Multifunctional Portable Laser Wire Stripper

To address the NAVAIR needs for a hand-portable, rechargeable-battery-operated wire stripper for all wire insulation constructions, insulation types, cable types, and wire gauges used by NAVAIR, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) developed a new Multifunctional Portable Laser Wire Stripper (MPLaWS) and tested it for wire stripping in Phase I. It is based on laser, optics, and optomechanics for repeatable precision stripping. Innovative beam-shaping optics and optomechanics enables the MPLaWS to automatically strip wires of all sizes and types without damaging the conductors. The Phase I breadboard prototype successfully demonstrated feasibility on a number of MIL-spec wires, such as AS22759/82/22 and M81044/6/22 wires, provided by NAVAIR. In Phase II, POC will develop a compact handheld version of MPLaWS with ruggedized packaging that includes an air filter to filter the fumes emitted from the stripping process. This prototype will meet the NAVAIR safety requirements for operation on the flight line, including fueled aircraft and electromagnetically controlled environments, and will be sized for on-aircraft operation. It is free of sophisticated, fragile, and heavy mechanical/kinematic stages. This technology will significantly reduce aircraft downtime for maintenance and increase aircraft safety.