Optofab Adelaide Hub and IRflex to develop next-generation glass fibres

Original text published in ANFF 2021 Casebook page 15

Next-generation glass fibres are being developed to deliver high-power mid-infrared laser beams – such as those produced by CO2 lasers – with improved efficiency and precision.

The advance will benefit applications ranging from medical procedures to advanced manufacturing. The fibres are the result of a collaboration between USA-based company IRflex and ANFF’s Optofab team at the University of Adelaide. Using the Node’s fabrication capabilities and field-leading photonics expertise, the project has delivered titanium dies that allow the company to produce proprietary glass preforms.

They are now working toward mass production.