Fraunhofer-Business Area Cleaning
Fraunhofer IPM, Press release/ October 15, 2024
Modern joining processes such as welding or gluing can create very strong and durable connections. This is only successful if the corresponding surface areas are particularly clean - especially free from organic residues. The F-Scanner from Fraunhofer IPM detects the slightest contaminants and inspects surfaces extensively, completely, and fully automatically – currently, for example, at three manufacturers of electric vehicle components. Fraunhofer IPM presents the fluorescence scanners at the EuroBLECH trade fair.
Contaminations on component surfaces - such as residues of lubricants or release agents - can disrupt subsequent steps in the production process. Specifically, modern welding, bonding, or sealing processes are very sensitive to organic contaminants. The laser scanners from Fraunhofer IPM use fluorescence measurement technology to check the cleanliness of surfaces. “Very recently, we have developed special F-scanner systems for two very different applications and brought them into production with the users,” says Dr. Alexander Blättermann, Head of the Optical Surface Analysis group at Fraunhofer IPM.
For perfect welds
In the field of power electronics, the F-Scanner enables 100 percent inspection of components before welding. The system checks multiple power electronics components with a total of up to 100 welds points for cleanliness in a single pass. The decision on whether a component is acceptable is made automatically by the algorithm based on application-specific criteria. This ensures the quality of the welds and thus the long-term reliability of the components. The system is already in use at a German automotive supplier and is set to be implemented at several locations worldwide next year.
For perfect bonding
With high-performance electric motors, enormous forces can occur. Therefore, adhesive bonds must meet particularly high standards. For quality assurance of the surface before bonding, a German automobile manufacturer and its supplier rely on large-area testing using F-scanners. The inspection systems are specially designed for use in manufacturing environments and each feature a modular, dustproof, and splash-proof housing with active cooling. Together with automatic calibration, maximum stability and data quality as well as minimum service and downtimes are ensured. In subsequent projects, the complete integration of multiple scan heads into the production likes is planned.