Laser wire stripping was developed by NASA in the 1970s as part of the Space Shuttle program. The technology made it possible to use smaller sized wires with thinner insulations, without risk of the damage that can be caused by traditional mechanical wire stripping methods.

Laser wire stripping technology was commercialized in the 1990s, initially for use in aerospace and defense applications. Laser wire stripping grew significantly when the consumer electronics market exploded. Lasers became the only way to strip the tiny data cables found in laptops, mobile phones and other consumer electronics products. Another large industry that has adopted laser wire stripping methods, and for good reason, is high-end medical device manufacturing.

The Benefits of Laser Stripping

Using laser light to remove insulation or coating layers from electrical wires, catheters and other components for medical devices is now the norm as there are many benefits to using a laser stripping process. The most significant is the highly repeatable quality that is inherent to the process. When using a CO₂ laser to strip polymer insulation, from a wire conductor for example, the laser energy is readily absorbed by the insulation but highly reflected by the underlying metal conductor. Since the conductor reflects the laser light, there is no risk of damage during the stripping process. With laser stripping, there are no limits on how small of a wire can be stripped. Also, no matter the wire size there is no risk of damage to the conductor.  

Another benefit is that laser stripping machines can strip round, out-of-round, flat ribbon or any other shape of wire or cable. Stripping geometries include end stripping, window stripping, slitting or complete area ablation. The process is user-friendly. There are no blades to change or consumables to replace in contrast to mechanical stripping methods. The process is non-contact, so there are no maintenance or wear items that need to be replaced frequently.

Laser stripping machines are also versatile. There are many different laser types on the market, each having a different wavelength. The idea is to select a laser with a wavelength and power that is readily absorbed by the outer coating layer yet is strongly reflected by the underlying layer. 

Laser strippers can be used in a semi-automatic process where the operator presents the material to be stripped to the machine. This is typically used for end stripping and can be used for single ends or a batch at a time. In addition, the laser stripper can also be fully integrated with a downstream cut and strip machine to measure, cut and strip in a fully automatic process.

Medical Device Applications

In medical device manufacturing, selecting and properly processing the correct wires and cables is important. In some cases, it can be the difference between life and death for a patient. Laser wire stripping can ensure higher quality processing for several medical applications.

Catheter wiring is used to guide a medical probe or device to the specific tissue location. The highest demands are placed on reducing wiring size to improve maneuverability and increase functionality. Typical applications include radiofrequency ablation where the catheter carries multiple conductors, a number of thermocouples, and the RF ablation signal. This fine wiring tends to be manufactured using either enamel, like polyimide, coatings or bio-compatible fluoropolymers.

Smaller wires used in catheters can easily be nicked when using traditional mechanical stripping methods. However, because the conductor will reflect the laser, laser wire stripping ensures a completely nick-free strip.

Pacemaker Electrodes are flexible and spring-like. These electrodes pose special challenges to laser ablation due to their fluoropolymer coatings and sensitivity to heat during processing. Those challenges can be overcome by selecting of the proper laser and processing technique, making laser stripping a viable option. 

Medical power tools, such as drills used in brain surgery, require the highest levels of quality and reliability. Lasers are used to strip the enamel for the wiring used in the windings for high-performance motors. Traditional mechanical brushing and abrading of the windings can introduce dangerous particulates into the end product. Laser stripping offers a clean alternative.

A hypotube is a long metal tube with micro-engineered features along its length. It is a critical component of minimally-invasive catheters, which are used in conjunction with balloons and stents to open up clogged arteries. The balloon portion of the catheter is attached to the head of the hypotube. These tubes are typically coated with a polymer, such as PTFE, ETFE or a nylon-based compound. When manufacturing a catheter, it is necessary to remove part of the extruded coating on the tube. Laser removal is proving popular over more traditional blade-based methods, primarily due to the ability to automate the process.

Small gauge single conductors are very common in medical devices, whether found in a catheter delivered device or in a cochlear implant or hearing aid —With laser stripping, wires as small as 50 AWG and smaller can be stripped without damage to the conductor.

Flat micro-coaxial ribbon cables are found in a number of medical devices, such as ultra-sound scanners. High-density, high-frequency signals must be transmitted with the most flexible cabling possible. Laser stripping guarantees quality results when stripping the small conductors in high-density micro-coax ribbons.

The medical device manufacturing market requires high-quality processes coupled with complex and delicate wiring systems. Laser wire stripping can meet many of the challenges of the industry and will continue to be the method of choice as smaller and more delicate medical devices continue to evolve.