Influence of beam quality when welding with Nd:YAG and CO2 lasers

W. Bartel; Dieter Paethe; Rene Roatzsch; J.-M. Weick

doi:10.1117/12.281073

18 August 1997 Influence of beam quality when welding with Nd:YAG and CO₂ lasers

W. Bartel, Dieter Paethe, Rene Roatzsch, J.-M. Weick

Proceedings Volume 3097, Lasers in Material Processing; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.281073
Event: Lasers and Optics in Manufacturing III, 1997, Munich, Germany

Abstract

Solid-state lasers with high beam quality are now available in the power range up to 4 kW. Since the beam of this laser type can be transmitted via flexible optical fiber for processing complex automotive structures, this laser has increasingly become an interesting alternative to the CO₂ lasers now used. The solid-state laser displays a greater basic absorption of its beam wavelengths by technically relevant materials than the CO₂ laser and thus a theoretically better coupling characteristic. However, in view of the relatively poor beam quality of the solid-state laser, the question as to whether greater processing efficiency can result still remains open. Welding experiments using transferable processing parameters were carried out to obtain reliable data for a direct comparison of both laser types. The most powerful Nd:YAG laser (HAAS HL 3006D) now available on the market as well as two CO₂ laser manufactured by TRUMPF with different beam quality and power were used for the experiment. Whereas the CO₂ laser shows advantages at low welding speeds and high welding depths, the solid-state laser can compensate for the distinctly poorer beam quality in the case of higher welding speeds that are typical for sheet-metal working. In this area, the Nd:YAG laser even showed distinct advantages when using large focal diameters. A drastic influence of the beam quality on processing efficiency was demonstrated for the CO₂ laser using identical processing parameters apart from the beam quality.

Citation Download Citation

W. Bartel, Dieter Paethe, Rene Roatzsch, and J.-M. Weick "Influence of beam quality when welding with Nd:YAG and CO₂ lasers", Proc. SPIE 3097, Lasers in Material Processing, (18 August 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.281073

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