Cooperating countries: Egypt and Austria

Coordinating institution: Vienna University of Technology

Project coordinator: Gerhard Liedl

Partner institution: Central Metallurgical Research and Development Institute

Project duration: 01.10.2023 - 30.09.2025

Photonics is a key technology of the 21st century, and laser materials processing has emerged as one of the key drivers of innovation in the industry in recent years. Unfortunately, laser materials processing equipment is quite expensive and not all types of lasers are available at research and educational institutions. Our proposal provides a solution to limited training opportunities by providing virtual access to sophisticated laboratory training. From any location, participants can obtain the key to a virtual laser laboratory thanks to Internet access. Users can choose from different laser processes, materials, sample thicknesses, processing parameters, etc., and observe the selected process as they would in real life. Additionally, images of processed samples, such as cross-sections, close-ups, X-rays, hardness measurements, and more, provide details of the processing results, allowing users to assess and understand the influences of the selected parameters on the resulting sample quality.

This proposal aims to develop a system for a web-based laser laboratory. Laser processing operations with different materials, sample thicknesses and a variety of additional parameters will be pre-recorded. Parameters are chosen to cover a wide range of possible results, from worst to near perfect. Each parameter set is presented with detailed process videos, along with close-up images of sample surfaces and other testing results, such as micrographs, hardness measurements, or other testing results that may be relevant to the selected process. This web-based training concept provides virtual access to modern industrial manufacturing processes without any limitation.