MKS Instruments' App Measures Laser Energy for AM Industry

MKS Instruments Inc. (MKS), a global provider of technologies for advanced processes, has developed the Ophir StarViewer iOS App which can wirelessly deliver laser power and energy measurements to iOS iPhones and iPads.

The app enables data displays to appear in a variety of formats, including time-based line graphs, needle displays, or large numeric displays with statistics. Additionally, MKS says customers can use the app to capture a screenshot for sharing images and data.

The StarViewer iOS App is designed to work in collaboration with MKS’ Ophir Ariel, which is a laser power meter that remotely supports applications in additive manufacturing (AM) as well as industries such as industrial cutting and welding, medical devices and laboratory research.

Ophir Ariel functions to measure high-power industrial lasers that can reach up to 8 kW. According to MKS, the Ophir Ariel is a battery-powered device requiring no water or fan cooling and is small enough to fit in the palm of a hand. The application is said to measure a wide array of wavelengths and can be used in fields such as copper welding, metal processing and medical lasers.

It is said the device functions in dangerous conditions. Examining lasers in closed AM chambers must be done on a regular basis, especially before beginning a build. This proves challenging as conditions in AM chambers can be dangerous for humans to access.

MKS says the combination of StarViewer iOS App and the Ophir Ariel power meter enables users to take transfer measurements directly from the build chamber via Bluetooth straight to iPhones or iPads. This simplifies the measurement process while ensuring accurate builds as well as safety measure success.