Variable diameter CO₂ laser ring-cutting system adapted to a zoom microscope for applications on polymer tapes

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Laser Technology
• Forensic Science

Background:

• Precise micro-scale material removal is crucial in forensic analysis.
• Existing laser-cutting methods may lack the required precision or adaptability for delicate polymer samples.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a variable diameter ring-cutting system utilizing a CO2 laser.
• To enable precise extraction of small circular areas from polymer films, such as forensic adhesive tapes.
• To ensure telecentricity in the target area for accurate sample analysis.

Main Methods:

• Conception and implementation of a CO2 laser system (10.6 μm wavelength).
• Integration with an observation zoom microscope for combined functionality.
• Development of a variable diameter ring-cutting mechanism with continuous tunability.

Main Results:

• The system successfully cuts circular areas from polymer films in a single shot.
• Ring diameters are continuously tunable from 500 μm to 2 mm.
• A minimum ring profile edge width of less than 20 μm was achieved.
• Telecentricity was experimentally verified and demonstrated.

Conclusions:

• The developed variable diameter ring-cutting system provides a precise and adaptable solution for micro-material extraction.
• The system's telecentricity and tunable diameter make it highly suitable for forensic applications involving polymer films.
• Experimental validation confirms the system's capability for high-precision cutting of exemplary samples.