IPG’s new monitoring systems are the next paradigm in industrial weld quality assurance. The LDD-700 weld monitoring system uses Inline Coherent Imaging (ICI) to provide a new level of detail and accuracy for laser weld monitoring. ICI uses a low-power IR laser beam to gauge distances. This measurement beam is fired through the same optics as the welding laser, right to the bottom of the keyhole, and records its depth in real-time. The result is a direct, geometric measurement of weld penetration, acquired in-process. This data is comparable to a cut and etch of the entire length of the weld—for every weld—without destroying the part—and the results are available instantly.
The LDD-700 Inline Process Monitor
- High Speed, High Resolution
- Immune to Process Radiation
- Gives Data Similar to Sectioning, Immediately
Capable of Detecting Defects Including
- Over and Under Penetration
- Part Misalignment: Height Variation, Gap Width
- Weld Bead Defects: Blowouts, Underfill
Real-time AISI 8620 Welding Quality Monitoring
Butt weld - 3.2 mm deep, 2 m/min feed rate
Equipment:
- IPG Multi-axis laser system with LDD-700 imaging system
- YLS-6000 Ytterbium fiber laser used at 2.5 kW
- FLW-50 welding head
Challenge:
- Real–time verification of weld quality, depth, width, fit and centricity
- Measurement of focus position
- Post-weld surface bead profiling