Product category:
Laser and electron beam welding
News Release from: Trumpf | Subject: Laser welding of copper
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 24 October 2006
Disc lasers securely weld copper sheet
metal
Laser specialists have been able able to weld 5mm thick copper sheet metal with a combination of disk lasers of varying laser power for the first time, it is claimed.
There seems to be no limits on the disk laser's capabilities What experts had previously held to be an extremely difficult task, Trumpf was able to pull off recently in a one-time experimental setup
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 21 Jun 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Heavy duty laser profiler works through the night
Palletisation and latest control and diagnostics systems enable laser profiling system to cut dumper truck parts under 'lights out' conditions.
Two laser heads are three times better than one
In theory a twin-head laser profiler produces double the output of a 'normal' single-head machine.
Except in this case, it is around three times as productive!
Laser specialists were able to weld copper sheet metal 5mm deep with a combination of disk lasers of varying laser power.
No one had ever been able to do this before.
As a highly reflecting material, copper is extremely difficult to weld.
In most cases, undesirable side effects occur, including blowholes in the weld seams.
The specialists at Trumpf connected together three disk lasers with 4kW, 6kW and 8kW laser output using a special fibre coupler in the application lab.
Over 16.5kW were brought onto the workpiece.
The resulting welding speed of 1.8m/min stabilized the extremely dynamic melt pool common to copper.
The sheets, each measuring 3mm in thickness, were welded together 5mm deep as an overlap join with excellent seam quality.
For this experiment to be both secure and successful, the disk lasers had to be finely synchronized, an accomplishment ensured by the Trumpf Laser Network.
Whether this welding application is ready for mass production depends greatly on the welding speed and the chosen focus geometry.
More powerful lasers, such as those offered by Trumpf beginning December 2006, permit even greater welding speeds and an expanded process window with consistent seam quality. Request a free brochure from Trumpf ...
• Trumpf: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
