Automated task planning for industrial robots and laser scanners for remote laser beam welding and cutting

Remote laser beam welding and cutting can be applied to a wide range of applications within the manufacturing technology domain. With high process rates, consistent high quality welding seams and cutting edges at various contours these technologies offer an increased flexibility to process a wide variety of work pieces. To take advantage of the process the laser beam must be positioned precisely on the work piece. Programming a system of an industrial robot combined with a laser beam deflecting scanner manually is a very time consuming job. Programming any "on the fly" movements, a synchronously movement of the scanner and the robot, is even more difficult. This paper describes challenges and a concept for the automated programming of the two devices to apply the advantages of remote laser beam welding and cutting.