US 11,999,017 B2
Method and device for conducting and monitoring a machining process of a workpiece
Eckhard Lessmueller, Munich (DE); Christian Truckenbrodt, Munich (DE); and Maximilian Schmidt, Ampermoching (DE)
Assigned to Lessmüller Lasertechnik GmbH, Munich (DE)
Filed by Lessmüller Lasertechnik GmbH, Munich (DE)
Filed on Jan. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/162,782.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2020 000 630.2 (DE), filed on Jan. 30, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0237208 A1, Aug. 5, 2021
Int. Cl. B23K 26/70 (2014.01); B23K 26/06 (2014.01); B23K 26/28 (2014.01)
CPC B23K 26/705 (2015.10) [B23K 26/0643 (2013.01); B23K 26/0648 (2013.01); B23K 26/28 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
13. A device for conducting and monitoring a welding process for joining the workpiece to a further workpiece, by means of a high-energy machining beam, wherein the device comprises:
a control unit;
a machining unit having a machining beam source for generating the high-energy machining beam and having machining beam optics for projecting or focusing the machining beam onto the workpiece, wherein, in accordance with a machining control signal generated by the control unit, different machining regions of the workpiece are able to be machined;
an optical coherence tomograph for generating a measurement beam, wherein the measurement beam is able to be coupled into the machining beam; and
at least one sensor is configured for determining a power of the machining beam in a region of the machining beam optics and generating at least one external signal;
wherein the control unit is adapted to:
determine measurement points during the machining process using the measurement beam, in accordance with a measurement control signal generated by the control unit, wherein the measurement points comprise one or more space coordinates which indicate at least one of a position on the workpiece, a position on the further workpiece, a position relative to a point of impingement of the machining beam, and a position relative to a machining region;
obtain at least one external signal as a measured variable from the at least one sensor, wherein the measured variable is dependent on a physical operation and is independent of a processing of the machining control signal and of the measurement control signal;
generate an evaluation on the basis of the measurement points and of the at least one external signal, which evaluation comprises a comparison of the measurement points with at least one threshold value; and
monitor the machining process on the basis of the evaluation.