Thomas Kolbusch | Coatema Coating Machinery GmbH: What is the core principle behind using lasers to *improve*, not replace, conventional drying?
00:07:56 - 00:08:17
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Summary of the clip:
What is the core principle behind using lasers to *improve*, not replace, conventional drying?
The speaker introduces the core concept of using lasers to enhance, rather than replace, conventional drying methods. The primary goal is to significantly reduce the dryer length, as demonstrated by a reduction from 90 meters to 34 meters, through a combination of laser and convection drying. This approach leverages the strengths of both technologies.
The speaker emphasizes that laser drying is not intended as a complete substitute for conventional drying. Instead, it is strategically integrated to improve the overall drying performance. This hybrid approach aims to optimize energy consumption and minimize potential issues associated with excessive laser energy input.
The speaker will later elaborate on the specific role of the laser in the drying process, highlighting its ability to rapidly remove a significant portion of the solvent in the early stages, thereby reducing the burden on the conventional convection dryer. This targeted application of laser energy contributes to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the drying process.
In this short video, you can learn:
* The concept of combining laser and convection drying.
* The goal of reducing dryer length using lasers.
* That lasers are used to *improve* drying, not replace it.
š **Clip Abstract** This segment introduces the idea of using lasers to *improve* drying performance in conjunction with conventional methods, focusing on reducing dryer length and optimizing energy use. It clarifies that laser drying is not intended as a complete replacement for traditional techniques.
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#LaserDrying, #ConvectionDrying, #HybridDrying, #DryerLengthReduction, #SemiconductorManufacturing, #FlatPanelManufacturing
This is a highlight of the presentation:
Laser drying of printed electronic and battery inks to reduce the dryer length in production lines and to improve the carbon footprint of these productions.
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06:23 - 08:43
Why settle for inkjet's viscosity limitations when Laser-Induced Forward Transfer can print high-viscosity materials with zero contact?
Why settle for inkjet's viscosity limitations when Laser-Induced Forward Transfer can print high-viscosity materials with zero contact?
Laser-Induced Forward Transfer (LIFT) represents a major shift in digital printing of advanced functional materials. Unlike traditional inkjet printing, which struggles with high-viscosity inks and larger functional particles, LIFT utilizes a laser beam to precisely transfer material from a carrier donor belt to a target substrate. The laser energy vaporizes or melts the ink locally, propelling it across a micro-gap with high accuracy without any physical contact with the substrate.
The core of this implementation is a continuous, recirculating seamless donor belt. A conventional printing process continuously coats the donor belt with a uniform film of functional ink, and as the belt rotates, a high-frequency pulsed laser selectively transfers the patterns. This closed-loop configuration ensures that unused ink and solvent are continuously recycled, maintaining consistent viscosity and rheological properties over long production runs.
Operating at resolutions up to 600 DPI, this digital technology eliminates the "cappuccino effect" and nozzle clogging issues common in inkjet systems. By avoiding physical screens or masks, manufacturers gain absolute design flexibility, allowing them to rapidly transition between patterns for printed electronics, fuel cells, and batteries without hardware modifications.
In this short video, you can learn:
* How Laser-Induced Forward Transfer (LIFT) operates as a non-contact, mask-free digital printing method.
* The mechanics of the continuous recirculating donor belt system that maintains stable ink rheology and eliminates material waste.
* Why LIFT overcomes the viscosity and particle-size bottlenecks that restrict conventional inkjet and screen printing.
š **Clip Abstract** This clip introduces the mechanics of Laser-Induced Forward Transfer (LIFT) technology developed for high-viscosity and large-particle printing. It explains how a continuous recirculating donor belt combined with selective laser propulsion achieves a non-contact, 600 DPI digital printing process suitable for printed electronics and battery manufacturing.
#LaserInducedForwardTransfer, #RecirculatingDonorBelt, #HighViscosityPrinting, #NonContactDigitalPrinting, #PrintedElectronics, #AdditiveElectronics
10:28 - 12:50
Can laser drying cut your roll-to-roll drying footprint in half while slashing operational costs by 30%?
Can laser drying cut your roll-to-roll drying footprint in half while slashing operational costs by 30%?
Traditional thermal drying methods in roll-to-roll (R2R) processing require massive footprints to evaporate solvents from functional coatings. Laser drying offers a highly efficient alternative by targeting electromagnetic energy directly into the coated layers. By utilizing diode and VCSEL (Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser) arrays, the system matches the laser wavelength to the absorption spectrum of the wet coating, achieving energy absorption rates exceeding 95% for compatible materials.
This selective energy delivery accelerates both mass and heat transfer within the wet layer, rapidly driving out solvents without heating the bulk substrate or surrounding machine components. The process is particularly powerful for water-based battery anode formulations, where drying kinetics are traditionally slow. By integrating simulation-guided airflow systems, the boundary layers that impede solvent evaporation are broken down, optimizing drying speeds in a compact zone.
The industrial implications of laser-assisted drying are profound, enabling a 50% footprint reduction for drying lines that typically stretch up to 80 meters. Operating costs are cut by up to 30% due to the instantaneous on/off capability of semiconductor lasers, eliminating the unproductive warm-up times and standby energy losses of conventional convection ovens.
In this short video, you can learn:
* How wavelength-selective diode and VCSEL laser arrays achieve over 95% energy absorption in functional coatings.
* The physical mechanisms of accelerated heat and mass transfer that bypass boundary layer thermal resistance.
* The quantitative benefits of laser drying, including a 50% line footprint reduction and a 30% drop in operating expenses.
š **Clip Abstract** This clip details the integration of diode and VCSEL laser systems for the continuous roll-to-roll drying of functional wet coatings. It highlights how targeted laser energy absorption and advanced airflow design can slash dryer footprints by half and reduce operational energy costs by 30%.
#LaserDrying, #VcselArrays, #WavelengthSelectiveHeating, #AnodeSlurryDrying, #RollToRollProcessing, #ElectrodeManufacturing