Industrial laser material processing
The comparatively technologically demanding task of generating laser beams has faded into the background as an obstacle to application in recent years. Falling costs in acquisition and operation can be seen as a sign of the widespread use of systems in industry.
Industrial laser material processing in the laboratory at Emden/Leer University of Applied Sciences is divided into the areas of joining, cutting and surface processing. Thanks to the laser cell acquired in November 2020, complex, three-dimensional geometries can also be processed with regard to cutting and joining.
Laser material processing investigates and develops process parameters in the field of industrial applications in mechanical engineering and related sectors. In particular, the development of the regenerative production and repair of (large) components is a focus of the work areas. The qualification of the work results is supported by the materials science laboratory.
The laser cell as a system for all applications
The laser cell is an essential addition to the machine equipment in the field of laser technology. This means that the laboratory can now carry out dynamic three-dimensional processing without having to reclamp workpieces. This is ensured by a Kuka robot model KR 30-3 with a high load capacity and high repeat accuracy and an additional rotary tilting table. The robot is programmed offline using the RoboDK software.[https://robodk.com/]
Thanks to the hybrid laser[https://www.laserline.com/de-int/ldf-serie-mit-strahlkonverter/], the system can be operated both as a fiber laser and a diode laser. Due to its excellent beam quality and rated power of 2.4 kW, the fiber laser is used for applications in the field of cutting metallic materials. Thanks to the integration of the robot system, even uneven surfaces or pipes can be processed, for example.
In operation as a diode laser, 4 kW can be used. The optics have a modular design so that configurations can be made quickly. The associated settings on the laser spot allow different processes to be implemented. These include the joining processes of laser welding and laser soldering, the joining of plastics, laser deposition welding and laser hardening.
The system is supplemented by various systems for process optimization. These include a distance sensor system for cutting tasks, temperature and speed-dependent power control and automated clamping options.
You can find more information about the laser and robot here [ Flyer Lasercell ]
Fiber laser for two-dimensional cutting applications
A fiber laser cutting system from Senfeng (1313G) is available to the laboratory for cutting tasks in the field of sheet metal processing. A 1.5 kW fiber laser from the manufacturer IPG and a distance-controlled cutting head from Precitech are used as the laser source. The processing area is 1300x1300mm.
The application range of the system covers the processing of thin to medium sheet thicknesses in the field of ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
Surface treatment
Surface processing with lasers is a standard technology today. Varying the power across a wide spectrum enables different surface/edge layer processing. With a powerful laser, high speeds and high positioning accuracy, technological changes such as hardening can be achieved on a wide variety of surfaces or the finest images can be created.
For flexible laser hardening of metals, a 4 kW diode laser system with various optics for different beam geometries is combined with a robot system and the process is controlled by online temperature monitoring. [ Flyer Laser Cell ]
A solid-state laser from IPG Laser GmbH (model YLR-200, 200 W, focus diameter 50 µm) with a scanner system for beam movement is available for laser marking. For laser marking, heat can be applied to the irradiated surface to create contrasts through annealing colors, engraving and ablation.
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