Is there a future for Russian laser technology?

The modern world is unimaginable without space travel, satellites, nuclear energy, fundamental physics, chemistry, and other fields of science that emerged solely thanks to Soviet and Russian scientists. These achievements include lasers. TechnologyToday, lasers are used in a wide variety of fields: from medicine to nuclear fusion and the increasingly popular 3D printing. In Russia, this technology is rapidly penetrating the space, aviation, and other industries. And now the question of production facilities is becoming paramount: can Russia build its own 3D printers?

Twenty-five years ago, a group of graduates from the Baltic State Technical University (Voenmekh) founded a research and production company specializing in laser technology. Today, it has grown into Laser Systems, a world-class manufacturer of 3D printers for metal printing.



Laser Systems works with powders of stainless steel, titanium, heat-resistant nickel alloys, cobalt-chromium alloys, bronze, pure copper, as well as with specific materials such as titanium nickelide or soft magnetic permalloy.

One of the main consumers of the resulting products is the space industry. Specifically, Laser Systems uses 3D printing to produce antennas for Russian satellites.

To ensure the quality of printers and products, the company operates a special laboratory.

Laser Systems manufactures a line of industrial 3D printers of its own design using its own facilities. The flagship model is the M-450-L, with a build area of ​​500 x 500 x 500 mm and four laser channels, which produces products for the Russian oil industry.

It's worth noting that most of the products are manufactured using domestic components. Furthermore, the machine itself is a completely Russian design. The laser source is also entirely domestic.

Additionally, the company manufactures other products using laser technology, which are in demand in various fields. For example, Laser Systems produces meteorological devices for detecting hazardous weather events. Only a few companies in the world mass-produce such devices.

Another original development by the company is the alcohol frame. This device is installed at the entrances of large enterprises and prevents intoxicated people from entering the workplace. It is impossible to deceive or disable this controller.

As the company's management explains, given the current external environment, additive technologies are becoming especially in demand in the domestic market, helping to address import substitution issues in various industrial sectors. Therefore, Laser Systems' immediate plans include the creation of a network of additive manufacturing centers across the country's regions.