Laser Process Monitoring

4D Photonics develops sensor technology and software solutions for industrial laser process monitoring and successfully implements them in production environments worldwide. The company's solutions help users capture process information, monitor production processes, detect deviations, and gain a deeper understanding of laser-based manufacturing applications. The core technology platform consists of the 4D.TWO® sensor system, the 4D.watcher process monitoring software, and the 4D.commander analysis software.

Product Portfolio

4D.TWO®

Multispectral Sensor Platform

The 4D.TWO® acquires multispectral optical process emissions from laser processes in the visible (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR) spectral ranges. Depending on the configuration, additional environmental and motion data can be recorded to provide a comprehensive view of the process.

Key features:

Multispectral VIS and NIR signal acquisition
Integrated high-speed acquisition
Lossless technology for short process events
Environmental data acquisition
Motion tracking
Fiber and DirectMount integration concepts
OEM integration options

4D.watcher

Process Monitoring Software

4D.watcher converts process signals into monitoring results. The software evaluates incoming sensor data, compares it against references and monitoring criteria, and provides automated OK/NOK decisions for industrial production environments.

Key features:

Acquisition and visualization of process signals
Reference-based process monitoring
Configurable evaluation strategies
Automated OK/NOK decisions
Process history and traceability
PLC and OPC UA integration
Scalable system architectures from All-in-One to Multi-Core systems

4D.commander

Data Analysis and Process Understanding

4D.commander supports process analysis, comparison of monitoring results, and continuous optimization of monitoring strategies. The software helps users transform monitoring data into actionable process knowledge.

Key features:

Process data analysis
Multi-system evaluation
Data comparison and visualization
Identification of trends and process deviations
Optimization of monitoring configurations
Support for process development and root-cause analysis

Applications

The 4D.watcher ecosystem is suitable for a wide range of laser-based manufacturing processes, including:

Laser Welding
Laser Cutting
Laser Structuring
USP Processing
Additive Manufacturing
Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF)
Laser Cladding
Laser Cleaning
Heat Treatment
Coating
Laser Bonding
Brazing
Drilling

Services

Application Support

Application consulting
Feasibility studies
Sensor integration support
OEM project support
Process analysis assistance
Monitoring strategy development

Software and System Integration

PLC integration
OPC UA integration
Customer-specific interfaces
Custom monitoring concepts
OEM software integration

4D.watcher Ecosystem

The three products form a connected workflow:

Laser Process

↓

4D.TWO®

Capture Process Data

↓

4D.watcher

Monitor and Evaluate

↓

4D.commander

Analyze and Understand

This integrated approach enables users to move from process data acquisition to automated monitoring and finally to detailed process understanding and optimization.

Company Focus

Capture. Monitor. Understand.

4D Photonics provides sensor technology, process monitoring, and data analysis solutions that help industrial users gain deeper insight into laser processes and make monitoring decisions based on reliable process information.

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