A BASIC STUDY ON THE HIGH POWER DIODE LASER WELDING OF A TITANIUM ALLOY

摘要

High power diode lasers (HPDLs) have only recentlybeen introduced for materials processing. Theadvantages of HPDLs include higher energyefficiency and lower running costs. Besides, becauseof the mass production possibility of semiconductors,the prices of HPDL are currently dropping fast,making these lasers very competitive for future largescalematerials processing systems.This paper describes the application of High PowerDiode Laser (HPDL), with maximum output power2.3 kW and rectangular laser beam spot, for thewelding of Ti6Al4V sheets, 1 and 1.5 mm thick.Bead on plate and butt welds were studied and testedusing two different covering gases, He and Ar, andflow rates. A metallographic analysis of the crosssectionsof welded specimens was carried out inorder to measure the morphological characteristics ofthe welded joint, micro-hardness and tensile testswere performed to complete the mechanicalcharacterization. The results of tests showed that theshape of weld pool and mechanism of laser weldingwith a rectangular pattern of 808 nm laser radiationdiffers distinctly from other laser weldingmechanisms, reported by the same authors inprevious published works.