MONACO - MONitoring And COntrol for advanced laser processing

Purpose and goal:

The project Monaco achieved the goal to provide a sophisticated two-camera system for monitoring of the blown powder laser cladding process, extendable to 3D-printing. The overall concept, integrated and demonstrated in an industrial manufacturing cell, meets the aim of prerequisites for a closed loop control, to ensure high product quality. In addition to advanced knowledge, the results enable new business opportunities along with economic and environmental advantages.

Expected results and effects:

A thermal combined with a geometrical camera system has been developed, into an industrial manufacturing cell, accompanied by software algorithms, to evaluate in-situ the most important process conditions. From systematic studies, favoured camera systems and image analysis have been identified and explained. The feasibility of a closed loop control was simulated. From the gained knowledge, improved in-line quality control during thermal manufacturing processes can be expected.

Approach and implementation:

The project was carried out according to its workplan, by a new partnership of complementary expertise, composed of a laser cladding company, a thermal camera developer and a university in Sweden together with a topology camera supplier and a research institute in Germany. A clear modular workplan facilitated the project execution, despite facing different scientific and practical challenges of the hardware integration and of the interpretation of measured data, which led to powerful solutions.