Near-process indirect surface characterization of laser-chemically produced removal contours

The manufacturing rate of laser chemical machining (LCM) is currently restricted to avoid disruptive boiling bubbles in the process fluid. An increase necessitates adjustments beam or fluid properties. However, current understanding surface removal mechanisms insufficient achieve a consistent quality under these conditions. For an improved modeling, in-process measurements geometry, temperature and are required. Due complex environment, no suitable measurement technique for geometry exists. This contribution presents indirect approach based on confocal fluorescence microscopy that offers potential near-process application LCM environment. As result, micro-geometry different surfaces shown be indirectly measurable LCM-equivalent conditions such as thick layers gas path. Furthermore, combined fluorescence-based proposed.