Remote laser welding of overlapping metal workpieces at fast speeds
US10953494B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 16, 2016 |
| Grant date | Mar 23, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 25, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB23K2103/18
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of laser welding a workpiece stack-up (10) that includes at least two overlapping metal workpieces (12, 14) comprises advancing a laser beam (24) relative to a plane of a top surface (20) of the workpiece stack-up (10) from a start point (84) to an end point (86) along a beam travel pattern (78) at a high laser beam travel speed of greater than 8 meters per minute. The two or more overlapping metal workpieces (12, 14) may be steel workpieces or they may be aluminum workpieces, and at least one of the metal workpieces (12, 14) includes a surface coating (40). Advancing the laser beam (24) along the beam travel pattern (78) forms a weld joint (76), which includes resolidified composite workpiece material derived from each of the metal workpieces (12, 14) penetrated by a molten weld pool (80), that fusion welds the metal workpieces (12, 14) together. The relatively high laser beam travel speed contributes to improve strength properties of the weld joint (76).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.