Institut Maupertuis improves the laser welding process for busbars with a CANUNDA-HP head

Copper Welding …

> CU ETP
> 1030 nm
> 8 kW
> 6m/min
> Large depth of field (+/-4 mm)
> Limited pores and spatters

… with a central spot and a ring

in the processing plane:

> Ø Spot = 125 µm
> Ø Ring = 500 µm
> 70% Spot, 30% Ring

Tolerance to defocus +30%

The partner

Institut Maupertuis, a French centre of industrial expertise with a high-quality test platform and equipment, specialises in high-power laser processes such as welding, cutting and additive manufacturing, and is always on the lookout for new solutions to its partners’ problems.

The application

One of the major challenges of e-mobility is the copper welding. Many of the components needed to operate batteries are made of copper and have to be welded together. For example, busbars are copper parts that need to be soldered to ensure the passage of electricity from one component to another (typically battery-motor…).

The problem

Institut Maupertuis is looking for a customised shaping technology that will enable it to weld busbars under industrial conditions. The aim of these tests is to compare the depth of field between the CANUNDA-HP head for welding copper and a competing solution.

The CANUNDA-HP solution

The CANUNDA-HP head for copper welding delivers a beam consisting of an intense spot surrounded by a ring, ideal for copper welding. With its fully reflective design, thanks to MPLC technology and optimal optics cooling, it can handle high powers.

Industrial integration of the CANUNDA-HP Custom laser head

The CANUNDA-HP head was used at the Institut Maupertuis to perform welding on 10mm thick Cu ETP copper samples. The tests were carried out under the conditions tested as optimal (8KW, 6m/min), varying the position of the focal point. The head was tilted to prevent damage to the equipment from reflections.