Correlation of process monitoring with X-ray observation of CO/sub 2/ laser beam welding

Summary form only given. Former investigations have shown that the reliability of process monitoring in laser materials applications can significantly be increased by using a camera system with a two-dimensional spatial resolution. One question of this system is the correlation between the image of the interaction point observed by the coaxial process control system and the real formation of the keyhole. The University of Osaka, the Advanced Material Processing Institute and the Fraunhofer Institut Lasertechnik have started a cooperation in basic research for process monitoring. First investigations have been performed for laser welding with simultaneous X-ray and spatial coaxial process observation. The results of this work will be presented.