Analyzing the utilization of high-voltage electric fields for laser material processing

Laser material processing has become an essential technique in industrial manufacturing in form of welding, drilling, cutting and structuring. However, process emissions such as the metal vapor plume pose a challenge, as they can impair the efficiency and precision of the laser process through refle...

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Main Authors: Christian Frey, Mikail Kacar, Arda Hiz, Robert Gerlach, Willem Leterme, Simon Olschok
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-12-01
Series:Journal of Advanced Joining Processes
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666330925000627
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author Christian Frey
Mikail Kacar
Arda Hiz
Robert Gerlach
Willem Leterme
Simon Olschok
author_facet Christian Frey
Mikail Kacar
Arda Hiz
Robert Gerlach
Willem Leterme
Simon Olschok
author_sort Christian Frey
collection DOAJ
description Laser material processing has become an essential technique in industrial manufacturing in form of welding, drilling, cutting and structuring. However, process emissions such as the metal vapor plume pose a challenge, as they can impair the efficiency and precision of the laser process through reflection, absorption, and scattering. Conventional methods attempt to reduce the influence of the metal vapor plume by using shielding gases to remove the particles from the laser beam path. A novel alternative is the use of electric fields for targeted manipulation of the metal vapor to control the extinction effects. High voltage capacitors can precisely control the electric field which offers greater adaptability to a dynamic laser process. The following study investigates the utilization of high voltage capacitor configurations for generating electric fields to actively deflect metal vapor from the laser beam path during laser welding. The distribution of the electric field is analyzed using the finite element method (FEM) for the considered capacitor geometries. The weld seam geometry shows a distinct geometry depending on the selected capacitor arrangement, and the weld penetration depth decreases with the use of the electric field. The measurable trend remains preliminary, since it is assumed that the welding fume is held over the welding position by the electric field, which influences the result.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2666-3309
language English
publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Journal of Advanced Joining Processes
spelling doaj-art-882bc247cf7e4329a65bb5576070cf872025-08-20T03:41:35ZengElsevierJournal of Advanced Joining Processes2666-33092025-12-011210034110.1016/j.jajp.2025.100341Analyzing the utilization of high-voltage electric fields for laser material processingChristian Frey0Mikail Kacar1Arda Hiz2Robert Gerlach3Willem Leterme4Simon Olschok5RWTH Aachen University, Welding and Joining Institute, Pontstr. 49, D-52062 Aachen, Germany; Corresponding author.RWTH Aachen University, Institute for High Voltage Equipment and Grids, Digitalization and Energy Economics, Schinkelstr. 6, D-52062 Aachen, GermanyRWTH Aachen University, Institute for High Voltage Equipment and Grids, Digitalization and Energy Economics, Schinkelstr. 6, D-52062 Aachen, GermanyRWTH Aachen University, Institute for High Voltage Equipment and Grids, Digitalization and Energy Economics, Schinkelstr. 6, D-52062 Aachen, GermanyRWTH Aachen University, Institute for High Voltage Equipment and Grids, Digitalization and Energy Economics, Schinkelstr. 6, D-52062 Aachen, GermanyRWTH Aachen University, Welding and Joining Institute, Pontstr. 49, D-52062 Aachen, GermanyLaser material processing has become an essential technique in industrial manufacturing in form of welding, drilling, cutting and structuring. However, process emissions such as the metal vapor plume pose a challenge, as they can impair the efficiency and precision of the laser process through reflection, absorption, and scattering. Conventional methods attempt to reduce the influence of the metal vapor plume by using shielding gases to remove the particles from the laser beam path. A novel alternative is the use of electric fields for targeted manipulation of the metal vapor to control the extinction effects. High voltage capacitors can precisely control the electric field which offers greater adaptability to a dynamic laser process. The following study investigates the utilization of high voltage capacitor configurations for generating electric fields to actively deflect metal vapor from the laser beam path during laser welding. The distribution of the electric field is analyzed using the finite element method (FEM) for the considered capacitor geometries. The weld seam geometry shows a distinct geometry depending on the selected capacitor arrangement, and the weld penetration depth decreases with the use of the electric field. The measurable trend remains preliminary, since it is assumed that the welding fume is held over the welding position by the electric field, which influences the result.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666330925000627Laser weldingHigh voltageElectrodesMetal vapor plumeElectric field simulationFEM
spellingShingle Christian Frey
Mikail Kacar
Arda Hiz
Robert Gerlach
Willem Leterme
Simon Olschok
Analyzing the utilization of high-voltage electric fields for laser material processing
Journal of Advanced Joining Processes
Laser welding
High voltage
Electrodes
Metal vapor plume
Electric field simulation
FEM
title Analyzing the utilization of high-voltage electric fields for laser material processing
title_full Analyzing the utilization of high-voltage electric fields for laser material processing
title_fullStr Analyzing the utilization of high-voltage electric fields for laser material processing
title_full_unstemmed Analyzing the utilization of high-voltage electric fields for laser material processing
title_short Analyzing the utilization of high-voltage electric fields for laser material processing
title_sort analyzing the utilization of high voltage electric fields for laser material processing
topic Laser welding
High voltage
Electrodes
Metal vapor plume
Electric field simulation
FEM
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666330925000627
work_keys_str_mv AT christianfrey analyzingtheutilizationofhighvoltageelectricfieldsforlasermaterialprocessing
AT mikailkacar analyzingtheutilizationofhighvoltageelectricfieldsforlasermaterialprocessing
AT ardahiz analyzingtheutilizationofhighvoltageelectricfieldsforlasermaterialprocessing
AT robertgerlach analyzingtheutilizationofhighvoltageelectricfieldsforlasermaterialprocessing
AT willemleterme analyzingtheutilizationofhighvoltageelectricfieldsforlasermaterialprocessing
AT simonolschok analyzingtheutilizationofhighvoltageelectricfieldsforlasermaterialprocessing