A study on change point detection methods applied to beam offset detection in laser welding

Abstract This paper presents an experimental study where a photodiode integrated into a laser beam welding tool is used to monitor laser beam spot deviations from the joint, the beam offset. The photodiode system is cost effective and typically easy to implement in an industrial system. The selected photodiode is a silicon detector sensitive in the spectral range between 340-600 nm which corresponds to the spectral emissions from the plasma plume. The welding application is closed-square-butt joint welding where a laser beam offset can cause lack of fusion in the resulting weld. The photodiode signal has been evaluated by two different change point detection methods, one off-line and one on-line method, with respect to their detection performance. Off-line methods can be used to guide post weld inspection and on-line methods have the potential to enable on-line adaptive control or the possibility to stop the process for repair. The performance of the monitoring system and the change point detection methods have been evaluated from data obtained during laser beam welding experiments conducted on plates of stainless steel. The results clearly indicates the possibility to detect beam offsets by photodiode monitoring.