Preliminary machine learning analysis and high-speed thermographic visualization of the laser polishing process

11th CIRP Conference on Photonic Technologies [LANE 2020], September 7-10, 202

Preliminary Investigations of High-Speed Thermographic Imaging for the Monitoring of the Laser Polishing Process

Abstract Laser polishing is an emerging manufacturing technology wherein laser radiation is used to melt the surface of a workpiece in such a way that the molten material pools and resolidifies with improved surface quality. It is susceptible to process instability, and monitoring the process is difficult given the small size of the melt pool and the speed at which the operation occurs. This study includes the first implementation of a coaxially installed high-speed thermographic camera to record the process in real time. Novel methods for the analysis of the captured images were developed, including techniques for process visualization and the extraction of quantifiable image features. Relationships between the data collected by the camera and process instabilities were investigated, as well as the causes and effects of the instabilities. Using this information, a method for real-time detection of surface non-uniformities was developed, addressing the need for laser polishing process monitoring