Single Pass Laser Welding with Multiple Spots to Join Four Sheets in a Butt-joint Configuration

Abstract

Laser keyhole welding is widely used in industry due to its large welding depth and low heat input. For some industrial cases it is necessary to widen the beam to cover the joint configuration, which instead results in a lower intensity and surface conduction welds. The introduction of the high-power single mode fiber laser makes it possible to deal with this problem, because the beam can be shaped into a pre-defined pattern of multiple spots shaped to the actual joint configuration. The intensity of each spot is sufficient to make a keyhole. A case with four sheets in a butt-joint configuration is used to demonstrate the principle of how to design a spot pattern which ensures weld quality in case of a single pass laser weld.