TECHNOLOGY
OVERVIEW
Hybrid laser-arc
welding make strides
in manufacturing
By Amanda Carlson,
Associate Editor
Hybrid laser-arc welding (HLAW) is
not a new concept, but it has gained
in popularity recently. Faster travel
speeds, less heat input and distortion, and
higher tolerances make HLAW a great alternative to laser welding or arc welding
processes alone.
The most common combination is laser
and gas metal arc welding (GMAW), but
the laser also can be paired with gas tungsten
arc welding (GTAW) or plasma arc welding
(PAW). When combined, the technologies
work synergistically by maximizing the
laser’s ability to provide deep-penetrating
welds quickly while capitalizing on attributes
16 PRACTICAL WELDING TODAY
March/April 2009
of GMAW, GTAW, and PAW such as gap
tolerance and joint fit-up.
Craig Bratt, laser division manager of the
Fraunhofer Center for Coatings and Laser
Applications, Plymouth, Mich., has 15
years’ experience working with lasers. His
firm, along with Michigan State University,
East Lansing, Mich., is dedicated to R&D
initiatives; new product and process development; application development; and
design and integration of pilot production
systems in areas such as advanced hybrid
laser welding, laser cutting, laser remote
welding, and surface treatment technologies
such as laser cladding and hardening.
Most of Fraunhofer’s R&D has centered
on industrial clients who are looking to
make the jump from conventional welding
processes to advanced laser processes, such
as HLAW.
“They want to know what laser hybrid
will give them, how much faster they’ll be
able to go, how much more consistent the
weld quality will be, and how much less
heat they’ll put in to the surrounding material. Often they’ll give us some test material
or prototype components and ask us to
show them what the results would be using
hybrid versus what they are using right
now,” Bratt said.
In a recent interview with Practical
Welding Today, Bratt explained in further
detail why HLAW is becoming more and
more attractive for industrial applications and
how adopters of the technology can ensure
successful implementation of the process.
