Laser-based manufacturing processes typical require fluid flow for fume exhaustion, inert chemical interaction, cooling, etc. Traditionally, measuring flow field characteristic requires high expertise and expensive high-speed equipment and therefore is not typically investigated as a parameter space. Event-based cameras have been recently developed for use as sensors for Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and show great results in wind tunnels and manufacturing environments as a simpler option for particle tracking. The ability to have a relatively cheap and simple method setup allows for laser process parameter and system verification.

In this work, the objective is to integrate a cost-effective, high-frequency flow sensing method into laser machining research to better understand the role of airflow in process control. A 532nm CW laser with cylindrical optics was used to create a laser sheet to illuminate ejected debris from laser ablation processes. Multiple materials, fluences, hatch patterns and bulk laser power ablation experiments were performed on our 300W Amplitude Tangor workstation, while measuring particle and fume extraction of the flow field. These in-situ measurements gave insight into the volatility of the laser ablation process and the best practices for predictable laser manufacturing. As ultrashort pulsed industrial laser processing emerges on large areas and complex surfaces, developing methods to retain expected laser-material interactions becomes very important.