Grant: Applied Research Tools and Instruments Grants

Camosun College, located in Victoria, British Columbia (BC) on the unceded territories of the Lekwungen speaking and W?SÁNE? peoples, is looking to acquire a Bodor 6kW BodorPower laser cutter, which will cut metal sheets and allow design of structural materials for applied research projects across the region. Dedicated access to a high-power fiber laser cutter will dramatically expand the scope and quality of our machining research at a significantly reduced cost for partners, while increasing our ability to train highly qualified personnel (HQP) for employment. Fiber laser cutting is a powerful and versatile tool which employs a solid-state laser to cut through materials with exacting precision and finesse at a reduced cost in maintenance and supplies. The Bodor will allow Camosun to integrate high-precision materials shaping and engraving into their processes, opening the door to a broad array of potential component and systems manufacture that is not possible with more traditional tools such as waterjet cutting machines; it is superior to Camosun’s existing tools in every regard, providing greater flexibility, precision, speed, and quality while allowing for contactless cutting, repeatability, and the automation of cutting processes. It can cut complex patterns in metals with high precision and speed with only a very small heat-affected zone around the cut. These advantages are critical for rapid prototyping; being able to produce prototypes quickly and accurately dramatically improves our ability to iterate designs and test outcomes, shortening the time (and the cost) of applied research projects involving metalworking and the cutting of intricate parts. The Bodor incurs lower maintenance and operating costs than other types of cutters, and over time this represents a substantial savings for local businesses, allowing smaller SMEs to undertake research which include cutting tasks that might prove too expensive to be viable using our current equipment. This laser is also much safer, especially for new or inexperienced workers; cuts are made within an enclosure, removing exposure to gasses and preventing physical contact with the cutting laser, dramatically reducing the risk of injury. Including the Bodor in Camosun’s complement of machinery has the potential to improve research activities for a wide variety of regional SMEs, with benefits accruing to students, industry partners, and entrepreneurs.