One of our rock-star engineers, Clark, sent me this video today because he thought it was really interesting- it shows how fiber optics are made. I'd have to agree that it is a pretty fascinating video.
filed under: fiber optics, manufacturing, Optics, optics and photonics, Thickness Measurement
One of the most prevalent measurement devices in a medical balloon or catheter manufacturing facility is the micrometer gauge. It is simple and inexpensive. But, this measurement technique is subject to a high degree of operator variability. Another limitation is that it measures total thickness only, and not the actual individual wall thickness. Furthermore, a micrometer compresses the measured part, and must, by design, come into contact with the material. The micrometer does not provide engineers with the precise and detailed information they need to develop and improve production processes. What other issues are there? Read More
filed under: catheter inspection, Engineering, medical balloons, medical design, medical device inspection, Non contact thickness measurement
This is a fun summary of 10 great new ideas in the medical device industry that could really change your life. As we look back on 2014 and forward to 2015 we should keep these technologies in mind. All of them use photonics at their core.
filed under: innovation, Medical Device, Thickness Measurement
There are technology breakthroughs, and then there are jaw-droppingly amazing technology breakthroughs.
filed under: coolest technologies 2014, qmed, technology, Thickness Measurement
Amazing work going on at U of R. The official New York Photonics blog authored by, Thomas Battley elaborates that: "Researchers in Rochester, NY are finding ways to understand some of the mysteries of space without leaving earth." Read the full article here.
filed under: Optics & Photonics News
Very cool news from the official blog of the New York Photonics organization:
filed under: Optics & Photonics News, Photonics
Great re-cap on the 2014 RRPC Annual Meeting- which was a huge success, as always. The push for the national manufacturing institute in Optics and Photonics to be created here in Rochester, NY is stronger than ever and hopefully our dreams will become a reality with lots of continued hard-work to make it happen. Read the full article on the New York Photonics blog!
filed under: Photonics, Thickness Measurement
Lumetrics was featured in a Glass International publication about how glass thickness measurement is a critical parameter in a successful operation. Vice President Steve Heveron-Smith described how an all fiber-based interferometer, like Lumetrics' OptiGauge™ can work in different glass applications.
Common methods for measuring glass include laser triangulation, spectrometers, digital micrometers, and manual touch gauges of various types. Manual touch gauges have all the issues inherent to manual measurements including variability based on user, longer time to measure, data integrity, and operator error. Automated gauges like spectrometers, and laser triangulation gauges remove the data integrity and time to measure issues, but often result in issues with set-up and usability.
Lumetrics® has developed an all-fiber based interferometer called the OptiGauge™. Traditional white light interferometers use a mechanical rotating flywheel with mirrors to provide the core function of creating interference fringes- what the system measures. The rotating flywheel is used in conjunction with free space optics, which channel a light beam through a series of mirrors and prisms and then out through an optical fiber to the probe and measured surface. These mirrors can be subject to alignment and use issues over time.
Read the full article here.
filed under: Engineering, glass thickness measurement, Non contact thickness measurement, optical interferometry, Thickness Measurement
