Multifunctional Portable Laser Wire Stripper

To address the Navy need for a handheld, portable, rechargeable-battery-operated wire stripper for all wire insulation constructions, insulation types, cable types, and wire gauges in the Navy fleet, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Multifunctional Portable Laser Wire Stripper (MPLaWS). This device is based on a laser, optics, and optomechanics for stripping. Innovative light control enables the MPLaWS to automatically strip wire of all sizes and types without damaging the conductors, selectively removing insulating material from any location along the wire or ribbon cable with great precision, or to create a specific stripping pattern on any ribbon cable. Fumes from the stripping process are filtered and absorbed by a fan-driven sorbent. MPLAWS can operate continuously for approximately 70 min. at 10 W output when used with a 20,000 mAh rechargeable battery. It is free of sophisticated, fragile, and heavy mechanical/kinematic stages, is similar in size to a three D-cell Maglite, and weighs ~2 kg. In Phase I POC will demonstrate the feasibility of MPLaWS to Navy personnel. In Phase II we plan to field a prototype handheld universal, multifunctional wire stripping system. This technology will significantly reduce aircraft downtime for maintenance, and increase aircraft safety.