(Fraunhofer: Munich, Germany) -- In recent years the use of modern solid-state lasers has brought about a distinct increase in operational speed in laser materials processing. Whether with scanners or fixed optics, high speeds—as far as possible in various axes at the same time—have almost become the norm. But although the movement of the optic is precisely calculated, the position of the processing point can deviate from the planned contour. Help is at hand, thanks to a process monitoring system that precisely tracks the relative movement of workpiece and optic. It enables acceleration-related deviations from the set contour and speed to be measured exactly and the numerical control system to be adjusted accordingly.

Research scientists at the Fraunhofer ILT in Aachen have developed a camera-based system that analyzes the movements of the workpiece through the optical axis of the laser beam before or during processing. It does not matter whether a fixed or scanner optic is used; in both cases the system measures the movement of the processing point on the workpiece and documents deviations from the set contour during machine setup or operation.

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