The Boeing Company
Optimized-coverage selective laser ablation systems and methods

Abstract:

Optimized-coverage selective laser ablation systems and methods may be utilized to prepare (ablate) a three-dimensional surface. Methods comprise receiving a 3D virtual model of the surface to be ablated, generating a preliminary ablation path, and optimizing the preliminary ablation path to produce an adapted ablation path. Methods may comprise ablating the surface according to the adapted ablation path. The preliminary ablation path may be based on scanning a laser sheet across a two-dimensional projection of the surface. The optimization may adjust one or more waypoints of the preliminary ablation path to achieve complete coverage of the surface at acceptable levels of ablation, with little to no ablation outside the surface, and with acceptable (e.g., at least locally minimal) time to ablate the surface.