Compact process head for industrial applications
The aim of the collaboration is a compact head with a total weight of less than five kilograms, light enough to be mounted directly on a robot arm and smoothly integrated into existing systems. At the same time, the partners intend to enable the use of laser power levels above twelve kilowatts. This will support the repair and buildup of larger components and help reduce processing times.
“At Cailabs, we aim to develop products with strong industrial impact, built on our core beam-shaping technology,” says Jean-François Morizur, CEO of Cailabs. “We believe this collaboration with Fraunhofer ILT will demonstrate the full potential of our approach for advanced manufacturing.”
Process knowledge meets precise beam shape
In many industrial applications, such as turbine or tools repair, very small and precise structures are required. With the new beam profile and Fraunhofer ILT’s process know-how, structures with a width below one millimeter are targeted, an important step toward precise repair and high-resolution hybrid manufacturing.
“We have already developed wire-based deposition processes for critical applications such as aerospace, energy systems and tooling,” says Dr. Thomas Schopphoven, Head of Laser Material Deposition at Fraunhofer ILT. “This experience flows directly into process control, material selection and analysis of melt pool dynamics.”
The team led by Schopphoven is currently defining parameter windows for different processing scenarios using physics-based simulations. This includes tuning wire feed, wire diameter, laser power and guideway strategies for different materials. In parallel, the robot-guided system environment is being set up, where the Canunda-DED head will be tested.
Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT
