One important characteristics of laser beam welding is the penetration depth. Traditionally, it is determined by time-consuming and destructive cross-sectioning, but an online monitoring and eventually control system is desired. The measurement of the capillary depth in deep-penetration laser welding by optical coherence tomography (OCT), an interferometry measuring method, has been shown to be a sensing principle that allows an online in-situ measurement. It works in a wide range of industrial applications and delivers accurate data.

In this paper we investigate the capability of the method and determine its restrictions.

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