| Historically, sheet metal has been used extensively to | | | | lasing medium; common gases are argon and carbon |
| produce automotive body panels. Although sheet | | | | dioxide |
| metal use has decreased with the advent of | | | | Pulsed laser-emits light in controlled pulses and is |
| fiberglass body panels, sheet metal is still the most | | | | preferred for thin materials ; it can be used to create |
| popular material for manufacturing automobiles today. | | | | intricate details and work in tight corners without |
| The addition of lasers and robotics to the automobile | | | | burning |
| manufacturing process has further expanded the | | | | Ruby laser-a solid state laser that uses a synthetic |
| way that sheet metal is processed. | | | | ruby crystal with a chromium impurity as the lasing |
| Lasers | | | | medium |
| Lasers have been used in production facilities since | | | | Solid-state laser-a type of laser that uses a crystal or |
| the 1960's. Today, they are used to cut, form holes, | | | | glass as the host for an impurity to produce the |
| engrave, weld or heat treat sheet metal for use in | | | | lasing action; especially useful for precise measuring |
| automotive production. | | | | and spot welding |
| Lasers are used in applications that rely on precise | | | | Yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) laser-ranges in power |
| measurements and exact alignments. | | | | from a few milliwatts to more than 400 watts; used |
| The adjustment of lasers is measured in | | | | for cutting, drilling, heat treating and welding |
| micrometers, or millionths of a meter. | | | | operations |
| There are many different types of lasers used to | | | | Robotics |
| alter sheet metal and plastics in the automotive | | | | Robotics are often used for repetitive tasks, |
| industry. | | | | monotonous jobs or those parts of the |
| Carbon dioxide laser- uses a mixture of carbon | | | | manufacturing process that are physically difficult or |
| dioxide, nitrogen and helium to produce a continuous | | | | take place in environmentally unpleasant conditions. |
| laser output | | | | They are directed by computer programs and |
| Continuous-wave laser- this type of laser produces | | | | perform precise operations without human |
| light beams continuously rather than in controlled | | | | intervention. |
| pulses | | | | Lasers and robotics have significantly increased the |
| Excimer laser-emits light in a UV spectrum that is | | | | speed at which sheet metal can be processed in the |
| used for producing high quality edges on parts that | | | | automotive manufacturing process. Continued |
| are prone to cracking or thermal damage; it falls into | | | | technological advancements in these two areas will |
| the category of pulsed-gas lasers | | | | further increase the cost effectiveness and |
| Gas laser-any laser that uses a gas mixture as the | | | | productivity of automotive manufacturing facilities. |