REMOTE LASER WELDING
A method of laser welding a first part to a second part including: shining a pointer laser, redirected by a bending mirror, to form a laser beam directed toward the first and second parts to create a laser stripe on the parts; detecting the laser stripe with a camera that is coaxially located and receives an image along an axis defined by the laser beam; processing the image with a camera processor to detect a location of the feature; automatically adjusting a laser welding system to account for the location of the feature; and activating a welding laser, directed through the bending mirror, to weld the first part to the second part.
1 . A method of laser welding a first part to a second part, with a visually detectable feature distinguishing the first part from the second part, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) shining a pointer laser, redirected by a bending mirror, to form a laser beam directed toward the first and second parts to create a laser stripe on the parts;
(b) detecting the laser stripe with a camera that is coaxially located and receives an image along an axis defined by the laser beam;
(c) processing the image with a camera processor to detect a location of the feature;
(d) automatically adjusting a laser welding system to account for the location of the feature; and
(e) after step (d) activating a welding laser, directed through the bending mirror, to weld the first part to the second part.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) is further defined by adjusting the position of the bending mirror to adjust the laser path to account for the location of the feature.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the feature is a stepped edge between the first part and the second part when the first part is resting on the second part.
4 . The method of claim 2 wherein the pointer laser and the welding laser are created by a single laser generator source.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the feature is a stepped edge between the first part and the second part when the first part is resting on the second part.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) is further defined by the automatic adjustment being made by a laser optic controller that controls a position of the bending mirror.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the pointer laser and the welding laser are created by a single laser generator source.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) is further defined by the automatic adjustment being a positioning mechanism adjusting a position of a laser optic containing the bending mirror relative to a support base supporting the first part and the second part.
9 . A method of laser welding a first part to a second part, with a visually detectable feature distinguishing the first part from the second part, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) shining a pointer laser, redirected by a bending mirror, to form a laser beam directed toward the first and second parts to create a laser stripe on the parts;
(b) detecting the laser stripe with a camera that is coaxially located and receives an image along an axis defined by the laser beam;
(c) processing the image with a camera processor to detect a location of the feature;
(d) automatically adjusting a laser welding system to account for the location of the feature; and
(e) after step (d) activating a welding laser, directed through the bending mirror, to weld the first part to the second part, wherein the pointer laser and the welding laser are created by a single laser generator source.
10 . The method of claim 9 wherein step (d) is further defined by adjusting the position of the bending mirror to adjust the laser path to account for the location of the feature.