S. Mueller, E. Stiles, Fraunhofer USA, Plymouth, MI
Laser welding is increasingly being looked at by the aerospace industry as a process for joining titanium and aluminum alloy structural components, due to the reduced material usage vs. riveting, or machining to shape from larger pieces. With the recent development of high power fiber lasers, laser welding can be now considered for generation of narrow welds with low heat input and high weld speeds, due to the available high beam quality. This paper describes potential applications of the fiber laser for welding of typical aerospace materials Ti6Al4V and Al 6013. Also the results of a study of laser welding process parameters and their effect on porosity formation during welding of Ti6Al4V are presented.
Summary: Laser welding is increasingly being looked at by the aerospace industry as a
process for joining titanium and aluminum alloy structural components, due to
the reduced material usage vs. riveting, or machining to shape from larger
pieces. With the recent development of high power fiber lasers, laser
welding can be now considered for generation of narrow welds with low heat
input and high weld speeds, due to the available high beam quality. This
paper describes potential applications of the fiber laser for welding of
typical aerospace materials Ti6Al4V and Al 6013. Also the results of a study
of laser welding process parameters and their effect on porosity formation
during welding of Ti6Al4V are presented.
