Abstract
A nonintrusive optical sensor system is applied to real-time process control of the recently developed laser direct-casting process, in which a stream of metal powder is introduced into the beam of a high-power (500-W) cw laser to fabricate complex three-dimensional structures. The sensor system allows two critical parameters, temperature and build height, associated with this process to be monitored and controlled continuously. We achieved a height-sensing resolution of ±0.25 mm and temperature control with a resolution of ±10 °C at a typical working temperature of 1500 °C with an evident improvement in process quality, especially for complex workpieces comprising relatively high, thin walls at which the conductive heat transfer varies substantially as the process proceeds.
© 1998 Optical Society of America
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