Flexible solution of the fixturing problem in sheet metal laser butt welding

Abstract

In 20 years laser welding of sheet metal has been demonstrated as a possible high-tech metal joining process. However, the major obstacle to the introduction of laser welding in for example car body manufacturing has been and is the fixturing problem. In case of laser butt welding of 0.5 - 1 mm thick steel sheets, the maximum acceptable gab between the sheets to be welded is in the range of 40 - 50 micrometer. Out of this demand two major problems arise: (1) the high precision required in weld preparation in terms of precise shape of the two sheets to be welded. (2) the problem of maintaining a narrow gab under welding, where thermal distortions, even though they are relatively small in this process, still will open the gap as the welding beam proceeds along the seam. In this paper a unique technique to overcome these problems will be described. The results of the experimental work described in this paper demonstrates the technique in 2D welding, where high quality butt welds has been demonstrated with virtually no clamping forces applied by utilizing a special seam preparation technique. Possibilities in car body manufacturing and other 3D sheet metal assembly by means of the flexible laser welding technique will be discussed.