WELDING AND CUTTING OF THIN SHEET MATERIALS WITH A HIGH BEAM QUALITY AND HIGH AVERAGE POWER CONTINUOUS WAVE ND: YAG LASER

M. Naeem(1) and B. Läßiger(2)

GSI Lumonics, (1) England; (2) Deutschland

Laser beam welding and cutting in sheet metal processing is increasingly being used due to low general heat input, low distortion, high processing speeds, the potential for automation and inherent flexibility of laser system. These advantages are already being exploited in the automotive industry manufacture of sheet components and, with the additional driving force of weight reduction, laser welding of aluminium alloys has become a pertinent subject to automotive industry.

This paper describes the welding trials carried out in thin sheets of steel and aluminium alloys with high power (3.5 kW-10 kW) continuous wave Nd: YAG lasers. The paper also highlights some of cutting results achieved in steel and aluminium alloys sheets.

Keywords: welding - cutting - sheet material - steel - aluminium - high power cw Nd:YAG laser