutting Materials
We perform laser cutting on a variety of materials, including, but not limited to:
- Polymers
- Polyamide
- Polyimide
- PEEK
- Nylon
- Pebax
- Metals
- Nitinol
- Stainless steel
- Titanium
- Tungsten
- Glass
Laser Cutting Applications
Laser cutting enables our engineers to achieve extremely small and precise cuts, making it the preferred manufacturing process for many different applications, including:
- Flexible catheter shafts
- Delivery system components
- Pull rings
- Thin wall custom stents
- Nitinol stents and valve frames
- Components or implants requiring complex geometry across the overall length
Laser Cut Tubing
Our unique laser cut tubing process is the fastest hypotube-cutting solution in the industry. We have designed and built custom laser processing systems that are optimized for laser cutting metal hypotubes with high speed and precision. Partner with our Lightspeed Lab® prototyping experts and AGILE Product Development® teams to convert your functional catheter or component requirements into a laser cut pattern that will optimize your device performance and be cost-effective in volume manufacturing.
