Optical penetration sensor for pulsed laser welding

Patent · 31 December 1999

OSTI ID:873037

Essien, Marcelino ^[1]; Keicher, David M ^[1]; Schlienger, M Eric ^[1]; Jellison, James L ^[1]

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1. Albuquerque, NM

An apparatus and method for determining the penetration of the weld pool created from pulsed laser welding and more particularly to an apparatus and method of utilizing an optical technique to monitor the weld vaporization plume velocity to determine the depth of penetration. A light source directs a beam through a vaporization plume above a weld pool, wherein the plume changes the intensity of the beam, allowing determination of the velocity of the plume. From the velocity of the plume, the depth of the weld is determined.

• Research Organization: SANDIA CORP
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• Assignee: Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
• Patent Number(s): US 6075220
• OSTI ID: 873037
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/219/
allowing
apparatus
beam
changes
created
depth
determination
determine
determined
determining
directs
intensity
laser
laser weld
laser welding
light
light source
method
monitor
optical
optical technique
particularly
penetration
penetration sensor
plume
pool
pulsed
pulsed laser
sensor
source
source directs
technique
utilizing
vaporization
velocity
weld
weld pool
welding