Quality and Process Control of Nd: YAG - Laser Welding Using fuzzy Pattern Recognition Techniques for Multisensor Systems
Quality monitoring is necessary for a stable manufacturing, especially in the case of laser welding processes. During the project a system was developed which allows the analysis of in process data by fuzzy pattern recognition methods. This resulted in improved prediction of seam irregularities as compared with conventional methods. The work was carried out in the framework of the MAINE cooperative project funded by the Free State of Saxony.
Pulsed laser weld quality monitoring by the statistical analysis of reflected light
This paper describes a technique for monitoring the quality of laser welds by statistical analysis of the reflected light signal from the weld surface. An algorithm is used which analyses the variance of the peak values of the reflected signal as a measure of surface weld dynamics during pulsed Nd:YAG laser welding in the heat conduction mode. Kalman filtering is used to separate a useful signal from the background noise. A good correlation between weld disruption and signal fluctuation has been identified. This technique could be used in tandem with the present practice of simply using the peak values of the reflected (or emitted) light as an indicator of weld quality.
Women's health in prison: urgent need for improvement in gender equity and social justice.
The needs of women held in detention have received little attention and con-tinue to be neglected by health systems and prison authorities. One reason for this, too readily accepted until now, is that women prisoners are a clear minor-ity group within prisons all over the world. It is only recently that attention has been drawn to the fact that a minor-ity status does not justify the widespread ignorance of women’s basic rights and the considerable gender insensitivity still dominating criminal justice systems.In Europe alone, there are about 100 000 women and girls in prison.