Laser Welding Modes Optimization of the Selective Laser Melted Ti-6Al-4V Thin-Thickness Parts with Complex Shape

The paper studies laser welding of thin-thickness Ti-6Al-4V parts, manufactured by selective laser melting (SLM). A full factorial experiment was carried out in order to construct a regression model of the technological parameters (laser power, welding speed, and defocusing amount) which influence the weld shape. Metallographic analysis was carried out and it was found that thermal cycles of product printing and laser welding are equivalent. The microhardness analysis also showed no differences between the weld metal and the base metal. The contour plots of the parameters influence on the response function was constructed, and the area of welding modes was determined.

Comparison of continuous and pulsed wave lasers in keyhole welding of stainless-steel to aluminium

A continuous wave (CW) and a nanosecond pulsed wave (PW) lasers were used to join 1-mm thick sheets of SS304L (SS) austenitic stainless-steel to AA5251 (Al) aluminium alloy in an overlap joint configuration. The weld shape (penetration depth and width), intermetallic compounds concentration, weld quality (cracking and porosity) and mechanical strength were correlated with the process energy and compared between each laser temporal mode. Successful CW joints were produced with the SS sheet on top of the Al, but the opposite configuration revealed to be impossible for the range of parameters tested. The PW joints were successful with the Al sheet on top of SS, but all the joints cracked at the interface when the opposite configuration was used. The mechanical tests showed that even though it is possible to achieve higher tensile shear load in CW welds due to the larger bonding area, the tensile shear strength revealed to be almost 5 × higher for PW welds at similar applied energy.

Comparison of Continuous and Pulsed Wave Lasers in Keyhole Welding of Stainless-Steel to Aluminium

A continuous wave (CW) and a nanosecond pulsed wave (PW) lasers were used to join 1 mm thick sheets of SS304L (SS) austenitic stainless-steel to AA5251 (Al) aluminium alloy in an overlap joint configuration. The weld shape (penetration depth and width), intermetallic compounds concentration, weld quality (cracking and porosity) and mechanical strength were correlated with the process energy and compared between each laser temporal mode. Successful CW joints were produced with the SS sheet on top of the Al, but the opposite configuration revealed to be impossible for the range of parameters tested. The PW joints were successful with the Al sheet on top of SS, but all the joints cracked at the interface when the opposite configuration was used. The mechanical tests showed that even though it is possible to achieve higher tensile shear load in CW welds due to the larger bonding area, the load per unit of weld length revealed to be almost 5x higher for PW welds at similar applied energy.

Influence of the ultrasonic vibration amplitude on the melt pool dynamics and the weld shape of laser beam welded EN AW-6082 utilizing a new excitation system for laser beam welding

Laser beam welding is a commonly used technology for joining similar and dissimilar materials. In order to improve the mechanical properties of the weld, the introduction of ultrasonic vibration into the weld zone has been proposed [5]. The ultrasonic system consists of an electronic control, a power supply, a piezoelectric converter and a sonotrode, which introduces the vibration into the weld zone. Its proper design is of great importance for the process performance. Furthermore, the effects of ultrasound in a melt pool need to be understood to evaluate and optimize the process parameters. In addition, it is important to find out the limits of ultrasonic excitation with respect to a maximum vibration amplitude. Therefore, firstly different methods of ultrasonic excitation are investigated and compared with respect to their performance. A system which is based on using longitudinal vibrations turns out to be the best alternative. Secondly, the system design is described in detail to understand the boundary conditions of the excitation and finally, simulations about the influence of ultrasonic vibrations are done by using a simplified model. The system is used to perform experiments, which aim at detecting the maximum vibration amplitude doing bead on plate welds of EN AW-6082 aluminum alloy. The experiments reveal a significant change of the weld shape with increasing ultrasonic amplitude, which matches the simulative findings. If the amplitudes are small, there is a marginal effect on the weld shape. If the amplitudes are high, melt is ejected and the weld shape is disturbed. In the present case, amplitudes over 4 µm were found to disturb the weld shape.

Effect of Binary Oxide Flux on Weld Shape, Mechanical Properties and Corrosion Resistance of 2205 Duplex Stainless Steel Welds

Duplex stainless steel (DSSs) is characterized by excellent corrosion resistance with high strength. Twelve single-component fluxes (TiO2, Fe2O3, Cr2O3, ZnO, ZrO2, CaO, Mn2O3, V2O5, MoO3, SrO, MgO, and LaO2) were tested in the initial experiment using activated Tungsten inert gas (ATIG) technic, and then three couples of oxides were selected as binary fluxes (Fe2O3-Cr2O3, ZnO-Mn2O3, and V2O5-Mn2O3) for the rest of the study. The results show that the depth weld of binary oxides (Fe2O3-Cr2O3, ZnO-Mn2O3) was increased by 3.7 times in comparison with tungsten inert gas (TIG) weld bead. The hardness and the tensile strength of welds carried out with Fe2O3-Cr2O3 and ZnO-Mn2O3 binary fluxes were close to those of the parent metal. Weld bead executed with ZnO-Mn2O3 oxides has more capability to withstand sudden loads. Potentiodynamic polarization tests were performed. The metal welded with flux composed of Fe2O3-Cr2O3 has been found the most resistant to corrosion.

Influence of Ultrasound on Pore and Crack Formation in Laser Beam Welding of Nickel-Base Alloy Round Bars

Welding by laser beam is a method for creating deep and narrow welds with low influence on the surrounding material. Nevertheless, the microstructure and mechanical properties change, and highly alloyed materials are prone to segregation. A new promising approach for minimizing segregation and its effects like hot cracks is introducing ultrasonic excitation into the specimen. The following investigations are about the effects of different ultrasonic amplitudes (2/4/6 µm) and different positions of the weld pool in the resonant vibration distribution (antinode, centered, and node position) for bead on plate welds on 2.4856 nickel alloy round bars (30 mm diameter) with a laser beam power of 6 kW. The weld is evaluated by visual inspection and metallographic cross sections. The experiments reveal specific mechanisms of interaction between melt and different positions regarding to the vibration shape, which influence weld shape, microstructure, segregation, cracks and pores. Welding with ultrasonic excitation in antinode position improves the welding results.

THE IMPACT OF PADDING WELD SHAPE OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY TOOLS ON THEIR ABRASIVE WEAR

The paper presents laboratory tests results of wear in the abrasive mass of cultivator coulters subjected to coated electrode pad welding. In the first stage of the test, one type of electrode was used and a padding weld was applied to the coulter surface in three different shape variants (perpendicular, parallel to the abrasive mass stream and V-shaped). The lowest abrasive wear was obtained for samples with a padding weld deposited perpendicularly to the abrasive mass stream. Therefore, in the second stage of the research, this padding weld shape was selected and made using three different electrodes. Tests of abrasive wear both in the first and the second stage of the experiment were carried out at a distance of 100 km by the "rotating bowl unit" method. Both the direction of the application of the padding weld (shape) and the chemical composition of the electrode used in the pad welding process significantly increased the resistance to abrasive wear compared to coulters whose surface has not been welded.