METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A MULTI-COMPONENT COMPOUND LIGHTWEIGHT VEHICLE BODY PART AND AUTOMATED ASSEMBLY STATION FOR PERFORMING SAID METHOD

摘要

There are disclosed a method of manufacturing a multicomponent compound lightweight vehicle body part and an automated assembly station (10) for performing said method. A light metal outer shell member having a preformed final geometry sheet portion and, at least at a part of the periphery thereof, an overhang forming a hemming flange is received in an assembly fixture (18) in which it remains throughout the multi-step assembly process comprising at least a hemming operation and a shielding gas laser beam welding operation. At least one light metal inner structural member is inseparably connected to the outer shell member by shielding gas laser beam welding, at speeds of greater than 2m/min, a flange portion of the inner structural member to the hemming flange of the outer structural member.