Ultrafast beam modulation and delivery for embossing and digital printing applications

Optimized ps laser processing is used to improve laser engraving of embossing rollers. The optimized ablation process is characterized by the condition that the ablation depth of a single pulse is just as deep as the effective penetration depth of the energy. In this case the fluence F of the pulse is only a little above the threshold fluence e.g. for a top hat beam F = e · Fth. High power fiber laser combined with ultrafast modulation and scanning techniques are used for digital printing based on laser induced forward transfer (LIFT). We demonstrated the large area printing at scan speed up to 2100 m/s for screen resolutions of 600 dpi on different common substrates and with common inks from the printing industry.