IN-SITU LASER MATERIAL PROCESS MONITORING USING A CLADDING POWER DETECTION TECHNIQUE

Progress in laser material processing may require real-time monitoring and process control for consistent quality and productivity. We report a method of in-situ monitoring of laser metal cutting and drilling using cladding power monitoring of an optical fibre beam delivery system-a technique which detects the light reflected or scattered from the workpiece. The light signal carries information about the quality of the process. Experiments involving drilling and cutting of two samples, a thin aluminium foil and a 2-mm thick stainless steel plate, confirmed the effectiveness of this method.