Method and device for conducting and monitoring a machining process of a workpiece

A device for conducting and monitoring a welding process for joining the workpiece to a further workpiece, by means of a high-energy machining beam, wherein the device comprises:

• a control unit;
• a machining unit having a machining beam source for generating the high-energy machining beam and having machining beam optics for projecting or focusing the machining beam onto the workpiece, wherein, in accordance with a machining control signal generated by the control unit, different machining regions of the workpiece are able to be machined;
• an optical coherence tomograph for generating a measurement beam, wherein the measurement beam is able to be coupled into the machining beam;
• and
• at least one sensor is configured for determining a power of the machining beam in a region of the machining beam optics and generating at least one external signal;
• wherein the control unit is adapted to:
• determine measurement points during the machining process using the measurement beam, in accordance with a measurement control signal generated by the control unit, wherein the measurement points comprise one or more space coordinates which indicate at least one of a position on the workpiece, a position on the further workpiece, a position relative to a point of impingement of the machining beam, and a position relative to a machining region;
• obtain at least one external signal as a measured variable from the at least one sensor, wherein the measured variable is dependent on a physical operation and is independent of a processing of the machining control signal and of the measurement control signal;
• generate an evaluation on the basis of the measurement points and of the at least one external signal, which evaluation comprises a comparison of the measurement points with at least one threshold value;
• and
• monitor the machining process on the basis of the evaluation.

A device for conducting and monitoring a welding process for joining the workpiece to a further workpiece, by means of a high-energy machining beam, wherein the device comprises:

• a control unit;
• a machining unit having a machining beam source for generating the high-energy machining beam and having machining beam optics for projecting or focusing the machining beam onto the workpiece, wherein, in accordance with a machining control signal generated by the control unit, different machining regions of the workpiece are able to be machined, wherein the machining beam is projected or focused by the machining beam optics;
• at least one sensor for generating at least one external signal, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one photodiode, wherein the at least one photodiode determines at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) a power of the machining beam in a region of the machining beam optics and (ii) a power value of a reflected portion of the machining beam;
• and
• an optical coherence tomograph for generating a measurement beam, wherein the measurement beam is able to be coupled into the machining beam;
• wherein the control unit is adapted to:
• determine measurement points during the machining process using the measurement beam, in accordance with a measurement control signal generated by the control unit, wherein the measurement points comprise one or more space coordinates which indicate at least one of a position on the workpiece, a position on the further workpiece, a position relative to a point of impingement of the machining beam, and a position relative to a machining region;
• obtain at least one external signal as a measured variable from the at least one sensor, wherein the measured variable is dependent on a physical operation and is independent of a processing of the machining control signal and of the measurement control signal;
• generate an evaluation on the basis of the measurement points and of the at least one external signal, which evaluation comprises a comparison of the measurement points with at least one threshold value;
• and
• monitor the machining process on the basis of the evaluation.