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Adaptive laser cladding system with variable spot sizes

  • Start: 01/09/2012
  • End: 31/08/2014

An often unsung hero, laser cladding has been saving damaged parts from the salvage yard and fortifying new components. A laser beam melts the material on the work-piece surface and the powder nozzle moves over the work-piece surface to deposit single tracks or complete layers. Lack of control over this process can raise temperatures leading to damage of the laser cladded piece.
Currently, processing a cladding track with complex geometry requires programming of several paths. The 'Adaptive laser cladding system with variable spot sizes' (ALAS)) project focused on developing a new fully automated user-friendly adaptive solution that adjusts the track width.
The ALAS project partners have designed a field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based control system. This will modify the laser beam power according to the melt pool width, which is measured using a CMOS camera.
The FPGA-based control system is integrated into the laser cladding system, along with an adaptive optical system. The latter controls the laser beam diameter at the focus position (from 2.7 to 5.5mm) so that the laser beam focus position remains within the material to ensure strong metallurgical bond with the substrate.
The ALAS project is a significant step in the automation of industrial laser cladding. Europe's small- and medium-sized companies will be able to strengthen their market position after adopting ALAS laser cladding control systems through increase in productivity.

**This project has received funding from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no 315614.

  • Sectors: Aeronautical, Petrochemical, Shipbuilding
  • Financing programme: 7TH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME FUNDED EUROPEAN RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT
  • R&D&i: Laser assisted processing
  • Partners: FRAUNHOFER-ILT Institute For Laser Technology, VITO, TIC-LENS, Sill Optics, TM COMAS, PRECITEC
  • Acronym: ALAS
  • Ambit: International
  • Web: http://alasproject.aimen.es
 
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