Two laser systems have been delivered to carry out maskant scribing, a highly specialized laser process for part chemical milling that produces high strength turbine engine components.

Prima North America, announced that its Laserdyne Systems Division, the world leader in precision multi-axis laser machining systems, delivered 790XS and 790XL BeamDirector systems to the Smiths Aerospace facility located in Terre Haute, Indiana for laser processing of turbine engine components. Dr Paolo Cigna, president of Prima North America, announced the shipments saying the deliveries were made to Smiths Aerospace as it expands production capacity for engine components with new laser technology and upgrades to its existing laser systems. 'We are pleased to have developed such a good partnership with a company the stature and size of Smiths Aerospace,' stated Dr Cigna.

'These orders prove again a leading customer's long-term commitment to Laserdyne's precision, multi-axis laser system technology and to our expertise in developing solutions for challenging aerospace applications,' stated Cigna.

Smiths Aerospace, a division of Smiths Group PLC, London, England, is a global provider of innovative solutions to builders and operators of military and civil aircraft and engines, from fighters and transport to large civil, regional and business jets.

It has more than 9,000 employees in its North American and European operations.

The Terre Haute operation has been a multiple Laserdyne system user for over 15 years processing sheet metal and laser drilling turbine engine components.

According to James Donohoe, general manager of Smiths Aerospace Components N A, 'The addition of the new Laserdyne systems represents the latest efforts in our continuous improvement program to provide the most advanced processes for producing aerospace engines and components to our worldwide customers.' Smiths Aerospace's new 790XS system has an extended Z axis feature with a 1m x 1m x 1.3m (40in x 40in x 54in) work envelope.

It was designed primarily for maskant scribing, a highly specialized laser process for part chemical milling that produces high strength turbine engine components.

The 790XL system is a seven axis system with two rotary tables and the Laserdyne Optical Focus Control (OFC).

OFC complements the 790 BeamDirector's patented Automatic Focus Control (AFC) and provides Smiths Aerospace with new capabilities such as precision drilling of cooling holes in thermal barrier coated turbine engine components.

The two laser systems, plus upgrades to one of Smiths Aerospace's existing Laserdyne laser systems, has a total order value in excess of 1.4 million dollars, according to Dr Cigna.

With over 340 multi-axis laser systems in use worldwide, Laserdyne products have become the technology standard for the aerospace industry and are used in turbine engine manufacturing facilities across North America, Europe and Asia.