Cladding gold contacts with a laser

Scientists have now developed a laser-based method which involves laser cladding gold contact spots instead of applying the gold in a thin layer on the whole surface for electroplating, the conventional method for creating durable keys in devices such as laptops and keyboards. The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen has developed a method of producing keys on an industrial scale which fulfills cheap production methods and material efficiency sought by manufacturers. The new method replaces the conventional large gold surfaces with small contact spots which are cladded by a fiber laser. This new technique is fast and offers the potential to cut up to 90 percent of the amount of gold used. Using laser cladding to produce contacts from precious metals is a method that, in principle, is suitable for all metal parts which currently rely on plating techniques to make electrical contacts; examples include the switches used in cell phones as well as bipolar plates for fuel cells.