Mülheim-Kärlich, Germany 24/6/2020 – As the international leading developer and manufacturer of diode lasers for industrial material processing, Laserline supports the digitalization of product processes. Under the watchword ‘Digital Laser Solutions’, the company has expanded step-by-step its portfolio with hardware and software solutions for the implementation of fully networked Industrie 4.0 process architectures. Here, the possibility for a platform-independent data exchange is highlighted. All Laserline LDF diode lasers of the latest generation are with immediate effect ex works available with OPC UA interfaces and can thus be integrated seamlessly into the IoT architectures on the basis of the communication standard OPC UA. Additionally, Laserline offers a retrofit solution for the OPC UA upgrade of existing systems. Currently, this is already available for all LDF diode lasers of the 5th and 6th generation. On that basis, the high lifetime of Laserline’s diode laser systems can maximally be exhausted even under the circumstances of digital transformation and hence a substantial contribution to investment protection. Looking forward, the Digital Laser Solutions concept will be extended to the highly compact 19″ diode lasers of the LDM series. In addition, Laserline is working on simple handling applications that allow convenient digital monitoring and control even for stand-alone laser installations.
The OPC UA interfaces are directly connected with the control unit of the laser systems, and can allow the OPC UA client of a superior system (e.g.MES, ERP or cloud solution) the real-time read-out of many process-relevant machine values. Besides classical system parameters such as serial number, output power, temperature and humidity development or cooling water flow, this also includes especially warning and error messages. Altogether, depending on the laser configuration, more than 300 machine values can be read out by the ex works built-in interfaces; by the upgraded retrofit-server, about 150. On the basis of this data, the user can, for example, change from a rigid lifetime-based maintenance process to a flexible predictive or condition-dependent maintenance, including the automated coordination of services. Downtimes and trouble shootings are thus clearly shortened, while processes have better predictability. Last but not least, estimating when a system will attain the end of its lifetime and when new investments are necessary can be made with precision. Furthermore, the Industrie 4.0 compliant communication via OPC UA forms the basis for future innovative analyses and solutions on an AI basis. More information on Laserline’s Digital Laser Solutions can be found at https://www.laserline.com/en-int/lasers-meet-digitalization/