The Paton Welding Journal, 2006, №07

2006 №07 (05)

2006 №07 (07)

---

The Paton Welding Journal, 2006, #7, 31-33 pages

Application of high-power fibre lasers in laser and laser-MIG hybrid welding

C. Thomy, H. Kohn, F. Vollertsen

Bremen Institute of Applied Beam Technologies GmbH, Bremen, Germany

Abstract
Latest developments in laser physics have enabled the production of high-power fibre lasers with beam powers up to 10 kW at excellent beam quality. Adding to these properties their high energetic efficiency, their considerable estimated lifetime and their compact size, they might well be considered to be a viable alternative to both conventional lampor diode-pumped Nd:YAG- as well as to CO2-lasers. However, due to the novelty of the system, very few experiences on their usability for materials processing and in special for welding of steel and aluminium sheet material are existing. To help this situation, both a 7 kW and a 10 kW high-power fibre laser system have been tested by the Bremen Institute of Applied Beam Technologies (BIAS), and their potentials for welding steel and aluminium sheets have been assessed. By the help of these results for pure laser and laser-GMA hybrid welding, of which a selection is presented here, it could indeed be demonstrated that it is possible to remarkably enhance process limitations considering welding speed and sheet thickness previously regarded to be inevitable when welding with solid-state lasers
Keywords: laser welding, hybrid welding, steel, aluminium, sheet material, welding speed, thickness, outlook

References

1. Grupp, M., Sepold, G. (2004) Laser system technology. In: Laser physics and laser applications. Vol. 1. Part C. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer.
2. Thomy, C., Grupp, M., Seefeld, T. et al. (2004) Schweiben mit dem Hochleistungs-Faserlaser. In: Strahltechnik: Vortraege der 6. Konferenz «Strahltechnik» (Halle, Deutschland, April 26-28, 2004).

---

Suggested Citation

C. Thomy, H. Kohn, F. Vollertsen (2006) Application of high-power fibre lasers in laser and laser-MIG hybrid welding. The Paton Welding J., 07, 31-33.

---