Modelling of fibre laser cutting via deep learning

Abstract

Laser cutting is a materials processing technique used throughout academia and industry. However, defects such as striations can be formed while cutting, which can negatively affect the final quality of the cut. As the light-matter interactions that occur during laser machining are highly non-linear and difficult to model mathematically, there is interest in developing novel simulation methods for studying these interactions. Deep learning enables a data-driven approach to the modelling of complex systems. Here, we show that deep learning can be used to determine the scanning speed used for laser cutting, directly from microscope images of the cut surface. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a trained neural network can generate realistic predictions of the visual appearance of the laser cut surface, and hence can be used as a predictive visualisation tool.