Advanced Concepts In Laser Material Processing In Europe

Abstract

Eigh power laser material processing is regarded in Western Europe as one of the nost important technologies for the near future. For that reason strong research End development efforts are undertaken in many countries of the common market End in the smaller European countries as Scandinavia, Switzerland and in tustria. All that work is done to enhance material processing performance, to improve processing quality and efficiency and to extend the range of ETplications of laser material processing. These efforts include developments of lasers with higher output, smaller volume and improved beam quality, as e.g. high frequency excited high power as lasers. These lasers can be pulsed and are thus well suited for laser material processing purposes. Considering the large importance of beam quality for processing performance and quality, strong attention is paid to high power laser beam diagnostics and control. Much work has been devoted to a more efficient coupling g of the radiation to the workpiece under use of the controlled formation of nicroplasmas. Also material processing with shorter wavelength is investigated. In order to optimize laser material processing, new theoretical models including dynamic descriptions have been developed for laser cutting, laser welding and laser surface treatment. New machining processes are under development, as for instance processing with pulsed radiation or with augmention, for instance with plasma devices. In order to extend the range of applications three dimensional processing either with special focusing heads, with moving mirrors or by combination with robots have been developed. In the following three examples for advanced European activities are given: