As discussed in a previous blog, in the medical devices and diagnostics market, devices are getting increasingly smaller with dimensions approaching the 1µm level*. This has necessitated the need for laser micromachining. Airing recently was able, through a relationship with a world-class company, to gain priority access to such technology.

Priority access to a laser micromachining system is just one of the benefits of our freedom from reliance on subcontracted work for our laser micromachining system requirements. Another is our newly acquired capability to take advantage of the direct write method when delivering laser energy. This blog takes a little deeper dive into this technology process.

There are two ways to target laser energy. “Direct Write” is one method; the other is via “Mask-Projection”. Each has its advantages and drawbacks.

The mask-projection technique can be costly as the creation, storage, maintenance, inspection, and correction of each mask can cost over $5,000. And it is also time-consuming to produce a mask, a process that can take over 3 weeks from start to delivery of the finished mask. With this technique, the laser energy is delivered selectively according to what parts of the beam pass through the mask. Think of it as a negative of the mask.