Adaptive welding gas mix for handheld laser welding

摘要

Handheld laser welding uses a focussed laser beam, like the ones used in commercially available laser welding machines, to create a heat source that locally melts the material(s) thus obtaining a fusion weld. In laser welding machines the beam is guided by means of automated mechanical guidance systems, which could be X-Y-tables or robots, to create a continuous weld line. Such laser welding machines are on the market for more than 20 years. In contrast to that, also handheld laser welding devices exist. In these devices the beam is not guided by a machine, but it is fed into a handheld welding gun or torch, similar to those used in arc welding. The operator ("welder") manually moves this laser welding gun over the workpiece to create a continuous weld, again, just like the way he would use a conventional arc welding torch.