Improving laser welding with the CANUNDA-HP Ring Shaper laser head

Steel Welding …

> 304L Stainless Steel

> 1030 nm

> 7 kW

> Reduced process optimization time

> Reduced projections

> Increased symmetry, width and cylindricity of the weld

… with a ring shape

in the processing plane:

> Ø Ring = 800 µm
> Thickness = 200 µm

Width of The Weld Seam +50%

The partner

Institut Maupertuis, a French center of industrial expertise with a test platform and high-quality devices, specializes in high-power laser processes such as laser welding, laser cutting and additive manufacturing. The institute seeks to offer new solutions to the issues faced by its industrial partners.

The application

Laser welding consists of joining several parts, often metals, by fusing them together using a multi-kW continuous-wave laser. The high heat input melts the material, forming a molten bath or keyhole. As the parts cool down, they fuse together. The process mainly applies to high-volume industries, especially in the automotive sector.

The issue

Institut Maupertuis is looking for a tailored beam shaping technology for steel welding that can handle high power while keeping focus shift as low as possible. This is currently not achievable with double core fiber.

The CANUNDA-HP solution

The CANUNDA-HP Ring Shaper laser head delivers a ring-shaped beam in the process plane. With a fully reflective design, based on Cailabs’ MPLC technology, and with an optimal cooling of the optical components, it can manage very high power while reducing focus shift or thermal lensing during the process.

Industrial integration of CANUNDA-HP Ring Shaper

The CANUNDA-HP Ring Shaper laser head was used at Institut Maupertuis’ premises to carry out butt welds on 6 mm thick 304L stainless steel sheets, with an argon shielding gas and a welding speed of 1 m/min. The optimal power under these conditions was 7 kW. Full penetration welds, corresponding to the quality of industrial standards (NF EN 13919-1), were achieved.

The CANUNDA-HP Ring Shaper laser head delivers a ring shape in the process plane, with a diameter of 800 µm and a thickness of 200 µm.

“Testing a fully reflective laser head seemed interesting to us to improve certain processes, in particular to be able to use more power while having as little focus shift as possible during the process. This is now possible with the CANUNDA-HP head. The welding results are very good. This opens the way to other tests, in particular with other ring sizes and other shapes, and of course, increasing power up to 24 kW!”

David Lemaitre, Technical Director, Institut Maupertuis