Laser Wire Stripping
Laser wire stripping is a non-contact process that removes insulation and shielding from wires and cables without making physical contact with the conductor, with greater precision, speed and control than mechanical or thermal methods. DuPont™ Spectrum™ produces laser stripped wire for various applications, with no heat-affected zone and no secondary cleaning required.
Laser wire stripping uses a focused laser beam to ablate insulation or shielding from wires and cables without making physical contact with the conductor. Unlike mechanical or thermal methods, laser cable stripping eliminates the risk of nicking, crushing, or heat-damaging fine conductors, making it the preferred method for medical device wiring and other precision applications.
Our laser wire stripper equipment processes gauges down to 46 AWG (0.0015 inches in diameter), handles 99% of insulation types, and achieves tolerances of ±0.001 inch, without leaving a heat-affected zone or residue requiring secondary cleaning.
With the right combination of laser type, wavelength, and beam shaping, insulation can be stripped through ablation without leaving a heat-affected zone or residue that must be cleaned and removed. We can handle both reel-to-reel and reel-to-cut applications. Stripping can be programmed to remove insulation at any point along the wire, enabling high-precision mid-span removals.
Because we precisely program the beam pattern, a variety of cable cross-sections can be stripped, including O-, T-, H-shaped wires that cannot be stripped with mechanical or thermal processes. In addition, real-time inspection monitoring and automated handling allow us to deliver higher volumes of product at cost-effective rates.
Other advantages of laser wire stripping include:
Our highly experienced engineers, technicians, and staff can wire-strip virtually any type of insulation or shielding to meet your most challenging production or assembly needs—including complex wire geometries for miniaturized components.
High-precision applications include:
As new products become smaller and more complex, so does the circuitry. Manufacturers are using thinner wires made from a wider range of metals, advanced insulation materials and patterns for wires and shielding, and more complicated configurations and assemblies. This increases the importance of maintaining the highest-precision cuts, tight tolerances, and inspections to ensure performance and quality.
Laser stripping works by directing a precisely controlled laser beam at the insulation or shielding of a wire or cable. The laser energy ablates the insulation material without contacting the underlying conductor. Parameters including laser type, wavelength, power, and beam pattern are programmed to match the specific insulation material and strip geometry required, ensuring clean, repeatable results without heat-affected zones or residue.
DuPont™ Spectrum™ processes 99% of insulation types, including PTFE, PVC, polyimide, silicone, enamel, and advanced composite shielding. Sensitive materials such as Nitinol coatings can also be processed without conductor damage.
Our laser wire stripping service handles wire gauges down to 46 AWG (0.0015 inches in diameter), making it suitable for the finest conductors used in miniaturised medical device components.
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