HELCoW: High energy laser capable of welding

ICON Technology proposes development of a laser beam welding toolhead for use in palentary and on-orbit applications. The HELCoW laser toolhead will utilize direct diode lasers to realize a simplified optical design compared to fiber and gas lasers typically used for welding. The laser toolhead will be capable of extended operation in a microtorr vacuum environment and include instrumentation for monitoring the weld process as well as the toolhead state of health. Software will be written to enable robotic manipulation of the toolhead to produce welds on appropriate workpiece geometries and adjust processing parameters based on data from the process and instrument monitoring data.