„OCT for Controlled and Precise Robotic Arc Welding and Tactile Laser Welding and Brazing.“

Dr. Nataliya Deyneka Dupriez, Lessmüller Lasertechnik GmbH

The capability of OCT technology for real-time seam tracking and weld bead quality evaluation was examined in robot-guided automated GMAW and tactile laser welding and brazing of automotive parts made of bare steel, coated steel and aluminum with different joint types at different welding speeds. The permissible gap size and gap compensation were investigated for both automated conventional and tactile laser welding. During tactile laser welding and brazing, the filler wire speed and laser power were varied. Satisfactory results were achieved: The industry-proven, standardized OCT functions and fieldbus communication enabled accurate and consistent seam tracking, gap bridging and online quality monitoring of the seam topography of the tested materials during processing with variable welding or brazing parameters. Thanks to the flexibility, insensitivity to environmental conditions and very high accuracy of the OCT system, the joining processes could be precisely controlled.