MOBILLAS - Mobile laser system for on site material processing

Model of a mobile hand-guided laser processing system
© Set
Model of a mobile hand-guided laser processing system

Challenge

Providing a fully integrated and portable laser system for on-site cutting and welding is one of the essential goals. MOBILLAS intends to enable mobile and safe high-power laser processing in the field, for example in ship yards. Thus, it can be applied to large structure manufacturing with thicker materials. Mobile operation of laser equipment however challenges the requirement for absolute laser safety, especially if training efforts have to be kept at a minimum.

Benefit

The new mobile laser technology transfers semi‐automated and automated processing to mobile applications, offering alternatives to the dominant use of high heat input welding, like gas metal arc welding, and to fully manual joining procedures like screwing. It helps to improve quality by using self-guiding systems and decouples personal skills of even well-trained personnel through a sensor equipped and controlled machine with external and internal detectors oriented towards the given part geometry. This saves time and money in repair and production, thus increases efficiency. Modular design of large scale tooling and construction is unthinkable without this kind of technology.

The concept is independent from the respective laser process. Different potential markets have been identified:

  • Large scale aerospace tooling
  • Heavy industries, chemical and pharmaceutical equipment
  • Power plants
  • Trains and coaches
  • Shipbuilding
  • Mechanical engineering like cranes and construction machines
Achievement
Occupational safety can now be ensured thanks to the successful integration of a second, sufficiently long axis and the corresponding adaptation of the system housing. From an economic point of view, several accomplishments stand out: Weight reduction, which greatly improves the manageability and portability of the system, as well as the design and realization of the two-axis system. Consequently, the three processes welding, cutting and ablation can function in a highly efficient way. Applying 3D-printing technology to manufacture mounts and structural parts, moved masses and the overall weight of the mobile laser processing system can be reduced.

LEA Partners

Supplier User Research Partner