1. Pulse Duration Comparison
| Laser Type | Pulse Duration | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Nanosecond (ns) | 10⁻⁹ s | Longer pulse, significant heat diffusion, larger HAZ |
| Picosecond (ps) | 10⁻¹² s | Reduced heat diffusion, cleaner edges, higher precision |
| Femtosecond (fs) | 10⁻¹⁵ s | Ultra-short pulse, almost no thermal effect (“cold machining”) |
2. Thermal Effects & Machining Quality
- Nanosecond laser: Noticeable heat-affected zone (HAZ), possible burrs, melting or cracks; suitable for marking, rough shaping, turning-like operations.
- Picosecond laser: Smaller HAZ, smoother surfaces; ideal for micro-manufacturing and precision milling-like machining.
- Femtosecond laser: Minimal heat diffusion, extremely clean ablation; best for ultra-fine finishing or transparent materials.
3. Material Adaptability
Nanosecond: Works on metal and plastic; limited for heat-sensitive materials.
Picosecond: Suitable for metals, ceramics, polymers; reduced thermal damage.
Femtosecond: Suitable for nearly all materials including glass, crystals, diamond, and brittle ceramics.
4. Industrial Laser Types Overview
- Infrared ns: Economical, reliable, widely used; limited for ultra-hard materials.
- Green ns: Higher efficiency; higher cost and integration difficulty.
- Infrared ps/fs: Emerging mainstream for carbide, PCD, ceramics; improving reliability.
- Green ps/fs: Used for high-end niche applications requiring specific absorption characteristics.
5. Moresuperhard 5-Axis Laser PCD Grinding Machine
Moresuperhard integrates ultrashort-pulse laser technology (ps or fs) with a high-precision 5-axis platform, enabling complete PCD and ultra-hard tool machining:
- Cold machining with minimal micro-cracks and perfect cutting-edge integrity.
- Five-axis synchronization allows processing of chipbreakers, flanks, helical surfaces, complex 3D geometries, and internal cooling channels.
- One machine covers rough shaping (ns), precision milling (ps), and ultra-fine finishing (fs).
- No electrode consumption compared to EDM; low operating costs and high consistency.
- Ideal for PCD/PCBN, CVD diamond, carbide, alumina, SiC, sapphire, and other brittle materials.
6. Conclusion
The progression from nanosecond to picosecond and femtosecond laser machining represents a major leap in manufacturing precision. For industries such as tooling, semiconductors, optics, medical devices, and advanced ceramics, ultrashort-pulse lasers provide unmatched accuracy and reliability. Moresuperhard’s 5-axis laser PCD grinding machine unifies roughing and ultra-precision finishing, delivering high efficiency, clean surfaces, and sub-micron accuracy.
