Product Code: ICAL09_1607

A Study About Suitability of Different Welding Processes for the Production of Aluminum Stiffeners for Ship Structure
Authors:
Antti Salminen, Lappeenranta University of Technology; Lappeenranta Finland
Tuomas Purtonen, Lut; Lappeenranta Finland
Jussi Tolvanen, Innova; Laitila Finland
Juho Isotalus, Innova; Laitila Finland
Presented at ICALEO 2009

Laser welding has a growing role in manufacturing technology. Keyhole laser welding and laser hybrid welding processes provide good opportunity to weld metallic structures in an efficient way. The most important advantages of laser welding stem from considerable potential gained to product design like low distortion and large selection of joint types. This study evaluates potential of laser welding in manufacturing of aluminum stiffener beams of an aluminum boat. The evaluation was made between robotized arc welding, YAG-MAG-hybrid welding and fiber laser welding. Joint type was T-fillet joint that is typically welded manually in shipyard environment using various welding positions. The improvements gained with robotic welding were considerable, but in comparison to laser based production they were not competitive. The accuracy gained and joint preparation used showed considerable advantages gained with laser based processes.