Heat conduction welding of thin foils with elliptical beam of direct diode laser

Abstract

A finely focused elliptical beam of a direct diode laser was applied to lap welding of thin foils on thick substrates. This beam shape enabled welding with a narrow bead at a high speed and low power. The welding phenomena were very calm because of its low power density. An elliptical beam of 230 µm x 1800 µm successfully welded thin stainless steel foil of 5µm in thickness on 1mm thick stainless steel substrate. These characteristics are caused by the heat conduction type welding with the low power density elliptical beam. In this report, characteristics of heat conduction welding of thin foils with a finely focused elliptical beam of direct diode laser will be discussed with welding parameters such as power, power density and welding speed.A finely focused elliptical beam of a direct diode laser was applied to lap welding of thin foils on thick substrates. This beam shape enabled welding with a narrow bead at a high speed and low power. The welding phenomena were very calm because of its low power density. An elliptical beam of 230 µm x 1800 µm successfully welded thin stainless steel foil of 5µm in thickness on 1mm thick stainless steel substrate. These characteristics are caused by the heat conduction type welding with the low power density elliptical beam. In this report, characteristics of heat conduction welding of thin foils with a finely focused elliptical beam of direct diode laser will be discussed with welding parameters such as power, power density and welding speed.