CONTROLLER FOR A LASER USING PREDICTIVE MODELS OF MATERIALS PROCESSING

Predictive models of physical parts of the laser processing system part determined. These predictive models are used to determine how the physical system will actually react. The predicted reaction from the models is used as feedback in order to produce the control signals. These physical models therefore adjust to the operation of the system, much in the way that actual feedback would adjust the operation of the system. However, the system may be used at faster speeds, where the actual feedback could not be produced fast enough. Different kinds of modeling are described, including in-position feedback which models sharp movements of the laser system, trajectory models which superimpose the commanded curve over the predicted actual curve to determine errors in trajectory, and constant/variable energy density controls.