Advanced Manufacturing Job Opportunities Through “Middle-Skill” STEM Education

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…

  • Potomac Photonics
  • January 19, 2016

2015: The Year in Review for Potomac

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…

  • Potomac Photonics
  • January 14, 2016

When to Choose Laser Micromachining Part 4: Tolerance and Accuracy

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…

  • Potomac Photonics
  • December 24, 2015

Happy Thanksgiving from Potomac Photonics

The horrors in the news that come to us from around the globe each day challenge us to remember the many things for which the USA is thankful.  We do not live in a perfect place but Americans strive to create a better world on many fronts. Technology is an area in which we excel…

  • Potomac Photonics
  • November 24, 2015
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When to Choose Laser Micromachining Part 3: Creating Holes, Cuts and Features with Smooth Surfaces

At Potomac innovation is not just another buzzword.  Everyone, from our engineers to the operators on the shop floor, is continually looking for new ways to push the limits of standard laser micromachining technology.  Almost perfectly smooth parts have been one of the manufacturing technology quests Potomac has successfully conquered through in-house manufacturing process innovation….

  • Potomac Photonics
  • November 4, 2015

When to Choose Laser Micromachining Part 2: Pushing the Limits of Small

When we need to make very small holes, cuts, lines and features laser micromachining is usually the best choice in our digital fabrication toolbox. Lasers that emit light in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum are especially useful in biotech and medical device applications since they can create features as small as 1 micron –…

  • Potomac Photonics
  • October 20, 2015
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When to Choose Laser Micromachining Part 1: Material Absorption of Laser Wavelength

All material processing starts, of course, with the material.  Laser micromachining is a good option for manufacturing parts since materials absorb light resulting in a physical transformation of the material’s structure.  Whether it’s a thermal process as with infrared lasers or the ultraviolet lasers’ photo-ablative mechanism, laser light can drill holes, cut, weld, and mark…

  • Potomac Photonics
  • October 14, 2015

When to Choose Laser Micromachining Series

At Potomac we like to say that despite the mainstream media hype, 3D Printing is not yet the Star Trek replicator.  The same is true for all the technologies we use to make products for our customers.  From prototype to production, manufacturing tools are seldom a one-stop solution to making anything and are often used…

  • Potomac Photonics
  • October 8, 2015

3D Printing, the Orioles, and Making Wishes Come True

In recent years Potomac has added 3D Printing to our Digital Fabrication toolkit, integrating the additive manufacturing process with laser micromachining, micro CNC machining and other technologies to solve complex manufacturing problems.   We’re pushing the envelope of 3D printing limitations especially in the medical device and biotech fields.  But sometimes it’s the simplest of applications…

  • Potomac Photonics
  • September 8, 2015

Laser Marking an Historic H-3 Helicopter Rotor Blade

Laser marking Creates Remembrance for Marine Corp Veteran Potomac has had a long history working with U.S. government agencies over the years.  Our first R&D funding came from the Small Business Innovation Research program that supported our UV laser and Laser micromachining development with grants from DARPA, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the…

  • Potomac Photonics
  • August 27, 2015