Gas Lasers: The Future Is Now
Gas Lasers: The Future Is Now
When you first think of lasers, the mind conjures thoughts of space age creations and works of science fiction that you have seen in your local theater. It may be thought of as an idea in the future. Yet, gas lasers are very much in the present and used in various ways in manufacturing, research, and like applications.
Where Can You Find Gas Lasers?
Since its invention in 1960, the gas laser has evolved into different forms and utilizes and applies different gases. Because of this, there are many industries where gas lasers are used. They are commonly used in the aerospace, automotive and electronics packaging industries. Specifically, gas laser technology use has gained popularity in manufacturing processes due to its ability to deliver precise methods, such as measuring, and to increase the speed of industrial processes as compared to conventional techniques.
Gas Lasers and Welding
One of the most common gases used in gas laser welding is carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide delivers a high conversion efficiency as well as a high-power continuous oscillation (a continuous wave, or CW). There are other gases such as helium and neon (He and Ne) and krypton and argon (Kr and Ar) that are also used on welding metals.
Gas Lasers and Metal Cutting
Gases that are commonly used in the process of cutting metals are nitrogen and oxygen. Nitrogen is a favorite of manufacturing due to its ability to cut a variety of metals, including mild steel, stainless steel and aluminum. Nitrogen is an inert gas which will not react with the molten metal and will leave a clean edge on the metal you are cutting. Nitrogen gas lasers will also prevent discoloration and oxidation of the metal edges.
Oxygen gas lasers give you the benefit of creating more heat than nitrogen which speeds up production due to faster cutting. However, it can damage the edges of the metal being cut through natural oxidation. You will have to employ a clean-up operation step to the edges of the metal (if required) when using an oxygen gas laser.
Other Gas Laser Uses
Gas lasers are also used in the creation of holograms in various forms. Schools and laboratories use helium and neon lasers because of its near perfect beam quality and relatively low cost in application. Some gas lasers, like the hydrogen fluoride type (H and Fl) are very high powered and have certain applications in military uses.
In the medical world, gas lasers have proven themselves in the plastic surgery arena. They are used for skin resurfacing and facelifts, due to the fact that water absorbs the frequency of light that gas lasers produce very well. Gas lasers are also being explored further for uses in welding tissue and suturing.
The future is now with gas lasers and the professionals at nexAir can help with applications in your business to improve efficiency, improve outputs and deliver the right outcomes. Leverage our unique KnowHow to help you Forge Forward into the future with the right gases for your gas lasers.
Ask the people with the KnowHowTM here at nexAir if gas lasers are a good fit for your needs.
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Manufacturing downtime costs American companies billions annually. When production lines halt due to gas supply issues, every minute translates to lost revenue, missed deadlines, and frustrated customers. At nexAir, we've spent decades developing solutions that keep manufacturing operations running smoothly.
The Hidden Costs of Gas-Related Downtime
When manufacturers calculate downtime costs, they typically focus on labor and lost production. However, gas supply disruptions create cascading effects that multiply these losses:
- Production rescheduling that disrupts carefully optimized sequences
- Rush shipping fees to meet customer deadlines despite delays
- Quality inconsistencies when processes restart after interruptions
- Overtime costs to catch up after unplanned stoppages
- Reputation damage when delivery commitments are missed
For a typical mid-sized manufacturer, each hour of downtime represents $5,000-$10,000 in direct and indirect costs. Our analysis shows that gas-related issues cause 7-12% of total manufacturing downtime - a substantial opportunity for improvement.
From Reactive to Proactive: The Supply Continuum
Most facilities follow a predictable pattern in their gas management evolution:
Stage 1: Reactive Management At this stage, facilities order gas when they notice supplies running low or, worse, after running out. Emergencies are common, and disruptions are accepted as "part of doing business." One automotive parts supplier operating this way experienced 14 production interruptions in a single quarter.
Stage 2: Calendar-Based Management Facilities advance to scheduled deliveries based on estimated usage. While better than the reactive approach, this method still results in either excess inventory (tying up capital and space) or shortages when usage spikes occur. A plastics manufacturer following this model maintained 40% more cylinder inventory than necessary while still experiencing occasional stockouts.
Stage 3: Consumption-Based Management Our telemetry systems monitor actual gas consumption, automatically triggering orders based on usage patterns rather than calendar dates. This approach virtually eliminates both stockouts and excess inventory.
Stage 4: Integrated Supply Management The most advanced approach connects gas management directly to production planning systems. Upcoming production requirements automatically adjust supply parameters, ensuring resources are precisely aligned with needs. A medical device manufacturer using this approach reports zero gas-related downtime for 27 consecutive months while operating with minimal inventory buffers.
Our expert KnowHow™ in industrial gas applications allows us to guide customers through this evolution at a pace that makes sense for their operations.
Customizing Solutions for Maximum Uptime
Manufacturing environments vary dramatically in their gas requirements and operational constraints. We've developed flexible approaches that address these differences:
- For high-volume, consistent usage operations, our bulk systems eliminate the cylinder handling that frequently causes supply disruptions. Bulk installations include telemetry monitoring and automated ordering to prevent outages.
- For variable-demand environments, our microbulk delivery systems provide the benefits of bulk supply with lower volume commitments. These systems reduce handling requirements while maintaining the flexibility needed for changing production schedules.
- For specialized applications requiring multiple gas types, our gas management programs combine cylinder tracking, usage monitoring, and automated replenishment. This comprehensive approach ensures that specialty gases are always available when needed, regardless of how infrequently they might be used.
- For multi-site operations, our enterprise supply programs coordinate deliveries and optimize inventory across locations. By treating the organization's gas requirements holistically, we minimize both stockouts and excess inventory across the network.
This consultative approach ensures that manufacturers receive solutions aligned with their specific operational patterns rather than generic "one-size-fits-all" systems.
Beyond Traditional Supply: Integrated Services for Total Reliability
Maximum uptime requires more than just reliable gas delivery. Our integrated services address the full spectrum of gas-related reliability factors:
Equipment maintenance programs that prevent system failures before they impact production Technical gas specialists who resolve application issues that could otherwise cause production problems Safety training that prevents accidents leading to downtime events Emergency response capabilities that minimize impacts when unexpected events occur Supply chain redundancy that ensures continuity despite regional disruptions
These services complement our supply solutions to form a comprehensive reliability strategy. By addressing both everyday operations and exceptional circumstances, we help manufacturers Forge Forward with confidence that gas-related disruptions won't derail their production targets.
Measuring Success: The Results That Matter
The ultimate measure of any downtime reduction strategy is its impact on production metrics. Our manufacturing customers consistently report significant improvements after implementing our comprehensive gas management solutions:
Downtime reductions of 85-95% for gas-related issues Inventory cost decreases of 20-30% through optimized supply management Administrative time savings of 5-10 hours weekly through automated ordering and tracking Production schedule adherence improvements of 3-7% due to improved supply reliability
These performance gains translate directly to bottom-line benefits that typically deliver ROI within months rather than years. More importantly, they allow manufacturers to confidently make delivery commitments, knowing that gas supply issues won't compromise their ability to perform.
Don't let gas supply issues impact your productivity. Contact us today to explore our tailored solutions.
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