Further Development of a Laser-Tool Towards a Self-Regulating Manufacturing Device

To improve productivity in solar cell production, different approaches are developed. One includes the development of self-regulating manufacturing devices. As an aim the cell output is increased and the maintenance time is reduced. Our research focuses on an automated laser power regulation of a laser tool used for different process steps in fabricating interdigitated back contact solar cells. The development of a digital model of the laser tool using Automation Markup Language (AML) and converting it into an Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture (OPC UA) information model allows a self-regulation of the laser tool regarding the laser power. Integration of the model into an OPC UA Server and the combination with an OPC UA client even allows a continuous adjustment of process recipes.