Université du Québec à Rimouski

Published purpose

Applications involving laser welding continue to expand in North America. Growth is strong in the manufacturing sector, where laser welding offers increased productivity compared to conventional processes. However, some defects can affect this productivity, especially in the case of aluminum alloys, which have a significant potential impact on lightweighting strategies. The main goal of this project is to increase productivity in laser welding by integrating online defect characterization using Industry 4.0 concepts, significantly reducing subsequent quality-control steps. Based on the use of online inspection technologies that emphasize machine-learning algorithms (Industry 4.0) on emerging applications, this project aims to deploy online quality control and assurance systems, reduce production costs and increase the productivity of laser-welded parts. To reach its objectives, this project combines the expertise of the main players in laser processes in Canada, namely UQAR and the NRC.