ProjectSICLOP

Femtosecond laser processes are now a cutting-edge technology for the functionalisation and machining of surfaces with very high precision. They enable complex materials to be processed without contact, with an exceptional quality of finish.

However, their industrial use is still limited by several major barriers:

• insufficient productivity on large surfaces
• difficulty in controlling thermal effects on complex parts
• a lack of reliable predictive tools to anticipate surface behaviour
• demanding inspection and metrology constraints at large scale

In an industrial context where parts are becoming larger, more complex and more functional, these limitations are holding back the widespread deployment of advanced photonic processes.

The SICLOP project aims to change this by developing a new generation of tools for the simulation, monitoring and optimisation of femtosecond laser processes, capable of meeting the requirements of the automotive, aerospace and energy sectors.

The SICLOP project aims to make femtosecond laser processes faster, more reliable and easier to industrialise.

Its main objectives are to:

• Increase process productivity through laser beam parallelisation and the use of pulse bursts
• Develop simulation tools to optimise high-repetition-rate laser processes
• Reduce the thermal impact on parts through better control of the energy input
• Implement fast, non-destructive optical inspection of the treated surfaces
• Enable laser processing of large, complex 3D parts
• Improve the prediction of the optical and thermal behaviour of surfaces

The overall objective is to move from a laboratory technology to a robust, high-performance industrial solution.

As project coordinator, IREPA LASER is developing an integrated approach combining advanced laser processes, multiphysics simulation and optical inspection.

Optimisation of ultrafast laser processes
The project explores innovative laser beam shaping strategies in order to:

• increase processing speed
• improve energy distribution
• reduce surface defects (taper, draft angles, irregularities)

These developments push back the limits of laser ablation processes.

Process monitoring and control
Optical and thermal monitoring solutions are integrated to track process behaviour in real time and ensure the quality of the treated surfaces.

Advanced optical and thermal simulation
A major focus of the project is the development of simulation tools capable of:

• predicting the appearance of surfaces after laser treatment
• anticipating texture defects
• modelling thermal effects around the affected zone

These tools drastically reduce the number of experimental trials.

Processing of large surfaces and complex parts
The project specifically addresses the challenges associated with large dimensions:

• large-scale equipment calibration
• comparison between fixed and on-board sensors
• improved accuracy over extended volumes

Fast surface inspection
The project also incorporates fast optical inspection solutions, allowing near-instant validation of treatments on industrial parts.

The SICLOP project relies on a complementary technological and scientific consortium:

• IREPA LASER – Project coordinator, process development and simulation
• HOLO 3 – Expert in optical inspection technologies and advanced metrology

The project is funded under Région Grand Est and FEDER schemes:

• Total project cost: €1,404,658
• FEDER (ERDF) funding: €339,678
• Région Grand Est funding: €226,452
• Overall funding: Région Grand Est + FEDER (≈ 70% of the budget)

The SICLOP project opens up major prospects for the industrialisation of femtosecond laser processes.

Significant productivity gains
Beam parallelisation and optimised repetition rates considerably reduce processing times.

Smaller energy footprint
Better control of the deposited energy limits excess consumption and unnecessary heating.

Improved surface quality
Simulation and real-time monitoring reduce defects and improve the consistency of treatments.

Access to the processing of complex 3D parts
The tools developed make it possible to process large, complex surfaces that were previously difficult to access.

Transforming industrial practice
SICLOP helps shift from an empirical approach to a predictive one, driven by simulation and data.