Developing a Real-Time Working Method That Improves Process Efficiency in High-Power Fiber Laser Systems

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Optical Engineering
• Manufacturing Technology

Background:

• High-power fiber laser systems are crucial for industrial material processing.
• Real-time monitoring and simulation methods are needed to optimize these processes.
• Current methods lack the ability for immediate intervention during laser cutting and piercing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel photodiode-based monitoring system for real-time intervention in fiber laser material processing.
• To demonstrate improved solutions for detecting and addressing issues during cutting and piercing.
• To establish a relationship between spectral signals and cut quality characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Integration of InGaAs and Si photodiodes into the cutting head for signal acquisition.
• Real-time processing of photodiode signals using algorithms to detect process stages and anomalies.
• Testing the system's stability on industrial materials (St37, stainless steel, aluminum) at varying laser powers (6-10 kW).

Main Results:

• The system successfully detects the final stage of piercing and potential cutting problems.
• A correlation was found between infrared (IR) and visible (VIS) spectrum signals and cut quality.
• Analysis of photodiode signals provided insights into material, power, and gas type effects.

Conclusions:

• The developed photodiode monitoring system enables real-time intervention and process improvement in fiber laser applications.
• The method offers advancements in material analysis and optimization of cutting and piercing parameters.
• This approach enhances overall efficiency and quality in laser material processing.