Product Code: ICAL07_1608

Fibre Laser GMA Hybrid Welding of Thin Sheet Material
Authors:
Claus Thomy, BIAS; Hambergen Germany
Frank Vollertsen, BIAS; Germany
Thomas Seefeld, BIAS; Bremen Germany
Presented at ICALEO 2007

In order to restrain heat input and increase productivity in thin steel sheet welding compared to arc and laser welding processes, a laser GMA hybrid welding process with single-mode fibre laser was developed. The effects of some basic parameters such as laser power, focal position and laser arc distance were investigated and discussed in view of weld quality and process efficiency. Moreover, the influence of gap on weld quality, hardness and static strength was considered. Based on these studies, it was demonstrated under laboratory conditions that a gap bridging in the range of 50% of sheet thickness at high welding speeds may be feasible for thin sheet welding using this newly developed process.