The use of electromagnetic body forces to enhance the quality of laser welds

Guenter Ambrosy; P. Berger; H. Huegel; D. Lindenau

doi:10.1117/12.515828

10 November 2003 The use of electromagnetic body forces to enhance the quality of laser welds

Guenter Ambrosy, P. Berger, H. Huegel, D. Lindenau

Proceedings Volume 5120, XIV International Symposium on Gas Flow, Chemical Lasers, and High-Power Lasers; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.515828
Event: XIV International Symposium on Gas Flow, Chemical Lasers, and High-Power Lasers, 2002, Wroclow, Poland

Abstract

The use of electromagnetic body forces in laser beam welding of aluminum alloys is a new method to shape the geometry and to enhance the quality of the weld seams. In this new approach, electromagnetic volume forces are utilized by applying magnetic fields and electric currents of various origins. Acting in the liquid metal, they directly affect the flow field and can lead to favourable conditions for the melt dynamics and energy coupling. Numerous welds with full and partial penetration using both CO₂ and Nd:YAG lasers demonstrate that this method directly influences the seam geometry and top-bead topography as well as the penetration depth and the evolution of pores and cracks. In the case of full penetration, it is also possible to lift or to lower the weld pool. The method, therefore, can be used to shape the geometry and to enhance the quality of the weld seam. Depending on the orientation of an external magnetic field, significant impacts are achieved in CO₂ welding, even without an external current: the shape of the cross-sectional area can be increased of up to 50% and also the seam width is changed. Whereas for such conditions with Nd:YAG lasers no significant effect could be observed, it turned out that, when an external electric current is applied, similar effects are present with both wavelengths. In further investigations, the effect of electromagnetic body forces resulting from the interaction of an external current and its self-induced magnetic field was studied. Hereby, the current was fed into the workpiece via a tungsten electrode or a filler wire. The resulting phenomena are the same independent from wavelength and means of current feed.

Citation Download Citation

Guenter Ambrosy, P. Berger, H. Huegel, and D. Lindenau "The use of electromagnetic body forces to enhance the quality of laser welds", Proc. SPIE 5120, XIV International Symposium on Gas Flow, Chemical Lasers, and High-Power Lasers, (10 November 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.515828

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