CONTINUOUS WAVE ND:YAG LASER WELDING OF TI-6AL-4V TITANIUM ALLOY

摘要

Annealed 1- and 2-mm thick Ti-6Al-4V alloy sheets were welded using a continuous wave 4 kW Nd:YAG laser system. The effects of welding speed and laser power on welding quality were investigated using a Taguchi matrix. Welding joint quality was evaluated from joint shapes, microstructure, defects, hardness and tensile properties. Sound weld joints without cracks and with minor porosity were obtained indicating that high power continuous wave Nd:YAG laser welding is a reliable method for joining components made from Ti-6Al-4V alloy.