Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMTAblationGuard – Hear the quality
Laser ablation generates characteristic acoustic signals that provide insights into the machining status of the products following AI-based analysis. This means that quality-relevant information is available during the process itself, eliminating the need for later stage determination and evaluation. Consequently, material transitions, residual coatings and incipient over-removal can be detected early on, enabling transparent assessment of product quality and avoiding scrap.
Laser-based ablation processes are becoming increasingly important in the manufacture of electronics, the recycling of materials, and the remanufacturing of high-quality components. These processes enable the precise and gentle removal of coatings, paints, potting compounds and functional layers. This makes them a key technology for sustainable recycling and the remanufacturing of electronic assemblies, as well as for modern manufacturing processes. However, despite their high process stability and reproducibility, the quality of components remains unknown during the ablation process and until the end-of-line inspection downstream. The reason for this is often not the ablation process itself, but the product. Variations in layer thickness, material tolerances, component geometries or local material properties can cause individual areas to react differently to what is expected. The result: The product does not meet the desired machining specifications, even though the process was carried out exactly as intended. This is precisely where inline acoustic quality assurance comes into play.
