Light Manufacturing

Dr. John Ballato, Professor and Director Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies (COMSET) Clemson University jballat@clemson.edu (864) 656-1035

Fiat Lux
Optics and photonics directly influence > $7.5T in global markets The National Academies publishes Optics and Photonics: Essential Technologies for Our Nation (2013).

Report concludes that it is critical that the US take advantage of these emerging optical technologies for creating new industries and generating job growth.

Baer and Schlachter, Report to the OSTP Lasers in Science and Technology, (2010); courtesy of Tom Baer, Stanford University

Light Manufacturing and Applications

Auto / Aero

Bio

Lasers make hundreds of parts in modern cars:

Weld seat frames, harden torsion springs, mark parts, cut/weld airbags, weld antilock breaks, cut body parts, drill holes in fuel injectors,

Bioscience and biotechnology:

Lasik surgery Micromachined components; stent fabrication Medical diagnostics (gene sequencing)

Energy
Oil & Gas industry
Fabrication of structures Welding and cutting of pipelines Drilling of oil and gas wells

Defense

Directed Energy Weapons Mature, Trends Magazine; Published on Jun 6, 2011 in Issue 098 - June 2011, Politics, Security

Baer and Schlachter, Report to the OSTP Lasers in Science and Technology, (2010); courtesy of Tom Baer, Stanford University

How? (in US, in theory)

Some Universities, National Labs, High impact (small) businesses

Universities

How? (in Germany)

Universities

http://www.fraunhofer.de/en/about-fraunhofer/business-model.html

How?
Enabling Elements:
High impact manufacturing companies. University with relevant world-class research assets.

How?
Enabling Elements : High impact manufacturing companies.
University with world-class research assets in relevant topical area. ? Organizations to mature nascent technologies relevant to enhanced manufacturing:
Some (Heraeus, OFS, AFL, OpTek, ) but not enough to drive technology maturation and implementation into manufacturing base.

Big Idea

Establish a Fraunhofer-like entity to partner Universities and Industry (and State of course) to accelerate the maturation of the manufacturing-relevant technologies for the enhanced competitiveness of the industry.

What is Needed
Inventory regional manufacturing uses of and future needs for optics/lasers. A coalition of the willing develop business / financial plans
Have the academic innovation engine with world-class industry-scale manufacturing capabilities: academic representatives on board.
Have high impact manufacturing industry: Need representatives. On-board: Hereaus (GA/Germany), AFL (SC), Northrop Grumman (NC), Op-Tek (SC); panelists Representatives from Commerce, Economic Development, Tech Colleges, etc., needed.

Most of the hard work has already been done we have the book ends need now to complete our collection.

Thank you
John Ballato (864) 656 -1035 jballat@clemson.edu