Laser joining and cutting at Fraunhofer ILT

⚡ Battery Laser Welding – Smoke Rings or Process Stability? ⚡ What happens if you don't use either a protective gas or an exhaus system during #laser #welding? The answer is plain to see: dense smoke spreads uncontrollably – in perfect rings, almost like #Gandalf's famous smoke tricks in #LordoftheRings! 🎯 The consequences? 👉 Contaminated optical systems, leading to reduced process stability 👉 Increased oxidation and poor weld quality due to an unprotected melt pool 👉 Uncontrolled gas flow, causing inconsistencies in the weld seam 💡 The solution? Optimized shielding gas supply and effective fume extraction can: ✅ Extend the lifetime of optical components and reduce maintenance efforts ✅ Ensure clean and reproducible welding results ✅ Improve process efficiency – fewer defects, less rework Especially in battery laser welding, a controlled atmosphere is crucial for quality and process reliability. Particularly with regard to the sensitive control of the welding depth and the thermal energy input. Let’s connect and discuss how to optimize your welding setup! #LaserWelding #BatteryManufacturing #ProcessOptimization #WeldingTechnology #IndustrialInnovation #WeKnowHow

We are thrilled to announce the successful completion of our research project, “Digital Process Online Optimizer for Intelligent Laser Machines – #DIPOOL.” Throughout this journey, we have developed an AI-based real-time process monitoring system for high-speed laser cutting. By modulating the laser power, we enhance data quality and detect cutting interruptions in real time. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed their time, expertise, and support. Your collaboration was invaluable! To celebrate this achievement, we’ve created a short video summarizing our findings and the impact of our work. Let’s continue pushing the boundaries of knowledge together! Automatic-Systeme Dreher GmbH | Precitec - Laser Material Processing | 4D Photonics GmbH | Marx Gruppe GmbH & Co. KG | LBBZ NRW GmbH | Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) #SmartFactory #LaserTechnology #AI #Innovation #LaserCutting #WeKnowHow #ProcessMonitoring #RealTime #Laser

We recently had the opportunity to beta test the new RAYDIMEMETER system from RAYLASE, and the results have been truly impressive! Combined with a RAYLASE RD-50 scanhead and an nLIGHT, Inc. AFX laser, this setup is a game-changer for welding Li-ion battery cells — particularly modules with cylindrical cells, where fluctuations in weld positions pose a challenge.  With a 350x350 mm² working field and the ability to adjust the focus within 11 mm, we now have greater #precision and #flexibility for high-quality welding. In this video, we demonstrate welding 18650 Li-ion cells with varying positions. The system tackles weld position fluctuations by first measuring cell positions using the RAYDIMEMETER OCT system, then dynamically adjusting the focus using a z-lens—all with minimal additional processing time!  In combination with a ring mode laser such as the nLight AFX, RAYDIMEMETER offers exciting new possibilities to further enhance the welding process. A big thank you to RAYLASE for the collaboration! Looking forward to pushing the boundaries of laser technology even further. Think this setup might be a solution for your welding challenge or would you like to find out more about it? Contact our colleague Elie Haddad! #FraunhoferILT #RAYLASE #LaserTechnology #BatteryManufacturing #Innovation #Welding #LiIonBatteries #WeKnowHow

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY strengthen their collaboration – and we’re part of it! Fraunhofer and the German Electron Synchrotron (DESY) have launched a strategic partnership to drive innovation and research forward. 🚀 For us, this is an exciting step, as we have already been collaborating successfully with DESY and Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon for years – especially in X-ray transmission experiments for laser material processing. With this new partnership, even more opportunities arise to tackle industrial challenges using cutting-edge X-ray technology. We look forward to deepening our collaboration and setting new standards together! Find out more about our work within Laser meets Synchrotron here: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eba52Svz #Fraunhofer #DESY #Collaboration #Innovation #LaserMeetsSynchrotron #MaterialsResearch #WeKnowHow

AI in Laser Beam Welding: More Than Just a Buzzword! #ArtificialIntelligence is everywhere – but we don’t just talk about it, we actively use it to optimize manufacturing processes! One example? #AI enables analysis of pore formation and their dynamics and movements in laser beam welding. This is made possible by synchrotron X-ray imaging at Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY and Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, providing high-resolution insights into the welding process. Over the entire process length, AI detects and evaluates critical features – a huge step toward more stable and efficient production! The combination of AI, high-speed imaging, and advanced analytics demonstrates the power of data-driven process diagnostics. What do you think? Where else do you see potential for AI in welding technology? #AI #LaserWelding #ProcessMonitoring #ManufacturingInnovation #DESY #Synchrotron #Industry40 #WeKnowHow | Laser Meets Synchrotron

#Valentine's #Welding Today, on #Valentine's Day, we realize once again what is important on this day: Welding with #heart! By using a new developed dual-beam optics, which allows us to move two highly focused NIR laser beams variably on the workpiece, we can generate a tailored energy input for different applications. In this case, the two laser beams travel linearly at a definied distance from each other. At first the two processes are seperated following their own vapor capillary (white dots), but then, through the power of love (ok maybe also through heat accumulation), they become one and share one melt pool, which forms a heart shape. At the end, a heart-shaped crater remains. We simply love welding! Whether this application will become established in the industry remains to be seen. The truth will be revealed by metallographic analysis and upcoming synchrotron experiments. #weldingwithheart #valentinesday #love #dualbeam

From Process Development to Fully Integrated Systems – Fraunhofer ILT Delivers Turnkey Solutions! At Fraunhofer ILT, we don’t just develop innovative #laser processes — we ensure their successful transfer into industrial production systems. From the first feasibility study to the final system integration at the customer’s site, we provide a comprehensive process solution tailored to industry needs. 🔹 End-to-End Process Support: From concept validation to ramp-up in production 🔹 Customized Control Software with Image Processing for precise automation 🔹 Process Monitoring & Safety Features, including fire suppression systems for battery applications for example from Precitec - Laser Material Processing - #LWM By combining cutting-edge laser joining and cutting technologies with smart system integration, we enable efficient and scalable manufacturing solutions. 💡 Ready to bring your laser process to production? Let’s talk! #FraunhoferILT #LaserJoining #Automation #ProcessIntegration #SmartManufacturing #IndustrialInnovation

We are excited to present a recent test video showcasing the strength of laser-based hybrid joints made of #aluminum and #polypropylene GF30. Utilizing laser-based joining technology, these #hybrid #composites demonstrate an impressive ability to withstand significant forces.    In the video, you will see a three-point bending test in accordance with the DIN EN ISO 178 standard, where the polymer undergoes cohesive failure before the bond yields. The moment the crack forms in the polypropylene, just before the material ultimately breaks, is particularly striking.   Check out the video to witness the power of innovative laser-joining techniques at Fraunhofer ILT! 💪💡   #Innovation #MaterialTesting #HybridMaterials #FraunhoferILT #ZwickRoell #Technology #WeKnowHow #Welding #Cutting #Laser #Battery #NEXTBAT_EU #MaterialScience

At Laser joining and cutting at Fraunhofer ILT, we are proud to be part of the Laser Symposium for Electromobility (LSE)—a platform where experts from industry and research come together to discuss the latest advancements in #laser #joining, #cutting, #structuring, and #coating. It’s always exciting to see how professional paths evolve, and we love witnessing moments like these-former colleagues reuniting as speakers! Thank you, Dr. André Häusler, for sharing your experience at LSE. We look forward to many more inspiring discussions, groundbreaking insights, and, of course, reconnecting with great minds from the laser community! #LSE #FraunhoferILT #LaserJoining #LaserCutting #Networking #Innovation #WeldDone #ShiningBrightLikeALaser

!!! The Lucky Winner Has Been Drawn!!! At the end of last year, we announced a giveaway for our special Welding Calendar 2025. Everyone who commented on that post had the chance to win! Now, we’re excited to share the result: Our amazing students at the Joining and Cutting Maker Lab went above and beyond by creating a custom Lucky Laser Wheel to determine the winner in a truly unique and innovative way. And the winner is Dr. Kira van der Straeten! 🎊 Congratulations, Kira! We hope you enjoy the calendar and have an amazing 2025 filled with sparks of inspiration (and maybe some welding sparks, too 😉). A big thank-you to everyone who participated! Stay tuned for more exciting projects and giveaways from our team in the future.