Assessment of different laser hybrid welding processes

Abstract

The hybrid welding process, which combines two welding processes (the laser and the arc), has received much consideration in recent years as a high speed, highly competent, excellent quality welding process, which recompenses the weaknesses of individual welding processes. A variety of experiments in laser/MIG/MAG hybrid welding have been carried out and results have been published, for example, about the increase in penetration depth, welding speed, the bridgeable width of the air gap, arc stability and the reduction of weld porosity in comparison to either of the original processes.This study deals with the different types of hybrid welding processes in addition to describing the means and situation today regarding the principles and applications of various combinations, e.g. laser/MIG/MAG, laser/TIG, laser/PAW and laser/tandem hybrid welding processes with different lasers. The study is based on an analysis of the results of a variety of different publications carried out by various research groups. The process is analyzed regarding the process parameters, type and thickness of the base material, geometrical parameters of processes, power and beam quality together with the optical parameters of the laser used.This study a) looks into the productivity, economy and quality, b) concludes a SWOT analysis of the different hybrid welding processes and c) provides ideas for the future methods and applications of laser hybrid welding. The effects of parameters and set-up can be seen in the analysis, thus the economic feasibility and quality management factors as the basis of analysis can be assessed.The hybrid welding process, which combines two welding processes (the laser and the arc), has received much consideration in recent years as a high speed, highly competent, excellent quality welding process, which recompenses the weaknesses of individual welding processes. A variety of experiments in laser/MIG/MAG hybrid welding have been carried out and results have been published, for example, about the increase in penetration depth, welding speed, the bridgeable width of the air gap, arc stability and the reduction of weld porosity in comparison to either of the original processes.This study deals with the different types of hybrid welding processes in addition to describing the means and situation today regarding the principles and applications of various combinations, e.g. laser/MIG/MAG, laser/TIG, laser/PAW and laser/tandem hybrid welding processes with different lasers. The study is based on an analysis of the results of a variety of different publications carried out by various research groups. Th...