Method for welding workpieces together and one application of the method
US11389891B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 17, 2019 |
| Grant date | Jul 19, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 30, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB23K2101/185
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method for butt-welding of sheet metal, especially bodywork in the motor vehicle industry, where at least two flat workpieces with any desired contours are fed to a machining process. In a first sub-process, the workpieces are positioned in relation to one another forming a minimal gap and secured in place with holding means. In another sub-process, the position and width of the gap are measured continuously immediately before welding together and the measurements are used to control a laser welding head. The laser welding head is fit with a rotatable twin-spot lens, where the relative alignment of a main spot to an auxiliary spot is controlled depending on the absolute position of the gap and the gap width during the welding process while the processing lens of the laser welding head is rotated around the laser beam axis with the angle of rotation alpha.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.