At tonight’s Golden Beer Talks, Dr. Brian J. Simonds, a physicist from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, will talk about using lasers for manufacturing. High-power laser systems are becoming ubiquitous in manufacturing as they often prove to be faster and cheaper than traditional methods. The development and design of these industrial laser processes require very careful and accurate measurements of phenomenon during the interaction of the intense light with the material. A great example of an important industrial process is laser welding where a focused light beam is used to join two pieces of metal. Using light to melt metal may seem strange as most are pretty reflective. However, in a short amount of time an intense laser light can turn even the shiniest metals into a highly absorbing swirling cavity of metal. At the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Boulder, I measure and observe this transformation to better understand the process in order to help industry know how to make better laser welds. During this talk, I will describe the physical process of how intense laser light melts metal and the novel measurements used to observe the process.
Beer Talks always take place at Windy Saddle Cafe, 1110 Washington Avenue (map). The doors open at 6 and the talk begins at about 6:35. Downtown parking is free after 5PM. Windy Saddle will be serving dinner and selling beer from this month’s featured brewery (Golden City Brewery), but no purchase is necessary and there is no cover charge.
Also tonight:
Golden High School’s PTA meets tonight at 5:30.
The Golden Library hosts the Golden Writing Circle from 6-7:30 tonight.
Mountain Toad Brewing has live music–Shawn Nelson–tonight from 6-8PM.
Tomorrow at Noon:
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will host a Power Lunch Lecture featuring J.A. Colantonio, Project Leader, NREL Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Do you know what makes NREL unique as an applied research facility in the Department of Energy national laboratory system? Central to NREL’s mission of advancing clean energy and energy efficiency technologies is supporting small businesses as they develop and bring innovative solutions to market. To align this mission with private sector trends and industry needs, NREL established the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center (IEC). Join us at NREL’s Power Lunch Lecture Series to learn about the IEC programs and partnerships working to bring breakthrough energy technologies to market. Registration is required. Call 303-384-6565 or e-mail education.center@nrel.gov to make a reservation for this free public program. Participants are welcome to bring a lunch to enjoy during the presentation.
Tomorrow Night (Valentines Day):
Schnepf’s, Indulge Bistro & Wine Bar, the Briarwood, Maki Sushi, and Dirty Dogs Roadhouse are all having Valentine-themed dinners tonight, and Jolynn’s is hosting a Lonely Hearts Club party. Even on a Wednesday night, restaurants fill up on Valentine’s Day, so you should call today to get a reservation for tomorrow.
