Investigation into the high-speed laser welding feasibility of tin-plated steels available for three-piece food packaging can manufacture

Abstract

This investigation was focused on the high-speed laser welding of 0.4-mm tin-plated steels used for joining together parts of three-piece food cans. The high-speed laser welding quality is generally restricted due to several welding discontinuities that occur with the change of traverse speed. A study on the production set-up by a food can manufacturer was first addressed, and reasons for introducing high-speed laser welding were further discussed. A rotary axis as a welding fixture was designed and made to achieve high surface speeds. Thereafter, an experimental investigation was conducted using a CO2, neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet laser and hybrid of plasma augmented laser welding applied to the typical food can material. Conventional welding defects found during high-speed laser welding were observed for all three laser welding techniques. However, humping gradients reduced with plasma augmented laser welding and penetration were evident up to welding speeds of 98 m/min. Furthermore, the high-speed laser welding defects were discussed, and possible solutions to eliminate the humps and further work into the application of the high-speed laser welding process for the Canning industry were mentioned.