Examples of Laser Processing Control with Machine Vision Feedback

Abstract

Manufacturing technologies using laser radiation energy are gaining increasingly new applications. It results from their numerous advantages, most of all, from the selectiveness of a laser beam within the spatial and temporal domain. Although the laser beam is a very precise tool, it restricts the tolerances of component preparation. If such increased requirements drive previous processes, it will result in the increase of manufacturing costs of these parts. Hence, solutions are sought in the mechatronics paradigm, which corrects mechanical imperfections by means of electronics and software. Examples of the above solutions are follow-up and adaptive control systems. The paper presents examples of developed and implemented control systems of laser manufacturing processes with machine vision feedback. They include remote cutting with CAM-MV and laser cladding with a thermal or geometric closed-loop.