A beam monitoring system for large and scanned laser spots - LASMON

A novel monitoring system for large, formed and scanned high power laser beams will be presented. Such laser beams are particular used in industrial laser hardening processes. The system design is very simple, inexpensive and easily adaptable. The software makes it possible to identify all standard beam parameters e.g. the beam parameter product, power density distribution, Rayleigh length and FWHM. In addition, functions specifically for laser beam hardening are provided. Some significant applications are in the area of quality and process control, such as the determination of the distribution of the laser beam intensity after passing high frequency scanning systems. Beyond that, the system is the key for monitoring the necessary input data of the heat treatment simulation process. The state of development of a real 3D laser hardening simulation tool is also presented. As a result the theoretical and experimental influence of different laser beam shapes to the hardening parameters is discussed.