The aim of this project was to experimentally investigate the feasibility of high power laser-GMA-hybrid welding for single and multiple passes using typical materials for shipbuilding, structural steelwork, tank construction and pipe production up to 32 mm in thickness. Own research has shown that up to now welding with high power fibre lasers is feasible up to 12 mm material thickness. Especially with the combination of laser and arc to a hybrid process it is possible to increase the penetration depth through the additional heat input of the arc, at the same time bridge gaps as well as linear misalignment and weld very thick structures with as little passes as possible and thus having for example less distortion. Within laboratory conditions is was shown that plate material from 16-32 mm could be joined with a laser-GMA-hybrid welding process. With 8 kW of laser power 16 mm thick plate material was joined successfully in two passes (Figure below). The first pass was welded with a hybrid process, the second one with a conventional MAG-process.

Funded by

BMBF - FK 13N9278

Timeframe

2007/03/01 - 2008/02/29

Department Manager

Dipl.-Ing. Thomas Seefeld