Production Measurement Technology

The measurement of physical, chemical or biological parameters is critical in many manufacturing tasks. Fraunhofer ILT develops various laser measurement processes for tasks in production and for in-line process control; together with customers and partners, it implements these processes in prototypes and small series.

For example, thanks to an absolute measuring interferometric sensor technology developed at Fraunhofer ILT, geometrical properties of components can be measured with very high accuracy and high throughput. During Laser Material Deposition, this sensor can detect geometrical characteristics, such as the applied layer thickness. In real-time, therefore, it is possible to react to deviations from the target geometry so that process deviations can be detected and compensated for early on. Further fields of application for interferometric sensors are inline monitoring and control during laser beam melting, laser drilling and laser microstructuring.

In the field of recycling, for example, laser spectroscopic measuring methods are ideal for automated sorting processes. Metals, ceramics, glasses, slag, or raw materials can be identified and sorted very quickly. Rare valuable materials, such as technology metals in components on electronic circuit boards, can also be identified and specifically reclaimed.

The range of services offered include feasibility studies, the development of components and procedures for production metrology, support for the integration of new technologies in industrial manufacturing processes and the start of continuous operation in production, as well as individual consultation on customerized laser measurement systems.

Material Analytics

• Spectroscopic measurement techniques, e. g. laser-based emission spectrometry (LIBS)
• Process analytics of metals, ceramics, glass, slags, particulates
• Analytics for material recycling
• Positive material identification (PMI): 100 % inspection of semi-finished and final products
• Cleanliness analysis of production control samples, e. g. micro inclusions in steel

Interferometrical Measurement Techniques

• Interferometric sensor for absolute distance and contour measurements
• Application in the production of foils, bottles, boreholes
• Application in biometry, e. g. finger print detection

Development of Prototypes

• Customer-specific solutions
• Prototypes for measurement applications in the industrial production
• Laser measurement technology for analytics

Trenn, M., Erdmann, T., Lange, K., Pongratz, L.:
Efficiency enhancement of Li-ion battery electrode structuring by pulse burst processing - results of an automated study.
Proceedings Volume 12873, Laser-based Micro- and Nanoprocessing XVIII; 128730I (2024)
https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3000904

Knaak, C., Masseling, L., Duong, E., Abels, P., Gillner, A.:
Improving build quality in laser powder bed fusion using high dynamic range imaging and model-based reinforcement learning.
IEEE Access 9, 55214-55231 (2021)
https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3067302

Holters, M., Dirks, S., Stollenwerk, J., Loosen, P.:
Automated and model-based assembly of an anamorphic telescope.
SPIE OPTO, 22 February 2018, San Francisco, California, United States. Proc. SPIE 10538, Optical Interconnects XVIII, 105380U (2018)
https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2291910

Mahler, G., Westphalen, T.:
Laserangeregte Thermografie von CFK-Bauteilen.
Thermographie-Kolloquium 2017, 28. – 29. September 2017 in Berlin. Beitrag 7, 1-8 (2017)

Sturm,V., Meinhardt, C., Fleige, R., Fricke-Begemann, C., Eisbach, J.:
Fast identification of steel bloom composition at a rolling mill by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.
SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART B: ATOMIC SPECTROSCOPY 136, 66-72 (2017)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sab.2017.08.009

Meinhardt, C., Sturm, V., Fleige, R., Fricke-Begemann, C., Noll, R.:
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy of scaled steel samples taken from continuous casting blooms.
SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART B: ATOMIC SPECTROSCOPY 123, 171-178 (2016)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sab.2016.08.013

Donges, A., Noll, R.:
Laser Measurement Technology, Heidelberg [u.a.]: Springer 2015, Springer Series in Optical Sciences,Vol. 188.
ISBN 978-3662436332
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-43634-9

Sturm, V., Fleige, R., de Kanter, M., Leitner, R., Pilz, K., Fischer, D., Hubmer, G., Noll, R.:
Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for 24/7 automatic liquid slag analysis at a steel works
Anal. Chem. 86, 9687-9692, 2014
https://doi.org/10.1021/ac5022425

Noll, R., Hölters, S., Kämmerling, J., Lenenbach, A.:
Laserabstandssensoren messen die Dicke von Walzbändern
QZ 58 (10), 44-47 (2013)

Sturm, V., Eilers, D., Werheit, P., Chiarotti, U., Volponi, V., De Miranda, U. Zani, M., Makowe, J.:
Elemental monitoring of steel scrap loading an electrical arc furnace
Metallurgical Analysis, Vol. 32 (6): 18-23 (2012)

Noll, R., Krauhausen, M.:
Online Lasermesssysteme für die Stahl- und Automobilindustrie
Düsseldorf: VDI 2008, VDI-Berichte. Bd 2011, pp. 3-12

Noll, R., Krauhausen, M.:
Online laser measurement technology for rolled products
Ironmaking & Steelmaking 35, 221-227, 2008
https://doi.org/10.1179/174328108X284543

Sturm, V., Schmitz, H.-U., Reuter, T., Fleige, R., Noll, R.:
Fast vacuum slag analysis in a steel works by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy
Spectrochim. Acta Part B 63, 1167-1170, 2008
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sab.2008.08.004

Noll, R., Sturm, V., Aydin, Ü., Eilers, D., Gehlen, C., Höhne, M., Lamott, A., Makowe, J., Vrenegor, J.:
Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy - from research to industry, new frontiers for process control
Spectrochim. Acta Part B63, 1159-1166, 2008
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sab.2008.08.011

Noll, R., Krauhausen, M.:
Online-Prüfung von Bändern und Rohren
Bänder Bleche Rohre 49, 72-75, 2008

Lenenbach, A. , Hölters, S., Noll, R.:
Optisches Online-Messverfahren zur Überwachung von Wandstärken an Stückgütern in der kunststoffverarbeitenden Industrie
VDI-BERICHTE 2011, 33-41, 2008

Sturm, V., Brysch, A., Noll, R.:
Online Multielement Analysis of the Top Gas of a Blast Furnace by Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)
Berg- und Hüttenmännische Monatshefte 152, 28-32, 2007
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00501-006-0268-3

Noll, R., Krauhausen, M.:
Autoteile unter Laseraugen
Laser + Photonik 2, 30-33, 2007

Noll, R., Krauhausen, M.:
Den Bewegungszustand des Blechs einfrieren
QZ Qualität und Zuverlässigkeit 52, 36-40, 2007
https://doi.org/10.24406/publica-fhg-214294

Noll, R.:
Lasertriangulation
In: Handbuch zur Industriellen Bildverarbeitung.
Hrsg.: N. Bauer. Fraunhofer IRB Verl. 56-60, 2007

Noll, R., Krauhausen, M.:
Lasertriangulation für die Online-Messung geometrischer Größen in der Produktion
In: Handbuch zur Industriellen Bildverarbeitung. Hrsg.: N. Bauer. Fraunhofer IRB Verl., 260-275, 2007

Noll, R., Krauhausen, M.:
Online-Lasermesstechnik für Walzprodukte. stahl und eisen 127, 99-105, 2007

Noll, R., Sturm, V., Stepputat, M., Whitehouse, A., Young, J., Evans, P.:
Industrial applications of LIBS.
Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS): Fundamentals and Applications Ed. A.W. Miziolek, V. Palleschi, I. Schechter,
Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Pr. (2006) 400-439, 2006
https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511541261.012

Balzer, H., Höhne, M., Noll, R., Sturm, V.:
New approach for online monitoring of the Al depth profile of the hot-dip galvanised sheet steel using LIBS
Analytical & Bioanalytical Chemistry 385 225-233, 2006
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-006-0347-z

Balzer, H., Hoehne, M., Hoelters, S., Sturm, V., Noll, R., Leunis, E., Janssen, S., Raulf, M., Sanchez, P. Hemmerlin, M.:
Online depth profiling of zinc coated sheet steel by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy,
Progress in Analytical Chemistry in the Steel and Metal Industries 7, 237-242, 2006

Vrenegor, J., Sturm, V., Noll, R., Hemmerlin, M., Thurmann, U., Flock, J.:
Preparation and analysis of production control samples by a two-step method.
Proceedings of the 7th International Workshop "Progress in Analytical Chemistry in the Steel and Metal Industries", 81-86, 2006

Sturm, V., Vrenegor, J., Noll, R., Hemmerlin, M.:
Bulk analysis of steel samples with surface scale layers by enhanced laser ablation and LIBS analysis of C, P, S, Al, Cr, Cu, Mn and Mo,
J. Anal. At. Spectrom. 19, 451-456, 2004
https://doi.org/10.1039/B315637K

Sturm, V., Noll, R.:
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy of gas mixtures of air, CO2, N2, and C3H8 for simultaneous C, H, O and N measurement,
Applied Optics 42, 6221-6225, 2003
https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.42.006221

Peter, L., Sturm, V., Noll, R.:
Liquid steel analysis with laser-induced breakdown spectrometry in the vacuum ultraviolet
Applied Optics 42, 6199-6204, 2003
https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.42.006199

Brysch, A., Sturm, V., Noll, R.:
Online-Überwachung von Aerosolen im Hochofen-Gichtgas durch Laser-Emissionsspektrometrie
VDI-Bericht, Anwendungen und Trends in der optischen Analysenmesstechnik, VDI Verlag, Bericht-Nr. 1667, 149-154, 2002

Sturm, V., Peter, L., Noll, R.:
Steel analysis with laser-induced breakdown spectrometry in the vacuum ultraviolet
Appl. Spectroscopy 54, 1275-1278, 2000

Mönch, I., Peter, L., Priem, R., Sturm, V., Noll, R.:
Quality assurance in the production of pipe fittings by automatic laser based material identification
SPIE Vol. 3823, 235-243, 1999
https://doi.org/10.1117/12.360993

Sattmann, R., Sturm, V., Noll, R.:
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy of steel samples using multiple Q-switch Nd:YAG laser pulses
J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 28, 2181-2187, 1995
http://doi.org/10.1088/0022-3727/28/10/030

Our services cover a wide range of topics. Related topics and further research and development projects can be found under the following links.