Abstract
Recent advances in laser technology has enabled the achievement of high power and high quality beams by diode pumping of Nd:YAG slabs. TRW, under the Precision Laser Machining Program funded by DARPA, has produced a 3 kW diode pumped Nd:YAG slab laser. The effectiveness of this new laser was examined in recent welding tests on C95800 nickel–aluminum–bronze. The beam parameters were 1700 W at the workpiece, with a pulse repetition rate of 1000 Hz and a pulse width of 170 μs. Linear and serpentine welding patterns were used with welding speeds ranging from 2.11 to 127 mm/s. At the slowest speed, penetration depths exceeded 35 and 17 mm with the use of 360 and 517 mm focal length focusing lens, respectively. Details of the metallurgy and the effect of welding speed on weld quality are examined.
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