Center for Manufacturing Sciences Sponsors Laser Shaping Program

WARWICK, RI, Aug. 30 -- Infinite Group Inc. subsidiary Laser Fare Inc. and privately-held Optomec Inc. will be part of a Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS)-based program sponsored by the National Center of Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS). The NMCS has partnered with the US Department of Defense to launch a Commercial Technologies for Maintenance Activities program that involves the use of LENS technology. The Defense Department's Office of Defense Logistics has invested $1 million in LENS technology, which is a laser driven materials deposition technology that was invented at Sandia National Laboratories. Laser Fare is commercializing the technology as a service provider and Optomec as a system provider.
LENS technology integrates the small heat affected zone of the Nd:YAG laser with small laser spot size to furnish microstructure with small grain size and exceptional interface with the parent materials. The LENS systems, which are manufactured by Optomec, will be brought into the Anniston Army Depot and Laser Fare in September. The program will eventually yield better metal part repair methods at lower costs, and provide a way to repair parts that would have previously been thrown away, said Laser Fare.