The Limits of First-Generation Laser Cutting

First-generation laser cutting systems were designed for much larger features and simpler geometries. Much of this underlying technology dates back decades. When applied to high-density patterns, limitations in motion control, spot size and energy delivery begin to emerge.

These limitations often lead to thermal overlap between adjacent features and degraded edge quality, particularly as features become smaller and more densely packed. For many manufacturers, these constraints have been long accepted as an unavoidable trade-off in laser processing.

But the equipment used in the industry must develop to meet the new requirements, or risk becoming the roadblock to miniaturisation.

NEVIS introduces a fundamentally new approach to process control. Instead of following a fixed toolpath with a static power profile, NEVIS synchronises motion control, laser output and beam delivery in real-time. It actively places energy exactly where and when it’s needed. We call this Energy Position Optimisation (EPO).

EPO enables dynamic adaption to real-time motion conditions including:

• Velocity changes 
• Acceleration and deceleration
• Feature density and geometry

NEVIS enables interspacing that legacy systems simply cannot achieve. This represents the first real architectural shift in the laser cutting of SMT stencils in decades.