Time-based offline track planning of robot guided laser applications for complex 3D freeform surfaces

Abstract

Due to its flexibility, laser can be used for a wide variety of applications. Applications that are suitable for laser material processing include polishing, hardening, cleaning structuring, soldering and 3D printing (SLM). However, treating of complex freeform surfaces is challenging in terms of track planning. As manual track planning is not economically viable, there is a demand for software solutions for track planning with respect to time-based processes. This paper deals with the development of a software solution for automated track planning with respect to time-based processes. In addition, the introduced software includes postprocessors for fully automated G-Code, Rapid and Kuka Robot Language (KRL) generation. To demonstrate the feasibility and advantage of a time-based offline track planning of robot guided laser application, an additively manufactured freeform surface was laser polished. An application example represents the robot guided laser polishing of a complex 3D freeform surface. Investigations revealed a relative roughness reduction ~92 % of X2CrNiMo17-12-2 steel (1.4404).