At Potomac we’re used to seeing some of the most interesting – and challenging – miniaturization projects on the planet. Recently we helped a Canadian university group miniaturizing for a space application. Polytechnique Montréal is competing in the Canadian Satellite Design Challenge (CSDC) and we were able to help laser micromachine micro holes for their…
Patterning Transparent Conductive Oxide [TCO] layers on substrates such as glass or plastic is a familiar laser micromachining application at Potomac. We’ve developed innovative ways to pattern the TCO layer without damaging the underlying substrate. But we usually see TCO’s such as Indium Tin Oxide [ITO] used in Displays, Touch Panels, RFID tags, Strain Gauges,…
Recently Potomac Photonics has been in the news bringing perspective to advanced manufacturing for the biotech and medical device markets. Symposium on Bio-medical Additive Manufacturing On March 4, Mike Adelstein was part of a panel discussion at the RAMPMD Symposium on Bio-medical Additive Manufacturing at the Cecil County School of Technology in Maryland. Additive manufacturing…
Pharmaceutical, medical, and biotech companies are required by the FDA or internal standards to periodically test the vials or ampules for cracks, pinholes and the seal integrity of the cap/closure that can cause potential liquid leakage or contamination. Potomac has developed the most accurate and cost-effective technology to drill calibrated leak test holes to be…
2016 promises to be another year of explosive innovation in advanced manufacturing. Several emerging applications, especially in the biotech and medical device industries, are driving Potomac Photonics to deliver ever more complex and sophisticated solutions to these new challenges. Here are some highlights of what we see ahead for the coming year: Miniaturization for Targeted…
Potomac’s Photonics expertise in laser micromachining fragile materials helps NIST test new solar cells to ensure the solar energy industry’s manufacturing standards. Solar energy is the fastest growing source of energy in the United States and the total install base is expanding exponentially. With explosive growth comes the need for better photovoltaic [PV] cells in…
In the Pharmaceutical industry more and more drugs never make it out of the lab to reach the patients that need treatment. Costs are not only high to the companies that have placed big R&D bets to develop novel drugs, but also to the patients who cannot be helped and the insurance companies who must…
In recent years there’s been a lot of talk about STEM education. STEM comprises Science – Technology – Engineering – Math and sometimes is called STEAM when Art is added into the mix in order to include the design component. STEM education is important because more and more studies demonstrate that in the next industrial…
2015 has yet again proven to be a great year at Potomac! We continually strive to be on the cutting edge [pun intended!] of digital fabrication by utilizing the latest tools for laser micromachining, 3D printing, CNC machining, laser marking and other manufacturing processes. But we go beyond just buying the best new machines. Here’s…
Laser micromachining at very small spatial scales demands special attention to precision. Anyone who has ever tried to assemble DIY furniture where holes were slightly off from part to part knows the frustration part variation can cause even for simple home projects. As you can imagine, precision takes on new meaning when drilling holes that…
