Methods include directing a laser beam to a target along a scan path at a variable scan velocity and adjusting a digital modulation during movement of the laser beam along the scan path and in relation to the variable scan velocity so as to provide a fluence at the target within a predetermined fluence range along the scan path. Some methods include adjusting a width of the laser beam with a zoom beam expander. Apparatus include a laser source situated to emit a laser beam, a 3D scanner situated to receive the laser beam and to direct the laser beam along a scan path in a scanning plane at the target, and a laser source digital modulator coupled to the laser source so as to produce a fluence at the scanning plane along the scan path that is in a predetermined fluence range as the laser beam scan speed changes along the scan path.

A method and a device for monitoring laser cutting processes in the high-power range above 1 kW mean output envisage automatic quality control after interruption and/or completion of a cutting process carried out with predetermined cutting parameters. According to the disclosure the cutting process is interrupted after a first partial processing step, whereupon a partial section (K1 . . . KX) of the processing path is scanned. This preferably takes place at a higher speed than that for the first partial processing procedure and preferably close to or on the same processing path. On the basis of the scan result at least one quality feature of the processing result is automatically determined and compared with predefined quality specifications. Depending on the result of the comparison a fault message can then be issued, the processing interrupted, reworking of a defect point carried out, at least one cutting parameter adjusted, and the cutting process continued with the changed set of cutting parameters.

An apparatus and a method for thermal processing within a processing region (1) at a workpiece surface (2) by means of a laser beam (6) emitted by at least one radiation source (5). Arranged in the beam path of the laser beam (6) between the at least one radiation source (5) and the processing region (1) on the workpiece surface (2), there is at least one element (10, 11, 12) by means of which the intensity of the laser beam (6) is modifiable in a locally defined manner within the processing region (1). As an alternative or in addition thereto, the intensity of at least one of the laser beams (6) is modifiable in a locally defined manner within the processing region (1) by a defined actuation of the plurality of radiation sources (5) such that a locally defined distribution of the intensity of the laser beam (6) striking the workpiece surface (2) is achievable within the processing region (1).

Systems and methods of adapting the geometrical shape of a laser beam in laser-based powder-bed fusion (PBF) are provided. An apparatus for laser-based powder-bed fusion includes a depositor that deposits a plurality of layers of a powder material. The apparatus further includes a laser beam source that generates a laser beam having a variable beam geometry. A laser application component applies the laser beam in one of a plurality of beam geometries to fuse the powder material to construct a build piece.

Described are a method and a control data generation device (54, 54′) for use therein for generating control data (PSD) for a device (1) for the additive manufacture of a manufacturing product (2) in a manufacturing process, in which build-up material (13) is built up and selectively solidified, wherein, for the solidification process, the build-up material (13) is irradiated with at least one energy beam (AL) on a build field (8), and an area of incidence (AF) of the energy beam (AL) on the build field (8) is moved in order to melt the build-up material (13). The control data (PSD) are generated such that the energy beam (AL) has an intensity distribution (GIV), at the area of incidence (AF) on the build field (8), in a section plane (x, y) running perpendicularly to the beam axis (SA) of the energy beam (AL), which intensity distribution has at least one local minimum (MIZ) in a middle region along at least one secant of the intensity distribution (GIV) in the section plane (x, y) and has an intensity profile curve (IPK), running along the edge (R) of the intensity distribution (GIV), which intensity profile curve has, at least at one point, a maximum value (MAX), and, at least at one point in a region opposite the maximum value (MAX) on the intensity profile curve (IPK), a minimum value (MIN).

Also described are a method and a control device (50) for controlling a device (1) for the additive manufacture of a manufacturing product (2) using this control data (PSD), and a device (1) for the additive manufacture of manufacturing products.

A computer-implemented method determining one or more parameter values for a laser-engraving process, the method comprising: executing a laser pulse model on a computer-simulated surface to generate a first surface geometry on the computer-simulated surface, wherein the laser pulse model is based on a first set of values for a set of parameters; determining a quality score for the first surface geometry; based on the quality score, performing a global optimization process to generate a second set of values for the set of parameters; and modifying the laser pulse model based on the second set of values to generate a modified laser pulse model.

In a method of laser welding, a solid metal component is placed in contact with a porous metal component at an interface region, a laser beam is directed onto the solid metal component to cause heating and melting of one or more portions of the solid metal component in the interface region, and the melted metal portions flow into interstices in the porous metal component and then solidify by cooling such that portions of the porous metal component adjacent the interstices are integrated into the metal of the solid metal component thereby bonding the solid metal component and the porous metal component.

In various embodiments, a workpiece is processed utilizing primary and secondary laser beams having different wavelengths and which are coupled into specialized optical fibers. The primary and secondary beams may be utilized during different stages of workpiece processing.

A laser soldering device includes a laser source, a lens group, a temperature sensor, and a feedback controller. The laser source emits a laser beam, which is power-adjustable, according to a control signal. The temperature sensor receives infrared rays radiated when the laser beam is irradiated to the soldering point to detect the temperature of the soldering point, and correspondingly outputs a sensing signal according to the detected temperature. When the detected temperature falls into a first temperature range based on a target temperature, the feedback controller executes a PID algorithm to calculate a predicted error value according to an error value between the detected temperature and the target temperature. The feedback controller controls the laser source according to the predicted error value, and adjusts the power of the laser beam accordingly, so that the detected temperature can be substantially equal to the target temperature.

As first-time laser irradiation is performed on a workpiece, an initial nugget is formed. By emitting a laser beam for the second time at the initial nugget, a diameter of a back-side nugget portion is increased. A nugget includes a front-side nugget portion formed in a first plate, the back-side nugget portion formed in a second plate, and an annular flat surface portion. The flat surface portion is along a boundary portion between the first plate and the second plate. In a thicknesswise cross section of the second plate, a tilt angle of a peripheral surface of the back-side nugget portion is increased as a thicknesswise position of the peripheral surface approximates to a rear face of the second plate.