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Lasers have
been used for many years for trimming resistor value
or other circuit parameters. Laser trimming replaces
the need for SOT (select-on-test) or potentiometers,
and offers many improvements over abrasive trimming
of resistors. The latter methods are slower, more labour
intensive than laser trimming, more expensive and probably
less stable and reliable. Lasers can be used to trim
thick film resistors, thin film resistors and capacitors.
Passive resistor trimming refers to altering a resistor
to a specific value; active resistor trimming also known
as functional trimming changes a circuit parameter to
a target value; this may be voltage, current, frequency.
Laser trimmers are used in the manufacture of resistors,
oscillators, op-amps, proximity switches, current sensors.
Laser trimming is used extensively in the manufacture
of automotive parts, proximity sensors, pressure sensors
and oscillators. |
| Advantages
of laser trimming over potentiometers are, lower component
cost, smaller space requirement on pcb, higher reliability,
automated trimming during manufacture, faster and less
liable to error and re-work. Advantages of laser trimming
compared to select-on-test resistors are, less labour
intensive, faster, no re-work. Advantages of laser trimmers
over abrasive trimmers are higher speed, greater accuracy,
cleaner, lower running costs.
Lower
running costs
Laser resistor
trimming systems used to be very expensive to buy and
expensive to run. Laser resistor trimming systems required
three phase mains supplies to power the huge arc lamps
necessary to stimulate the YAG laser rod. So much heat
was produced that a continuous flow of cooling water
was required. Today laser trimmers are diode-pumped,
are powered by a single phase supply and are air-cooled.
Running cost are negligible. Overall the cost and time
savings plus the increase in reliability of the electronic
system can easily exceed the capital outlay.
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LS Laser Systems is a European
manufacturer of laser resistor trimmers and laser marking
systems. Uniquely it offers a flexible configuration and
provides the resistor trimmer configuration that precisely
matches your needs. At its simplest this could be just
the laser trimmer with power supply and Windows-based
resistor trimming application software for the user or
machine builder (such as Simac Masic & TSS) to integrate
into a special purpose machine. Or it could be a complete
system with laser, prober, step & repeat table, instrumentation
and auto loader and unloaders. LS has made some very specific
machines for trimming unusual products. |
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LS Laser Systems
GmbH supply diode-pumped and lamp-pumped resistor trimming
systems.
Download brochure
on LS laser trimmers
Contact
Us for more information
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Resistor trimmers, laser
trimmers for active trimming, functional trimming and
passive trimming |
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