Robotic Autonomous Laser Processing for agile High volume production (RALPH)

RALPH's objective is to develop an autonomous laser micromachining system with fully auto-mated part handling, but agile and easily reconfigurable, suitable for mass customisation pro-duction of different device formfactors. Despite laser manufacturing being a rapid process (typical laser drill/cut time in sec), long production cycle times of several min/part due to manual part handling, hinder further uptake of advanced photonics-based production technologies in high value microelectronics, powertrain or medical device manufacturing, resulting in uncom-petitively high laser process costs and loss of global market share for the UK. The challenge is to satisfy the stringent part positioning accuracy requirements for laser processing ( 5 m) using conventional, affordable, but less accurate robotic pick and place technology. We will develop a technical solution integrating the laser, optics, 6-axis robot and machine vision for parts hand-ling of various sample formfactors (wafer, cylinder, disc) based on intelligent part registration and adaptation of laser beam positioning through high precision optical scan axes.