Licensable Technologies : Materials : Nanotechnology

Method and Apparatus for In-Process Sensing of Manufacturing Quality

Abstract
A method and apparatus for friction welding two materials and simultaneously determining weld quality by acoustic means. A neural network algorithm is applied to the acoustic data to yield high levels of quality control without human intervention.

Application(s)

• Quality control in welding processes
•  High speed, high efficiency production lines involving welding

Advantages

• integration of welding and quality control equipment into a single unit
• non-destructive, non-contact weld inspection both during and after welding
• reduced time and cost for weld inspection
• real time analysis of welds allows immediate identification of process problems
• neural network �learns,� continuously improving quality over time

IP Status: Available for Exclusive or Non-Exclusive Licensing

Reference Number: 210

S Number: DOE reference no.(s): 97,849

Patents & Applications:
United States National Patent Number 6857553 Issued on 02/22/2005

Posted: 09-16-2004

Contact
John Russell
Technology Transfer Division
Los Alamos National Laboratory
P.O. Box 1663, MailStop C334
(505) 665-3941
jrussell@lanl.gov