6-kW Nd:YAG laser system for welding applications

Georg Bostanjoglo; Thomas Beck; Kurt Richter

doi:10.1117/12.281071

18 August 1997 6-kW Nd:YAG laser system for welding applications

Georg Bostanjoglo, Thomas Beck, Kurt Richter

Proceedings Volume 3097, Lasers in Material Processing; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.281071
Event: Lasers and Optics in Manufacturing III, 1997, Munich, Germany

Abstract

High average laser output power was realized by combining the beams of three Nd:YAG lasers of the 2 kW class, each being coupled into an individual 600 micrometers fiber. The end faces are imaged onto a 1 mm fiber, which then transmits 6 kW cw power to the processing station. With this laser system, butt and edge joints with up to 5 mm thick sheets of AlMgSil and AlMgMn4,5 were performed. Velocities of about 3 m/min in combination with filling wire and helium shielding gas yielded satisfying results. The sheets of 1.5 mm thickness were best welded with 8 m/min and a O 1 mm filler wire delivery speed of 5 - 7 m/min. One of the drawbacks of the system is the deterioration of beam quality due to the tilt angle between the incoming beams, so that a 1 mm fiber has to be used. With a modular oscillator-amplifier system with fiber link it should be possible to use fibers with smaller core diameter.

Citation Download Citation

Georg Bostanjoglo, Thomas Beck, and Kurt Richter "6-kW Nd:YAG laser system for welding applications", Proc. SPIE 3097, Lasers in Material Processing, (18 August 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.281071

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available