Leading Path Laser-Arc Combination (LPLAC) welding, which consists of laser-arc combination welding with a leading path for the laser beam, enables much deeper penetration than conventional laser-arc combination welding. It also enables higher speed and more stable welding compared with the conventional arc welding with a narrow V groove. To elucidate the reasons for this greater effectiveness, the behavior of the laser plasma, arc plasma, and the molten metal were observed during LPLAC welding using a high-speed video camera operating at 500 frames per second. It was found that the laser plasma stabilized the arc at an optimal distance between the laser and the arc, accounting for the very high speed and deep penetration of this method.

1.
J.
Alexander
 and
William M.
Steen
,
Proc. of Int. Conf. on Welding Research in the 1980’s
,
Osaka
,
1980
,
121
.
Google Scholar
 
2.
T.
Ishide
,
Y.
Hashimoto
,
T.
Akaba
, and
T.
Nagashita
,
Proc. of 41st Laser Materials Processing Conf.
,
Osaka
,
1997
, p.
99
.
Google Scholar
 
3.
J.
Matsuda
,
A.
Utsumi
,
M.
Yoneda
 and
M.
Katsumura
,
ibid.
, p.
73
.
4.
N.
Abe
,
Y.
Agano
,
M.
Tsukamoto
,
T.
Makino
,
M.
Hayashi
 and
T.
Kurosawa
,
Proc. ICALEO’96
,
1996
, p.
D64
.
This content is only available via PDF.
© 1997 Laser Institute of America.
1997
Laser Institute of America
You do not currently have access to this content.