EP3880396A1

EP3880396A1 - Method and device for monitoring a welding process for welding glass workpieces

Info

Publication number: EP3880396A1
Application number: EP19808962.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sebastian HECKER; Tim Hesse; Michael Scharun; Manuel Schindler; Kristian Alber
Original assignee: Trumpf Laser und Systemtechnik GmbH
Current assignee: Trumpf Laser und Systemtechnik Se
Priority date: 2018-11-13
Filing date: 2019-11-12
Publication date: 2021-09-22
Also published as: US12157183B2; DE102018128377A1; KR20210089753A; CN113165107A; KR102545441B1; US20210260698A1; WO2020099421A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for monitoring a welding process for welding at least one glass workpiece (110) to another workpiece (120), preferably made of glass, wherein a weld seam (210) is formed in the workpieces (110,120), in a process zone (200) that is exposed to a pulsed machining beam (20), preferably a pulsed laser beam, especially preferably an ultra-short-pulse laser beam, and the radiation emitted by the process zone (200) is detected over time.

Description

Method and device for monitoring a welding process for welding glass workpieces

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method and a device for monitoring a welding process for welding at least one workpiece made of glass to another workpiece, preferably also made of glass, the monitoring being used, for example, to detect and identify cracks and / or seam breaks and / or defects in welding seams in workpieces made of glass during laser welding. State of the art

The laser welding process has previously been set up manually when laser welding workpieces made of glass. A quality control of the workpieces welded together by the laser welding process and the weld seam itself has also been carried out to date.

The quality control was carried out by means of a microscope through microscopic examinations on the weld seams and on the other areas of the interconnected workpieces after completion of the actual welding process, both in plan view and by looking at cross sections.

The laser welding process was then iteratively optimized on this basis. This procedure for optimizing the welding process requires a correspondingly high amount of manual work and is material and time consuming, since the quality control for the respective

Parameter set of the laser welding process can only be carried out on the microscope after the respective welding process has been completed and outside the welding device.

When laser welding metals, it is known to monitor the radiation emitted from the respective process zone in which the focus of the laser is placed with an image sensor and to derive knowledge about the welding process from this.

Such a method for laser welding opaque materials is known, for example, from WO 2008 / 052591A1. In this method, the one emitted from a processing area Radiation is recorded via a detector system, the radiation emitted from the processing area being recorded simultaneously at at least two wavelengths in order to obtain more precise information about the processes taking place during the welding process.

Presentation of the invention

Starting from the known prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for monitoring a welding process for welding at least one workpiece made of glass to another workpiece, preferably also made of glass, which enable improved monitoring of the welding process .

This task is accomplished by a method for monitoring a welding process

Welding at least one workpiece made of glass with another workpiece, preferably also made of glass, solved with the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments and refinements result from the attached figures, the present description and from the subclaims.

Correspondingly, a method for monitoring a welding process for welding at least one workpiece made of glass to another workpiece, preferably also made of glass, is provided in the process zones in a process zone exposed to a pulsed processing beam, preferably a pulsed laser beam, particularly preferably an ultrashort pulse laser beam a weld seam is formed. According to the invention, the radiation emitted by the process zone is detected in a time-resolved manner.

Both, several or all of the glass workpieces to be welded to one another are preferred. The process zone in which the weld seam is formed is preferably between the

Workpieces, so that the machining beam is guided to the process zone at least through a workpiece that is transparent to the machining beam. Correspondingly, at least the workpiece through which the processing beam is guided to the process zone is transparent to the processing beam. The other workpieces can also be transparent, but can also be opaque for the processing beam.

Because the radiation emitted by the process zone is detected in a time-resolved manner, it is possible to monitor the welding process already during the welding process when welding glass workpieces to ensure that the presence and / or the formation and / or the change in cracks and / or defects and / or seam breaks in the weld seam produced in the process zone can be determined. On the basis of this knowledge, the welding process can be optimized during the current welding process, among other things.

The radiation emitted by the process zone is detected in a time-resolved manner. The process zone serves as a radiation source arranged in the glass volume of one, two, several or all glass workpieces.

The electromagnetic radiation emitted by the process zone can be radiation of the machining beam reflected or scattered on or in the process zone. The electromagnetic radiation emitted by the process zone can also be thermal radiation of the glass material heated, in particular melted, by the treatment beam.

The method is based on the knowledge that when welding workpieces made of glass using a pulsed processing beam, for example a pulsed laser beam, preferably an ultrashort pulse laser, nonlinear absorption effects in the glass can be achieved through the achievable high intensities in the respective beam focus. Will

If corresponding repetition rates are used for the pulsed processing beam, the energy introduced into the process zone by means of the respective pulses accumulates, so that the glass material melts locally due to corresponding heat accumulation effects. As a result, in the vicinity of the geometric focus of the pulsed machining beam, a highly absorbing plasma is initially created in the size of the focus volume, which then forms the process zone.

However, increased absorption occurs on the plasma surface which delimits the process zone and in particular in the region of the plasma surface which is oriented in the direction of the processing beam impinging on the plasma and on which the processing beam is incident. As a result, the plasma volume can continue to absorb energy on the plasma surface due to the increased absorption of the processing beam and the resulting energy input into the plasma volume, so that the volume of the plasma can continue to increase, this increase in the plasma volume being mainly directed along the processing beam and in the direction extends to the beam source. In other words, the plasma can spread in an elongated shape along the processing beam. An elongated bladder formed by the plasma can be formed therefrom.

Due to the additional energy input from the direction of the processing beam impinging on the plasma, the location and / or the position of the plasma volume can also change change and move, for example, along the processing beam towards the beam source.

In this way, an absorption volume can be formed which is the original one

Can exceed the focus volume many times over, so that the process zone can make up a multiple of the focus volume.

Is the beam intensity striking the plasma surface sufficient due to the

Volume growth due to migration of the plasma surface out of the focus of the laser beam no longer means to maintain the plasma - can therefore lead to

Maintaining the plasma no longer absorbs enough energy - the process of expansion of the plasma breaks down and the absorption begins again in the focus of the pulsed processing beam. Accordingly, the welding process takes place periodically and bubble-shaped areas are formed as plasma bubbles, which in turn lead to a bubble-shaped melt volume. Due to the possible change in the location and / or the position of the plasma volume in the workpieces, a resulting melting volume can also be greater than the plasma volume generated. The plasma volume can travel to a limited extent through the workpiece volume in the direction of the processing beam and onto the beam source, thereby leaving a melted area, which thus leads to a melting volume which has a larger expansion than the expansion of the plasma volume.

The non-linear absorption of the machining beam on the plasma can be high

Electron temperature originate in the plasma. The electrons can transfer energy to the

Give off atomic fuselages, which can lead to lattice vibrations and additional heating of the material through heat accumulation.

By applying a relative movement of the machining beam with respect to the workpiece during the welding process, after the previously melted material has solidified, a weld seam that extends in the direction of movement accordingly results, which is in the form of a sequence of blister-shaped melting volumes that merge into one another. The relative speed between the machining beam and the workpiece used during the welding process is decisive for the overlap of the respective bubble-shaped areas.

With the periodic expansion and collapse of the plasma, there is also a periodic one Change in the intensity of the radiation emitted by the process zone. The one from the

Process zone emitted radiation can thus be subjected to an intensity fluctuation of the emitted radiation corresponding to the periodic formation of the bubble-shaped regions of the plasma.

These intensity fluctuations in the radiation emitted by the process zone are detected and then viewed in a time-resolved manner. At least the amplitudes of the

Intensity fluctuations and the periodicity or frequency of the

Intensity fluctuations and their changes are considered.

A localization of the respective intensity fluctuation in the workpiece or in the workpieces relative to the respectively predetermined machining position, which is known due to the relative position between the laser beam and the workpiece, can preferably be achieved.

The intensity of the radiation emitted by the process zone can preferably be detected, so that the course of the intensity over time is detected in this way.

The periodicity and / or frequency and / or the frequency spectrum of

Fluctuations in the intensity of the radiation emitted by the process zone are detected and the quality of the weld seam produced is preferably deduced therefrom. Significant changes and / or dips in the parameters mentioned can be used to conclude that there is an error and / or crack and / or weld seam break-off in the weld seam produced.

In a preferred embodiment, the radiation emitted by the process zone can be picked up by means of a sensor, preferably a photodiode, and converted into a signal, which can then be processed for subsequent evaluation. The sensor can preferably also be formed by a plurality of photodiodes, which particularly preferably operate at different wavelengths.

The signal can preferably be based on the presence and / or the training and / or the

Changes in cracks and / or seam breaks and / or defects in the weld seam can be evaluated, an error being output and / or the welding process being terminated preferably when predefined tolerance limits are exceeded. In this way, an automated evaluation for predetermined defects in the at least one workpiece can be achieved in order to achieve a more reliable control of the work product and a faster optimization of the welding process. The signal can preferably be processed by filtering and / or noise reduction and / or smoothing and / or highlighting special features.

In a preferred further embodiment of the method, the processed signal can be integrated over a predetermined period of time and then compared with a current signal value and / or through an analysis over the course of time and / or by an analysis of signal maxima and signal minima over a time certain period of time and / or by performing a Fast Fourier

Transformation and a consideration of changes in the frequency spectrum and / or by forming an average and comparing it with a current signal value can be evaluated in order to preferentially the presence and / or the formation and / or the change of cracks and / or defects and / or seam breaks in the Determine weld seam.

The radiation emitted by the process zone can preferably be examined for a frequency of the intensity fluctuations that differs from the pulse frequency of the processing beam. It has been shown that the periodicity of the radiation emitted by the process zone is essentially independent of the periodicity of the pulsed processing radiation.

Furthermore, an assessment of the defects and / or cracks and / or seam breaks found can also be carried out in an automated process and a work product can be automatically discarded if it does not meet specified quality requirements.

The above object is also achieved by a device with the features of

Claim 10 solved. Advantageous further developments result from the subclaims, the figures and the present description.

Accordingly, a device for monitoring a welding process for welding at least one workpiece made of glass to another workpiece, preferably also made of glass, is specified, comprising a processing objective for applying a pulsed processing beam, preferably a pulsed laser beam, to a process zone of at least one of the workpieces preferably with an ultrashort pulse laser beam. According to the invention, a sensor is provided for the time-resolved detection of radiation emitted by the process zone.

In this way, the advantages already described above for the method can be achieved. In particular, the presence and / or the formation and / or the change of cracks and / or defects and / or seam breaks in the in the Process zone trained weld can be determined.

Optics can preferably be provided for receiving the radiation emitted by the process zone and for imaging the radiation onto the sensor, wherein the optics can preferably be formed by the processing objective or by an imaging system separate from the processing objective.

A sensor exposed with the processing objective can be advantageous, preferably under

Interposition of a beam splitter and / or an optical filter and / or one

Focusing lens, and / or a sensor exposed with an imaging system separate from the processing objective. The area of the process zone imaged by the processing lens and the area of the process zone imaged by the separate imaging system can thus be viewed.

The processing objective can preferably be designed and set up for the purpose

Focus the machining beam into a process zone located in the glass volume formed by the at least one workpiece. Further advantages and features of the present invention are evident from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments. The features described there can be implemented alone or in combination with one or more of the features set out above, provided that the features do not contradict each other. The following description of preferred exemplary embodiments takes place with reference to the accompanying drawing. Brief description of the figures

Preferred further embodiments of the invention are illustrated by the following

Description of the figures explained in more detail. Show:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a device for monitoring a

Laser welding process for welding workpieces made of glass, in which the radiation emitted by a process zone is detected through a processing objective;

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a device for monitoring a

Laser welding process for welding workpieces made of glass in a second embodiment, in which the radiation emitted by a process zone through a Processing lens is detected through;

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a device for monitoring a

Laser welding process for welding workpieces made of glass, in which the radiation emitted by a process zone is detected with an imaging system separate from a processing objective;

Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a device for monitoring a

Laser welding process for welding workpieces made of glass in a further embodiment, in which the radiation emitted by a process zone is detected with an imaging system separate from a processing objective;

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary illustration of a weld seam formed by means of a pulsed machining beam in a glass workpiece in a side section;

FIG. 6 shows a diagram of an exemplary time profile of the intensity of radiation emitted from a process zone and a corresponding image of the weld seam actually produced in the process zone in a top view;

FIG. 7 shows a diagram of an exemplary time profile of the intensity of radiation emitted from the process zone when defects and cracks occur in a weld seam produced in the process zone, and a top view of the weld seam actually generated in the process zone; and

FIG. 8 shows a diagram of an exemplary time course of the intensity from which one

Process zone emits radiation when a weld seam break-off occurs in a weld seam generated in the process zone, as well as a top view of the weld seam actually generated in the process zone.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Preferred exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. Identical, similar or equivalent elements in the different figures are provided with identical reference numerals, and a repeated description of these elements is partially omitted in order to avoid redundancies.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a device 1 for monitoring a welding process for welding two workpieces 110, 120 together. In the embodiment shown, the workpieces 110, 120 are formed from glass - for example in the form of two glass panes - which are arranged on one another at a common interface 100 arranged between the two workpieces 110, 120 and are welded to one another at a section of the interface 100. In other words, at least part of the underside 114 of the upper workpiece 110 shown in FIG. 1 bears against the upper side 122 of the lower workpiece 120. The upper side 122 of the lower workpiece 120 and the lower side 114 of the upper workpiece 110 accordingly jointly form the interface 100 in which the welding is to be carried out or was carried out.

The two workpieces 110 and 120 can be pressed against one another in the region of the formation of the interface 100 in order to achieve a preliminary positioning and fixing of the two workpieces 110 and 120 against one another before the welding.

Due to the nature of their material, namely glass, the two workpieces 110, 120 are essentially transparent to the pulsed machining beam 20 with which the welding of the two workpieces 110, 120 is to be carried out. So that the pulsed

Machining beam 20, which is provided for performing the welding, pass through workpieces 110 and 120 and in particular also through upper workpiece 110 to interface 100. This is a welding of the workpieces 110 and 120 within the jointly formed by the two workpieces 110, 120

Workpiece volume possible.

Such welding within a workpiece volume formed by at least two workpieces is not possible with materials opaque for a machining beam.

The lower workpiece 120 can also be made opaque for the machining beam 20. However, the machining beam 20 can still pass through the upper workpiece 110 made of glass, which is transparent to the machining beam 20, to the interface 100 lying between the two workpieces 110, 120, in order to carry out a weld there.

A pulsed laser beam and particularly preferably an ultrashort pulse laser are preferably used as the pulsed processing beam 20.

For example, a pulsed laser with wavelengths of 1030nm or 1064nm or 515nm or 532nm with pulses in the femtosecond range or picosecond range and with frequencies of the repetition rates from 100kHz up to several MHz can be used. The laser can also be operated in burst mode. The device 1 comprises a processing objective 2, through which the pulsed processing beam 20 strikes the workpieces 110, 120 and is focused in a process zone 200 lying in one or both workpieces 110, 120, as a result of which the intensity of the processing beam 20 lies in the process zone 200 Focus is highest, but lower in the surrounding areas. The material processing in the process zone 200 takes place in that the focus of the material present in the process zone 200 melts due to the high intensity of the processing beam 20. As a result, during the subsequent cooling, for example, welding of two material areas that were previously present separately in the process zone 200 and are now cohesively connected by melting can be achieved.

When using a pulsed processing beam 20, in particular when using an ultrashort pulse laser, nonlinear absorption effects are achieved due to the very high intensities that can be achieved in the focus provided by the processing objective 2 in the glass material of the at least one workpiece 110, 120. When using suitable repetition rates of the pulsed processing beam 20, heat accumulation effects occur in the glass material, which leads to local melting of the glass material in the process zone 200.

In order to achieve a connection of the workpieces 110 and 120, the process zone 200 is correspondingly placed in the workpieces 110, 120 in such a way that it is arranged near the interface 100 or comprises the interface 100. For this purpose, the processing beam 20 is processed accordingly and focused into the process zone 200 by means of the appropriately designed and set up processing objective 2.

The design of a processing objective 2 for a processing beam 20 for processing and in particular welding workpieces 110 and 120 in a process zone 200 is known in principle. This also applies to the use of pulsed processing beams 20, for example pulsed laser beams and / or ultra-short pulse lasers.

In the process zone 200, in which the focus of the processing beam 20 lies, the material of one, several or all workpieces 110, 120 is then melted, and then after the previously melted material has solidified again, the workpieces 110, 120 are welded by the to achieve melted and then solidified material. The process zone 200 can have the extent of the focus of the machining beam 20 or can be extended further. The machining beam 20 can be displaced together with the machining objective 2 in a displacement direction X relative to the workpieces 110, 120 in order to draw a weld seam 210 in the workpieces 110, 120. Either the workpieces 110, 120 or the machining beam 20 or both can run in opposite directions along the

Movement direction X to be shifted. Movements can also be carried out parallel to the plane formed by the interface 100 in order to draw in correspondingly more complex shapes of weld seams 210. Due to the movement of the machining beam 20 relative to the workpieces 110, 120, the expansion of the weld seam 210 in the

Direction of movement can be determined.

The process zone 200 lies, so to speak, between the two workpieces 110, 120 and surrounds the interface 100. The processing beam 20 can pass through the workpieces 110, 120 due to the transparency thereof and then enables processing of the process zone 200 lying within the glass volume defined by the workpieces 110, 120.

This arrangement of the process zone 200 within that of the workpieces 110, 120

formed glass volume differs diametrically from the process zones, in which welding of opaque materials for the laser radiation is carried out. With an opaque material, for example when welding two metallic ones

Workpieces with one another, it is not possible for a machining beam to pass through an upper side of a first workpiece such that welding to a second workpiece opposite the underside is made possible on the underside of this workpiece. Rather, the machining beam cannot then penetrate through the opaque workpiece.

A special configuration and arrangement of the machining objective 2 is thus also advantageous in order to enable the machining beam 20 to be focused accordingly into the interior of the glass volume, which is formed from the at least two workpieces 110, 120.

As already explained, the material present there, for example the glass material, is correspondingly melted in the process zone 200. The process zone 200 emits electromagnetic radiation at this time. This emission of electromagnetic radiation takes place at least during the application of the processing beam 20 to the process zone 200 - but an afterglow can also take place, as long as the melted and solidifying material has an elevated temperature.

The electromagnetic radiation emitted by the process zone 200 can be, for example also be radiation of the processing beam 20 reflected or scattered on or in the process zone 200. The electromagnetic radiation emitted by the process zone 200 can also

Heat radiation of the melted glass material.

The radiation emitted by the process zone 200 can, for example, by means of the

Processing objective 2 are recorded and then, for example, via a beam splitter 30, an optical filter element 32 and a focusing lens 34 on a sensor in the form of a

Photodiode 36 are imaged.

The beam splitter 30 can be designed, for example, as a dichroic mirror.

The optical filter element 32 can be selected, for example, to attenuate the radiation coupled out from the beam splitter 30 and / or to select a specific wavelength range and / or to suppress reflected processing light.

The sensor in the form of the photodiode 36 can be designed such that this one

Outputs voltage signal depending on the radiation intensity impinging on the photodiode 36 of the radiation emitted by the process zone 200. This the intensity of that of the

Process zone 200 corresponding voltage signal emitted radiation is time-resolved, ie over the course of time, detected and then evaluated subsequently. The behavior of the signal over time and exemplary evaluations of the signal will be discussed below in particular with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8.

Instead of the photodiode 36, another suitable detector system can also be provided as a sensor, by means of which a parameter of the radiation emitted by the process zone 200 can be detected over the course of time. For example, a matrix camera can be provided, which preferably has a temperature camera that is suitable for the temperature radiation to be measured, i.e. has sufficiently high spectral sensitivity. A camera for the radiation range from the visual spectral range through the near to the far infrared can also be used as the detector system. CCD, CMOS and / or InGaAs cameras, for example, are suitable as cameras for the image sensor, although this list is by no means exhaustive and other suitable camera types can be used.

FIG. 2 shows a further device 1 for monitoring a welding process and in particular for monitoring the formation of a weld seam 210. Compared to the embodiment in FIG. 1, the focusing lens provided there is dispensed with and, accordingly, the radiation emitted by the process zone 200 accordingly without the focusing lens mapped onto the sensor in the form of the photodiode 36. This can result in the intensity which is imaged on the photodiode 36 being lower than in the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1. Depending on the design of the photodiode 36, an existing one can accordingly

Dynamic range of the photodiode 36 can be taken into account in this way. In other words, through this configuration, the intensity striking the photodiode 36 can be that of

Process zone 200 outgoing radiation can be reduced compared to training with a focusing lens.

FIG. 3 shows a further device 1 for monitoring a welding process, in which an imaging system 44 is provided which is separate from the processing objective 2 and which can have, for example, a focusing lens 48 and an optical filter 42. By means of the imaging system 44, which can also have a more complex structure than shown in the embodiment in FIG. 3, the process zone 200 is imaged on a sensor in the form of a photodiode 46. Correspondingly, the imaging system 44 is set up, aligned and focused in such a way that it images the process zone 200, which is geometrically essentially determined by the machining objective 2 and its arrangement, alignment and focusing relative to the workpieces 110, 120, onto the photodiode 46.

The separately constructed imaging system 44 with its sensor in the form of the photodiode 46 can either be provided in addition to the system described in FIGS. 1 and 2, which comprises the beam splitter 30 and the photodiode 36, or alternatively.

FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of a device 1 for monitoring a

Welding process and in particular for monitoring the formation of a weld seam 210 shown. The radiation emitted by the process zone 200 is radiated directly onto a photodiode 46, for example via an optical filter 42. The detection of the radiation emitted by the process zone 200 is accordingly carried out without an intermediate optical imaging system. Depending on the design of the photodiode 46, an existing dynamic range of the photodiode 46 can be taken into account in this way. In other words, through this design, the intensity striking the photodiode 46 can be that of

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary illustration of a weld seam 210 in a side sectional view, the exemplary image being recorded in a specimen ground on the side using a transmitted light microscope. It can be seen in this side section of the weld seam 210 that the process of forming the weld seam 210, which is achieved by melting the material of the first workpiece 110 and / or the second workpiece 120 and subsequent solidification of the melted material, by the Formation of a plurality of periodically forming plasma bubbles can be described.

As already described, the plasma bubbles can migrate essentially along the processing beam 20 within the respective workpiece 110, 120, so that an elongated, melted region can result which does not have to be congruent with the plasma volume formed in each case, but can also be larger .

Initially, the focus of the processing beam 20 is heating and melting of the material present in the process zone 200 in such a way that a highly absorbing plasma is formed.

There is a strong absorption of the on the respective developing plasma surface

Processing beam 20 in such a way that due to the strong heating of the plasma surface, the plasma expands further in the direction of the processing beam 20 with the formation of bubble-shaped regions 212 with further energy consumption. This process has already been described above.

This process of expansion is ended when the surface of the plasma emerging from the focus of the processing beam 20 is no longer supplied with enough intensity by the processing beam 20, which is then no longer focused in this region, in order to maintain the plasma, as a result of which this then occurs collapses and the process of forming bubble-shaped areas 212 starts again based on the energy entered in the focus of the machining beam 20. The formation of bubble-shaped regions 212 therefore takes place periodically and in each case starting from the focus of the processing beam 20. The shape of the bubble-shaped regions 212 is correspondingly elongated in the direction and along the processing beam 20.

As a result of the relative movement of the workpiece 110, 120 to the machining beam 20, the bubble-shaped regions 212 which form lie next to one another in the region of the process zone 200 then moving through the workpiece 110, 120. The speed of the

Relative movement is therefore important for the extent to which the bubble-shaped regions 212 flow into one another or fall apart. It can be seen in FIG. 5 that the weld seam 210 is formed from a multiplicity of bubble-shaped regions 212 arranged in a row and merging into one another.

Since the process zone 200 serves as a radiation source during the machining process, the course of a parameter of the radiation emitted by the process zone 200 can also be correspondingly detected by means of the photodiode 36, and in particular an intensity course over time can be recorded.

An exemplary diagram 50 in FIG. 6 shows such a course of the intensity of the radiation emitted by the process zone 200 over the course of time. The intensity of the radiation emitted by the process zone 200 is indicated here by a voltage value which corresponds to the voltage value output by the photodiode 36, 46, which in turn is characteristic of the intensity of the radiation emitted by the process zone 200 and detected by the photodiode 36, 46 .

FIG. 6 also shows, for a certain section of the intensity curve shown in diagram 50, quasi as if through a magnifying glass, an image 52 of the section of the weld seam 210 corresponding to the intensity curve in a plan view. This image was produced using a transmitted light microscope, the focus being placed on the interface between the two workpieces 110, 120 in order to make the weld seam 210 visible. As can be seen in FIG. 52, the weld seam 210 is composed of a multiplicity of bubble-shaped regions 212, which are in each case adjacent and merging into one another.

Accordingly, both the welding process and the expansion of process zone 200 organize themselves in the glass material. This process can be dependent on the energy introduced into the glass material during the welding process, depending on the glass material to be welded and depending on the relative speed between

Organize the machining beam 20 and workpiece 110, 120 essentially yourself.

It can be seen that the frequency of the formation of the bubble-shaped regions 212 and the resulting fluctuations in intensity, as is shown in the diagram 50 over time, is essentially independent of the pulse frequency of the pulsed processing beam used. In the embodiment shown in Figure 6 are

for example, in the 0.1 s long time segment shown, about 35 intensity cycles can be seen, which results in a frequency of approximately 350 Hz for the formation of the respective bubble-shaped Areas 212 result. The pulse frequency used for the ultrashort pulse laser used here as a pulsed processing beam 20, however, is more than 100 kHz. Accordingly, the detected frequencies of the formation of the bubble-shaped regions 212 and the pulse frequency of the processing beam 20 are orders of magnitude apart, so that here in the detected signal there is a simple distinction between the frequency components which are based on the

Processing beam 20 go back and the frequency components, which go back to the formation of the bubble-shaped areas 212, can be hit.

The weld seam 210 which can be seen in a plan view in FIG. 52 has a very uniform course of the resulting bubble-shaped regions 212 and thus a very uniform course of the weld seam 210 even when viewed with the eye.

From the analysis of the radiation emitted by the process zone over the course of time, it can accordingly be concluded from the uniform intensity course and / or its uniform amplitude and / or from the uniform frequency course of the periodic intensity fluctuations and / or the only slightly varying period of the intensity fluctuations here a weld 210 is formed in a high quality.

In FIG. 7, the intensity of the radiation emitted by the process zone 200 is also plotted over time in a further exemplary diagram 50.

In this case, essentially defect-free areas 500 can be seen, which have an essentially constant intensity of the respective intensity fluctuations and an essentially constant frequency of the individual intensity fluctuations. This in

Substantially defect-free areas 500 correspond to the intensity curve shown, for example, in FIG. 6 in their diagram 50 during the production of a particularly uniform weld seam 210 of high quality.

In addition, however, there are also outliers in the diagram 50 in FIG

Intensity curve can be recognized, the outliers being recognizable at positions 510, for example. If one correlates these outliers 510 with their local position within the extent of the weld seam 210 in FIG. 52, it can be seen that in the areas in which there are larger intensity fluctuations and corresponding outliers 510, there is also an error in the weld seam 210. The detection of the outliers in the intensity curve can therefore be used to conclude that there is an error in the weld seam 210. For automated monitoring of the welding process and for monitoring the quality of the weld seam 210 on the basis of the radiation emitted by the process zone 200, this results in outliers or particularly strong intensity fluctuations which, for example, greatly exceed or fall below an average of the determined average intensity fluctuations can indicate that at these times or at these positions there is or is an error in the weld seam 210.

The error can also be present in areas of the workpiece 110, 120 directly adjacent to the weld seam 210 which influence the intensity of the radiation emitted by the process zone 200, for example in the form of a crack present in the immediate vicinity of the weld seam 210.

FIG. 8 shows a further diagram 50 of an intensity profile of the radiation emitted by the process zone 200. A defect in a weld seam 210 can be seen here in such a way that, starting from an essentially uniform intensity profile in the region 500, the intensity profile suddenly drops at position 520. A corresponding check of the image 52 of the weld seam 210 shows that at position 520

Weld seam termination 214 is present.

For an automated evaluation, there is a significant change in the

Intensity levels or the signal, for example, starting from the mean value of the intact areas 500 towards the sudden drop in intensity at position 520.

To carry out a method for monitoring the welding process, the presence of a correctly executed weld seam or the presence of radiation can be correspondingly evaluated by evaluating the radiation emitted by the process zone over its course of time and in particular by evaluating the intensity of this radiation emitted by the process zone 200 Errors and / or cracks and / or weld seam breaks can be closed.

In a preferred embodiment, the defects and / or cracks and / or can be detected by such a detection of the radiation emitted by the process zone 200

Weld seam abortions can be communicated to the respective user or if a corresponding tolerance threshold is exceeded, the welding process can be interrupted and / or the workpiece produced can be marked as scrap and / or discharged.

Due to the exact knowledge of the relative position of the process zone 200 in the workpiece 1 10 by the relative positioning between the workpiece and the machining objective 2, time-resolved detection of the radiation emitted by the process zone 200, the defects and / or cracks and / or weld seam breaks with respect to the workpiece 110 are precisely localized.

Due to the possibility of localizing defects and / or cracks and / or

Weld seams can also be tracked or controlled by process parameters. For example, the power of the machining beam 20 or the feed rate can be adjusted. If, for example, an excessive occurrence of cracks in the workpieces 110, 120 is detected, the performance of the

Processing beam 20 are reduced or the feed rate can be increased in order to reduce the formation of cracks due to stresses generated by the temperature gradients entered.

An evaluation of, for example, the intensity profile of the radiation detected by means of the photodiodes 36 and / or 46 can be carried out, for example, by first processing the determined signals.

For example, the signals can be filtered and / or

Noise reduction and / or smoothing of the signals and / or special features of the signals are highlighted etc.

After the signal has been processed, the signal can be evaluated. For this purpose, for example, a temporal integration of the signal can be carried out over a predetermined period of time and then a comparison of the value obtained with a target value can be performed.

Averaging of the signal can also be carried out and then, if there is an intensity fluctuation which differs significantly from the mean, the conclusion can be drawn that there is an error and / or crack. If there is a sudden drop in the signal with regard to the mean value, it can be concluded that the seam has broken off. The average can also be calculated as a moving average.

The signal can also be evaluated by observing the signal over the course of time.

Furthermore, an evaluation can be carried out in such a way that signal maxima and signal minima are considered over a certain time period, for example by to determine the presence and / or formation of cracks and / or defects and / or seam breaks.

Furthermore, for example, a Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) of the signal can be carried out in order to determine changes in the frequency response or a change in the frequency spectrum of the intensity fluctuations for a specific time period.

An automated error output occurs particularly preferably when predefined tolerance limits are exceeded in order to accordingly abort a welding process if there is a high probability that rejects are produced by the machining process. Furthermore, countermeasures can also be provided to stabilize the machining process in order to carry out an automated adjustment of the process parameters such that the occurrence or change of cracks and / or errors and / or

Seam breaks is reduced.

As far as applicable, all individual features, which are shown in the exemplary embodiments, can be combined and / or exchanged with one another without leaving the scope of the invention.

Reference symbol list

1 device for monitoring a welding process

100 interface

1 10 (upper) workpiece

1 12 upper surface of the upper workpiece

1 14 lower surface of the upper workpiece

120 (lower) workpiece

122 upper surface of the lower workpiece

124 lower surface of the lower workpiece

2 editing lens

20 machining beam

200 process zone

210 weld

212 bubble-shaped area

214 Weld termination

30 beam splitters

32 optical filters

34 focusing lens

36 photodiode

42 filters

44 imaging system

46 photodiode

48 lens

50 Diagram of the intensity curve

52 illustration

500 defect-free area

510 defects

520 Drop in intensity X direction of displacement

Claims

Expectations

1. A method for monitoring a welding process for welding at least one workpiece (1 10) made of glass to another workpiece (120), preferably made of glass, wherein in the workpieces (1 10, 120) in a with a pulsed machining beam (20), preferably with a pulsed laser beam, particularly preferably with a

An ultrashort pulse laser beam is applied to the process zone (200), a weld seam (210) is formed, characterized in that the radiation emitted by the process zone (200) is detected in a time-resolved manner.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the intensity of the radiation emitted by the process zone (200) is detected.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the periodicity and / or frequency and / or the frequency spectrum of intensity fluctuations of the radiation emitted by the process zone (200) is detected and preferably concluded from this on the quality of the weld seam (210) generated becomes.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radiation emitted by the process zone (200) is recorded by means of a sensor, preferably a photodiode (36, 46) and converted into a signal which is then used for a subsequent evaluation is processed.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the signal on the

The presence and / or the formation and / or the change in cracks and / or seam breaks and / or defects in the weld seam (210) is evaluated, wherein if predefined tolerance limits are exceeded, an error is output and / or the welding process is terminated.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the signal is processed by filtering and / or noise reduction and / or smoothing and / or highlighting special features.

7. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the processed signal by a temporal integration over a predetermined period of time and a subsequent comparison with a current signal value and / or by a consideration over the course of time and / or by Consideration of signal maxima and signal minima over a certain period of time and / or by performing a Fast Fourier Transformation and considering changes in the frequency spectrum and / or by forming an average and comparing it with a current signal value, preferably to determine the presence and / or the formation and / or the change of cracks and / or defects and / or

Determine seam breaks in the weld seam (210).

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radiation emitted by the process zone (200) is examined for a frequency of the intensity fluctuations which differs from the pulse frequency of the processing beam (20).

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two workpieces (1 10, 120) made of glass are welded together.

10. Device (1) for monitoring a welding process for welding at least one workpiece (1 10) made of glass with another workpiece (120), preferably made of glass, comprising a processing objective (2) for exposure to a process zone (200) of at least one of the workpieces (1 10, 120) with a pulsed processing beam (20), preferably with a pulsed laser beam, particularly preferably with a

Ultra-short pulse laser beam, characterized by a sensor (36, 46) for the time-resolved detection of radiation emitted by the process zone (200).

1 1. Device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that an optics for

Recording of the radiation emanating from the process zone (200) and for imaging the radiation onto the sensor (36, 46) is provided, the optics preferably being provided by the processing objective (2) or by an imaging system (44) separate from the processing objective (2). is trained.

12. The device (1) according to claim 10 or 1 1, characterized in that a with the processing lens (2) exposed sensor (36), preferably with the interposition of a beam splitter (30) and / or an optical filter (32) and / or a focusing lens (34), and / or a sensor (46) exposed with an imaging system (44) separate from the processing objective (2).

13. The device (1) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the processing objective (2) is designed and set up to convert the processing beam (20) into one formed by the at least one workpiece (1 10, 120)

Focus on the glass volume lying process zone (200).