Penetration depth is an important factor critical to the quality of a laser weld. This paper presents a 3D heat conduction model with a moving line source to correlate the temperature measured on the bottom surface of the workpiece to the weld penetration, weld bead width and welding speed. Temperatures on the bottom surface of the workpiece are measured using infrared thermocouples located behind the laser beam. The averaging effect due to the temperature measurement spot size is analyzed. This paper provides a model-based approach for laser weld penetration monitoring instead of a pure empirical correlation between a measured signal (e.g., acoustic, infrared) and the penetration depth. Experiments were conducted to compare the depth estimation based on the model to bead-on-plate welds on low carbon steel plates of varying thickness at different laser power levels and speeds. It is shown that the temperature on the bottom surface is a consistent indicator of penetration depth and that the correlation is also sensitive to the sensor location as well as other process conditions such as weld shape, width, and the plate thickness. The proposed model is computationally efficient and is suitable for on-line process monitoring application.
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e-mail: tujf@ecn.purdue.edu
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Laser Weld Penetration Estimation Using Temperature Measurements
K. N. Lankalapalli,
K. N. Lankalapalli
FANUC Robotics North America, Inc., Rochester Hills, MI 48307
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J. F. Tu,
J. F. Tu
School of Industrial Engineering, 1287 Grissom Hall, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1287
e-mail: tujf@ecn.purdue.edu
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K. H. Leong,
K. H. Leong
Laser Applications Laboratory, Technology Development Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, TD/207, Argonne, IL 60439-4841
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M. Gartner
M. Gartner
Ford Motor Company, Box-16, ATEO-Livonia 36200 Plymouth Road, Livonia, MI 48150
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K. N. Lankalapalli
FANUC Robotics North America, Inc., Rochester Hills, MI 48307
J. F. Tu
School of Industrial Engineering, 1287 Grissom Hall, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1287
e-mail: tujf@ecn.purdue.edu
K. H. Leong
Laser Applications Laboratory, Technology Development Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, TD/207, Argonne, IL 60439-4841
M. Gartner
Ford Motor Company, Box-16, ATEO-Livonia 36200 Plymouth Road, Livonia, MI 48150
J. Manuf. Sci. Eng. May 1999, 121(2): 179-188 (10 pages)
Published Online: May 1, 1999
Article history
Received:
July 1, 1997
Revised:
February 1, 1998
Online:
January 17, 2008
Citation
Lankalapalli, K. N., Tu, J. F., Leong, K. H., and Gartner, M. (May 1, 1999). "Laser Weld Penetration Estimation Using Temperature Measurements." ASME. J. Manuf. Sci. Eng. May 1999; 121(2): 179–188. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2831202
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