A program was conducted to evaluate laser beam welding of aluminum alloy 5754-O using a 3.0 kW Nd:YAG laser and fiber optic beam delivery. The alloy and laser system were chosen based on consideration for potential applications in the automotive industry. Process parameters were developed for producing autogenous, square-butt welds in 1.6 mm thickness. Metallographic analyses, mechanical property testing, and post weld formability testing were conducted to characterize joints produced under these conditions. Results of these evaluations indicate that the 3.0 kW Nd:YAG laser provides adequate power density and beam quality for welding of this thickness. Enhanced absorption associated with the Nd:YAG laser is believed to be responsible for improved stability of the weld pool and increased weld consistency. Results of tensile tests of the Nd:YAG laser beam welds provided over 90 percent of base metal strength and measurements of post process formability of the welds yielded approximately 70 percent of base metal formability.
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ICALEO '96: Proceedings of the Laser Materials Processing Conference
October 14–17, 1996
Detroit, Michigan, USA
ISBN:
978-0-912035-55-0
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Laser beam welding of aluminum alloy 5754-O using a 3 kW Nd:YAG laser and fiber optic beam delivery
R. P. Martukanitz;
R. P. Martukanitz
1
Applied Research Laboratory Pennsylvania State University
P.O. Box, State College Pennsylvania 16804 USA
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B. Altshuller
B. Altshuller
2
Kingston R & D Centre Alcan International Limited
Box 8400, Kingston Ontario Canada
K7L5L9
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Published Online:
October 01 1996
Citation
R. P. Martukanitz, B. Altshuller; October 14–17, 1996. "Laser beam welding of aluminum alloy 5754-O using a 3 kW Nd:YAG laser and fiber optic beam delivery." Proceedings of the ICALEO '96: Proceedings of the Laser Materials Processing Conference. ICALEO '96: Proceedings of the Lasers and Electro-Optics for Automotive Manufacturing Conference. Detroit, Michigan, USA. (pp. pp. 39-44). ASME. https://doi.org/10.2351/1.5059104
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