Distributed Nd:YAG laser welding and process control in inert glove boxes
Abstract
The authors have fabricated and assembled a fiber optic delivered Nd:YAG laser welding work station that consists of three glove boxes served by a single 1 kw laser. Processing considerations related to the welding of special nuclear materials, toxic materials, and complex part geometry are addressed within each work cell. The authors are proceeding with a development effort to integrate the equipment capabilities with remote sensing, process monitoring, and control systems. These systems will provide real time data acquisition during welding, monitoring and verification of weld parameters, and CAD/CAM to computer numerical control generated positioning paths. Computerized information storage, retrieval, and network methods are used for weld process documentation and data analysis. A virtual control panel is being configured to integrate the monitoring and control operation of individual subsystems, such as laser and motion control, into a single graphical interface. Development work on sensors to monitor laser beam characteristics and weld depth in real time with potential for adaptive control is in progress. System capabilities and results of these development efforts are presented.
- Publication:
-
Presented at the American Welding Society International Conference on Modeling and Control of Joining Processes
- Pub Date:
- 1993
- Bibcode:
- 1993aws..conf.....M
- Keywords:
-
- Computer Aided Manufacturing;
- Laser Welding;
- Numerical Control;
- Process Control (Industry);
- Yag Lasers;
- Data Acquisition;
- Fiber Optics;
- Graphical User Interface;
- Position Sensing;
- Real Time Operation;
- Lasers and Masers