Offline Equipment

Science Group: Soft Condensed Matter
Comments:

• CO₂ laser nominal max power:  50 W 10.6 μm, 30 W 9.3 μm 
• Precision: ± 25 μm / 300 mm moved
• Laser spot size: down to 25 μm
• Fully interlocked class 1 product with air or inert gas assist. 
• Uses pdf, dxf and gcode design files 

Lab 38 hosts a Universal Laser Systems X6000 laser cutter, available for use by Diamond staff and users. The high-precision CO₂ laser cutter is best suited for cutting plastics and other organic materials, marking glass and metals coated in laser marking spray, e.g. Marksolid015 and Marksolid590

Materials validated for cutting and marking: 

• Paper, card
• Kapton
• Magic tape
• Acrylic/ PMMA  
• Delrin/ Acetal 
• ABS
• PEEK 
• MarkSolid coated metals and ceramics (no toxic hazard associated with uncoated metals) (marking only) 
• Glass (marking only) 

Others (producing less hazardous fumes than ABS) on request and production of COSHH. Materials making more hazardous fumes would require re-validation of the extract system.  

Use cases:  

• Rapid-turnaround microfluidic chip production. Following the method of Liga et al., design to completed chip times of 15 minutes can be achieved. This is fast enough for users to re-design a device in response to experimental requirements.  
• Kapton window cutting. The 9.6 μm wavelength is especially suitable for processing Kapton.  
• Microscope slide fiducial engraving. 
• Precision marking/labelling/engraving of small components. 

Booking

Non Proprietary Use

• Use as part of approved beamtime: see your local contact
• Not part of approved beamtime: contact laboratory coordinator

Proprietary Use

• Contact the Industrial Liaison Office