Browsing by Author "Weber, Rudolf"

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Open Access
Adjustment of the geometries of the cutting front and the kerf by means of beam shaping to maximize the speed of laser cutting
(2023) Lind, Jannik; Hagenlocher, Christian; Weckenmann, Niklas; Blazquez-Sanchez, David; Weber, Rudolf; Graf, Thomas
The shape of the laser beam used for fusion cutting significantly influences the geometry of both the cutting front and the cutting kerf. The angle of the cutting front in turn impacts the local absorptivity, while the width of the kerf defines the amount of material, which has to be molten. The kerf’s geometry therefore determines the maximum possible cutting speed at which a successful cut is feasible with a given available laser power. The absorptivity, the width of the kerf, and the maximum possible cutting speed can be estimated from a simple model considering the conservation of energy and rough geometrical approximations. In order to verify the prediction of the model, the geometry of the cutting front and kerf resulting from different processing conditions was observed by means of online high-speed X-ray diagnostics. The geometry of the interaction zone was recorded with a framerate of 1000 Hz during fusion cutting of 10-mm-thick samples of stainless steel. Comparing the results obtained with different shapes of the laser beam, it was found that the absorptivity is increased when the beam’s longitudinal cross-section (parallel to the feed) is enlarged. Reducing the width of the beam in the transversal direction normal to the feed reduces the cross-sectional area of the cutting kerf. The findings show a good agreement with the geometric model which enabled the prediction of the absorptivity and the cross-sectional area of the cutting kerf and hence allows to reliably estimate the maximum cutting speed for different shapes of the laser beam, laser power, and sheet thicknesses.
Open Access
Analytical model for the depth progress during laser micromachining of V-shaped grooves
(2022) Holder, Daniel; Weber, Rudolf; Graf, Thomas
An analytical model is presented that allows predicting the progress and the final depth obtained by laser micromachining of grooves in metals with ultrashort laser pulses. The model assumes that micromachined grooves feature a V-shaped geometry and that the fluence absorbed along the walls is distributed with a linear increase from the edge to the tip of the groove. The depth progress of the processed groove is recursively calculated based on the depth increments induced by successive scans of the laser beam along the groove. The experimental validation confirms the model and its assumptions for micromachining of grooves in a Ti-alloy with femtosecond pulses and different pulse energies, repetition rates, scanning speeds and number of scans.
Open Access
Analytical model for the depth progress of percussion drilling with ultrashort laser pulses
(2021) Holder, Daniel; Weber, Rudolf; Graf, Thomas; Onuseit, Volkher; Brinkmeier, David; Förster, Daniel J.; Feuer, Anne
A simplified analytical model is presented that predicts the depth progress during and the final hole depth obtained by laser percussion drilling in metals with ultrashort laser pulses. The model is based on the assumption that drilled microholes exhibit a conical shape and that the absorbed fluence linearly increases with the depth of the hole. The depth progress is calculated recursively based on the depth changes induced by the successive pulses. The experimental validation confirms the model and its assumptions for percussion drilling in stainless steel with picosecond pulses and different pulse energies.
Open Access
The change of the absorptance at the transition from partial- to full-penetration laser welding
(2024) Wagner, Jonas; Hagenlocher, Christian; Weber, Rudolf; Graf, Thomas
Full-penetration laser welding processes are necessarily associated with significant changes of the geometrical properties of the keyhole at the beginning of the process when the keyhole expands all the way through the workpiece and finally pierces the bottom of the sheet. The impact that this transition has on the absorptance was investigated by means of X-ray imaging to determine the geometry of the keyhole and subsequent raytracing to calculate the distribution of the absorbed irradiance. The results show a significant drop of the overall absorptance when the bottom of the capillary opens through the rear side of the workpiece which in practice is noticed by an unstable behavior of the keyhole. Since the drop of the absorptance is less pronounced for smaller diameters of the keyhole, one may recommend the application of laser beams with small diameters at least during the initial phase until the keyhole is fully developed and reliably reaches through the bottom surface of the welded sheet.
Open Access
Determination of the thermally induced focal shift of processing optics for ultrafast lasers with average powers of up to 525 W
(2018) Faas, Sebastian; Förster, Daniel J.; Weber, Rudolf; Graf, Thomas
The continuous increase of the average laser power of ultrafast lasers is a challenge with respect to the thermal load of the processing optics. The power which is absorbed in an optical element leads to a temperature increase, temperature gradients, changing refractive index and shape, and finally causes distortions of the transmitted beam. In a first-order approximation this results in a change of the focal position, which may lead to an uncontrolled change of the laser machining process. The present study reports on investigations on the focal shift induced in thin plano-convex lenses by a high-power ultra-short pulsed laser with an average laser power of up to 525 W. The focal shift was determined for lenses made of different materials (N-BK7, fused silica) and with different coatings (un-coated, broadband coating, specific wavelength coating).
Open Access
Dry metal forming using volatile lubricants injected into the forming tool through flow-optimized, laser-drilled microholes
(2020) Henn, Manuel; Reichardt, Gerd; Weber, Rudolf; Graf, Thomas; Liewald, Mathias
A novel tribologic system was developed in which volatile lubricants (carbon dioxide-CO2 or nitrogen-N2) were used as a substitute for mineral oil-based lubricants in deep drawing processes. This process allows an intermediate medium to be introduced into the tool contact surfaces under high pressure by flow-optimized, laser-drilled microholes. This eliminates the need for subsequent cost-intensive cleaning processes as volatile lubricants evaporate while expanding to ambient pressure without leaving any residue. This article gives an overview of the current findings to enable and characterize the novel tribologic system. The areas of microhole laser drilling by ultrashort pulsed laser radiation, characterization of the novel tribologic system and realization of the system using a prototype tool will be described.
Open Access
Estimation of the depth limit for percussion drilling with picosecond laser pulses
(2018) Förster, Daniel J.; Weber, Rudolf; Holder, Daniel; Graf, Thomas
Open Access
Friction and wear behavior of deep drawing tools using volatile lubricants injected through laser-drilled micro-holes
(2021) Reichardt, Gerd; Henn, Manuel; Reichle, Paul; Umlauf, Georg; Riedmüller, Kim; Weber, Rudolf; Barz, Jakob; Liewald, Mathias; Graf, Thomas; Tovar, Günter E. M.
In deep drawing processes, the use of lubricants is mandatory in order to prevent wear on tools and surface damage to the formed sheet metal components. Here, frequently used lubricants are synthetic and mineral oils, emulsions, and waxes. However, these conventional lubricants have to be applied to the sheet material prior to the forming operation and removed afterwards by cleaning processes. Additionally, the lubricants often contain substances that are harmful to the environment and to human health. To counteract these economic and ecological disadvantages, research is currently being conducted on a novel tribological system. For this, volatile media such as liquid carbon dioxide and gaseous nitrogen are being used, and are introduced directly into the friction zones between the tool and the sheet metal material during deep drawing under high pressure through special laser-drilled micro-holes. This paper covers the latest investigations and findings regarding the design of flow-optimized micro-holes, the laser drilling process, the friction characterization on tool radii, and the tool wear to be expected when using the lubrication medium CO2.
Open Access
Heat accumulation during pulsed laser materials processing
(2014) Weber, Rudolf; Graf, Thomas; Berger, Peter; Onuseit, Volkher; Wiedenmann, Margit; Freitag, Chistian; Feuer, Anne
Laser materials processing with ultra-short pulses allows very precise and high quality results with a minimum extent of the thermally affected zone. However, with increasing average laser power and repetition rates the so-called heat accumulation effect becomes a considerable issue.
Open Access
High-quality percussion drilling with ultrashort laser pulses
(2021) Feuer, Anne; Weber, Rudolf; Feuer, R.; Brinkmeier, David; Graf, Thomas
The influence of the laser fluence on the quality of percussion-drilled holes was investigated both experimentally and by an analytical model. The study reveals that the edge quality of the drilled microholes depends on the laser fluence reaching the rear exit of the hole and changes with the number of pulses applied after breakthrough. The minimum fluence that must reach the hole’s exit in order to obtain high-quality microholes in stainless steel was experimentally found to be 2.8 times the ablation threshold.
Open Access
High-speed single-frame polarimeter for thermal radiation to measure the 3D geometry of hot metal surfaces
(2024) Sawannia, Michael; Berger, Peter; Weber, Rudolf; Hagenlocher, Christian; Graf, Thomas
The 3D geometry of the interaction zone in laser material processing is of major importance as it defines the absorption of the laser beam and may influence the hydrodynamics of the process. With the aim of measuring this geometry, which typically changes with frequencies in the order of 10 kHz, a single-frame polarimeter with acquisition rates of up to 75 kHz is presented in this work. It simultaneously records four images of the thermal process emission, through four linear polarizers with different orientations. The formulae required for the reconstruction of the 3D geometry from these images are derived and validated on an example of a heated steel sphere. The reconstructed geometry was found to be in good agreement with the examined sphere. An experimental example is also given of the application of this technology to geometry measurement of a highly dynamic laser cutting front at a framerate of 75 kHz.
Open Access
Impact of repetitive, ultra-short soft X-ray pulses from processing of steel with ultrafast lasers on human cell cultures
(2024) Holland, Julian; Lungu, Cristiana; Weber, Rudolf; Emperle, Max; Graf, Thomas
Ultrafast lasers, with pulse durations below a few picoseconds, are of significant interest to the industry, offering a cutting-edge approach to enhancing manufacturing processes and enabling the fabrication of intricate components with unparalleled accuracy. When processing metals at irradiances exceeding the evaporation threshold of about 10 10 W/cm² these processes can generate ultra-short, soft X-ray pulses with photon energies above 5 keV. This has prompted extensive discussions and regulatory measures on radiation safety. However, the impact of these ultra-short X-ray pulses on molecular pathways in the context of living cells, has not been investigated so far. This paper presents the first molecular characterization of epithelial cell responses to ultra-short soft X-ray pulses, generated during processing of steel with an ultrafast laser. The laser provided pulses of 6.7 ps with a pulse repetition rate of 300 kHz and an average power of 500 W. The irradiance was 1.95 ×10 13 W/cm 2 . Ambient exposure of vitro human cell cultures, followed by imaging of the DNA damage response and fitting of the data to a calibrated model for the absorbed dose, revealed a linear increase in the DNA damage response relative to the exposure dose. This is in line with findings from work using continuous wave soft X-ray sources and suggests that the ultra-short X-ray pulses do not generate additional hazard. This research contributes valuable insights into the biological effects of ultrafast laser processes and their potential implications for user safety.
Open Access
Influence of pulse duration on X-ray emission during industrial ultrafast laser processing
(2022) Holland, Julian; Weber, Rudolf; Sailer, Marc; Graf, Thomas
Soft X-ray emissions during the processing of industrial materials with ultrafast lasers are of major interest, especially against the background of legal regulations. Potentially hazardous soft X-rays, with photon energies of >5 keV, originate from the fraction of hot electrons in plasma, the temperature of which depends on laser irradiance. The interaction of a laser with the plasma intensifies with growing plasma expansion during the laser pulse, and the fraction of hot electrons is therefore enhanced with increasing pulse duration. Hence, pulse duration is one of the dominant laser parameters that determines the soft X-ray emission. An existing analytical model, in which the fraction of hot electrons was treated as a constant, was therefore extended to include the influence of the duration of laser pulses on the fraction of hot electrons in the generated plasma. This extended model was validated with measurements of H (0.07) dose rates as a function of the pulse duration for a constant irradiance of about 3.5 × 1014 W/cm2, a laser wavelength of 800 nm, and a pulse repetition rate of 1 kHz, as well as for varying irradiance at the laser wavelength of 1030 nm and pulse repetition rates of 50 kHz and 200 kHz. The experimental data clearly verified the predictions of the model and confirmed that significantly decreased dose rates are generated with a decreasing pulse duration when the irradiance is kept constant.
Open Access
Process limits for percussion drilling of stainless steel with ultrashort laser pulses at high average powers
(2022) Brinkmeier, David; Holder, Daniel; Loescher, André; Röcker, Christoph; Förster, Daniel J.; Onuseit, Volkher; Weber, Rudolf; Abdou Ahmed, Marwan; Graf, Thomas
The availability of commercial ultrafast lasers reaching into the kW power level offers promising potential for high-volume manufacturing applications. Exploiting the available average power is challenging due to process limits imposed by particle shielding, ambient atmosphere breakdown, and heat accumulation effects. We experimentally confirm the validity of a simple thermal model, which can be used for the estimation of a critical heat accumulation threshold for percussion drilling of AISI 304 steel. The limits are summarized in a processing map, which provides selection criteria for process parameters and suitable lasers. The results emphasize the need for process parallelization.
Open Access
Process window for highly efficient laser-based powder bed fusion of AlSi10Mg with reduced pore formation
(2021) Leis, Artur; Weber, Rudolf; Graf, Thomas
Open Access
Scaling the productivity of laser structuring processes using picosecond laser pulses at average powers of up to 420W to produce superhydrophobic surfaces on stainless steel AISI 316L
(2019) Faas, Sebastian; Bielke, Uwe; Weber, Rudolf; Graf, Thomas
Open Access
Self-shielding of X-ray emission from ultrafast laser processing due to geometrical changes of the interaction zone
(2024) Holland, Julian; Hagenlocher, Christian; Weber, Rudolf; Graf, Thomas
Materials processing with ultrashort laser pulses is one of the most important approaches when it comes to machining with very high accuracy. High pulse repetition rates and high average laser power can be used to attain high productivity. By tightly focusing the laser beam, the irradiances on the workpiece can exceed 1013 W/cm2, and thus cause usually unwanted X-ray emission. Pulsed laser processing of micro holes exhibits two typical features: a gradual increase in the irradiated surface within the hole and, with this, a decrease in the local irradiance. This and the shielding by the surrounding material diminishes the amount of ionizing radiation emitted from the process; therefore, both effects lead to a reduction in the potential X-ray exposure of an operator or any nearby person. The present study was performed to quantify this self-shielding of the X-ray emission from laser-drilled micro holes. Percussion drilling in standard air atmosphere was investigated using a laser with a wavelength of 800 nm a pulse duration of 1 ps, a repetition rate of 1 kHz, and with irradiances of up to 1.1·1014 W/cm. The X-ray emission was measured by means of a spectrometer. In addition to the experimental results, we present a model to predict the expected X-ray emission at different angles to the surface. These calculations are based on raytracing simulations to obtain the local irradiance, from which the local X-ray emission inside the holes can be calculated. It was found that the X-ray exposure measured in the surroundings strongly depends on the geometry of the hole and the measuring direction, as predicted by the theoretical model.
Open Access
Supercritical melt flow in high-speed laser welding and its interdependence with the geometry of the keyhole and the melt pool
(2024) Reinheimer, Eveline N.; Berger, Peter; Hagenlocher, Christian; Weber, Rudolf; Graf, Thomas
The advent of undercuts and humping limits the applicable speed of deep-penetration laser welding. Recent findings additionally show that a significant change of the keyhole’s shape is associated with the occurrence of undercuts. Considering that undercuts and humping are melt flow–induced defects, this leads to the question of how the geometry of the keyhole and the melt pool influence the melt flow and vice versa. In this work, the Froude number was used to characterize the melt flow around a keyhole. X-ray images of the keyhole and cross-sections of the weld were therefore used to determine the geometrical boundaries of the melt flow, to estimate the average melt velocity around the keyhole, and finally determine its Froude number. The flow around a cylindrically shaped keyhole was found to always be subcritical, whereas supercritical melt flow was observed around the elongated keyholes that are formed at higher welding speed. The findings may be interpreted in the sense that the elongation of the keyhole is a consequence of a supercritical stream of the melt flowing underneath and around the keyhole. This perception is consistent with the long-known experience that humping may be avoided by reducing the flow speed of the melt by widening the melt pool surrounding the keyhole (e.g., by means of beam shaping) and suggest a new explanation for the elongation of the keyhole at increased welding speed.
Open Access
Synchrotron X-ray analysis of the influence of the magnesium content on the absorptance during full-penetration laser welding of aluminum
(2021) Wagner, Jonas; Hagenlocher, Christian; Hummel, Marc; Olowinsky, Alexander; Weber, Rudolf; Graf, Thomas
Open Access
Tuning the hardness of produced parts by adjusting the cooling rate during laser-based powder bed fusion of AlSi10Mg by adapting the process parameters
(2022) Leis, Artur; Traunecker, David; Weber, Rudolf; Graf, Thomas
The mechanical properties of parts produced by laser-based powder bed fusion (LPBF) are mainly determined by the grain structure in the material, which is governed by the cooling rate during solidification. This cooling rate strongly depends on the scan velocity and the absorbed laser power. Experiments with varying process parameters were performed to develop and validate an analytical model that predicts the hardness of printed AlSi10Mg parts. It was found that it is possible to tune the hardness of additively manufactured parts of AlSi10Mg in a range between 60 ± 9 HV0.5 and 100 ± 10 HV0.5 by adjusting the cooling rate during solidification with adapted process parameters.