Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT
Booth number: 135260
www.ilt.fraunhofer.de/en.html
About us
With more than 550 employees, more than 19,500 m² net floor space and more than 40 spin-offs, the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT is one of the world's most important contract research and development institutes in the fields of laser development and laser applications. Our core competencies include the development of new laser beam sources and components, laser measurement and testing technology, and laser manufacturing technology. This includes cutting, ablation, drilling, welding and soldering as well as surface finishing, micro manufacturing and additive manufacturing, among others. The areas of application for laser beam sources and processes include production and metrology, energy and mobility, medical and environmental technology, and quantum technology. Together with excellent partners from German and international research and industry, we develop, for example, satellite-based measurement systems for climate research or frequency converters for a fiber-based quantum internet. Cross-sectionally, Fraunhofer ILT addresses issues of digitalization in photonics and production technology, process monitoring and control, simulation and modeling, AI in laser technology, and the entire field of system technology.
Address
Steinbachstr. 15
52074 Aachen
Germany
E-mail: info@ilt.fraunhofer.de
Phone: +49 241 8906-0
Internet: www.ilt.fraunhofer.de/en.html
Contact person:
Dr.-Ing. Thomas Schopphoven
E-mail: thomas.schopphoven@ilt.fraunhofer.de
Hybrid coating and machining in a parallel process
The combination process Simultaneous Machining and Coating (SMaC) developed at the Fraunhofer ILT enables the combination of the EHLA coating process with a subtractive finishing step in parallel with the main production time, thus increasing productivity enormously. In addition to the economic advantages, the SMaC process also offers technological benefits compared to the conventional process chain. The process heat generated in the coating process leads to a softening of the material and thus to easier machining. This makes it possible to produce corrosion and wear protection coatings as well as functional surfaces more quickly and with less wear on the tools. SMaC technology offers considerable advantages, particularly when applying high-strength coating materials that are otherwise difficult to machine.
Effective brake disc protection with EHLA
With "Extreme High-speed Laser Material Deposition EHLA", metal components can be coated economically and environmentally friendly. A cooperation in Aachen is further developing the additive process for the coating of brake discs for automobiles: Experts from HD – Special Optics for Laser Technology are improving the powder supply and scientists from Fraunhofer ILT are optimizing the process control. The video shows an EHLA coating process with the new HighNo powder nozzle from HD.
Additive manufacturing of lightweight aluminium components using EHLA3D
The Extreme Highspeed-Laser Material Deposition (EHLA) is a modified variant of the laser based directed energy deposition process. Characteristics of EHLA are high feed rates, low thermal input and flexibility of processable materials. With the origin as a coating technology the EHLA process was further developed to an additive manufacturing process by Fraunhofer ILT. This enables the combination of structure resolution and productivity for e.g. filigree aluminium components.
