Investigation of laser remote welding using disc laser

Laser remote welding techniques are used to enhance the flexibility of laser welding process and remote welding systems based on solid-state lasers and robots are of special interest to the automotive. There are two concepts available to implement laser remote welding—the scanner-integrated system and the robot-based system. The scanner-integrated system utilizes a 2- or 3-axis optical unit for bead deflection and focusing and the robot-based system employs a long focal length laser optic and a 6-axis robot. As thin disk lasers and fiber lasers with good focusability have been recently developed, the remote welding system becomes more practicable. In this study, the robot-based remote welding was implemented and the welding characteristics were investigated. Working areas and process windows are also a matter of great concern to the field application, which was evaluated by experimental approach.