A laser beam can cut through the insulation on a wire without damaging the conductor, because the laser radiation that melts the insulation is merely reflected by the metal. Therefore, a wire stripper that uses a laser beam eliminates the quality-control problems of nicked and cut wires. The process is fast, clean, precise, and repeatable. Advantages of the process include eliminated mechanical contact with the wire; narrow width of melted insulation zone; effortless stripping high-temperature insulation; low stripping time (under one and one-half seconds); no change in conductor metallurgy; and reduced quality control requirements.
