Laser Assisted Micro Wire GMAW and Droplet Welding

Fuerschbach, Phillip W. ; Luck, David L. ; Bertram, Lee A. ; Anderson, Robert A.

Sandia National Laboratories

关键词: Energy Absorption;    Gas Metal-Arc Welding;    36 Materials Science;    Fiber Optics;    Hybrid Systems;   

DOI  :  10.2172/793350
RP-ID  :  SAND2002-0701
RP-ID  :  AC04-94AL85000
RP-ID  :  793350

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

Laser beam welding is the principal welding process for the joining of Sandia weapon components because it can provide a small fusion zone with low overall heating. Improved process robustness is desired since laser energy absorption is extremely sensitive to joint variation and filler metal is seldom added. This project investigated the experimental and theoretical advantages of combining a fiber optic delivered Nd:YAG laser with a miniaturized GMAW system. Consistent gas metal arc droplet transfer employing a 0.25 mm diameter wire was only obtained at high currents in the spray transfer mode. Excessive heating of the workpiece in this mode was considered an impractical result for most Sandia micro-welding applications. Several additional droplet detachment approaches were investigated and analyzed including pulsed tungsten arc transfer(droplet welding), servo accelerated transfer, servo dip transfer, and electromechanically braked transfer. Experimental observations and rigorous analysis of these approaches indicate that decoupling droplet detachment from the arc melting process is warranted and may someday be practical.