Joint project has goal of laser welding control

Hannover, Germany - One of the challenges in laser welding steel with aluminum is avoiding hard and brittle intermetallic phases in the welding seam. These phases can occur easily, as iron and aluminum do not combine well. So,
scientists at Laser Zentrum Hannover (LZH) and project partners have set out to control the welding process as much as possible, assessing different measuring methods.
The team of scientists will test spectroscopic control of welding depth, which measures the emissions of the plasma. This control is already being evaluated at LZH for flat welds, and will now be expanded to 3D structures.

Also, the scientists are testing a sensor made by project partner Precitec GmbH & Co. KG that can directly measure the depth of the keyhole (vapor capillary). Additionally, they are examining a thermal imaging process from InfraTec GmbH, as well as a trailing nondestructive sample analysis using active thermal imaging from Innovationsgesellschaft für fortgeschrittene Produktionssysteme in der Fahrzeugindustrie mbH (inpro).

The following companies are working together in the joint project: Volkswagen AG, Scherdel Marienberg GmbH, MATFEM Partnerschaft Dr. Gese & Oberhofer, LUNOVU Integrated Laser Solutions GmbH, Brandenburg University of Technology, and Fraunhofer-Institut für Werkstoff- und Strahltechnik (Fraunhofer IWS). Associated partners include TRUMPF Laser GmbH, ASTOR Schneidwerkzeuge GmbH, ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG, Bond-Laminates GmbH, and Sapa Aluminum Profile.

For more information, please visit www.lzh.de.