Laser-arc hybrid welding combines the laser and arc welding processes to provide advantages not found in either. This process can weld lapped steel sheets that have a larger gap than is possible with laser welding. Blowholes form when lap-welding zinc-coated steel sheets because ofthe zinc that is vaporized. The laser-arc hybrid welding process can lap-weld zinc-coated steel sheets without causing blowholes. The welding speed oflaser-arc hybrid welding is nearly equivalent to that of laser welding. Laser-arc hybrid welding produces high-quality lap joints and is ideal for assembly welding of automotive parts.

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The world's first 25 kW laser welding machines at its 24-inch pipe mill has been installed. The technology for the high-power laser pipe welding process that assures welds with the same properties as those of the base metal while maintaining high productivity has been started to develop. Key technologies for this process such as high power laser welding, high-accuracy seam tracking and nondestructive inspection have been successfully established. The results obtained are as follows.(1) The productivity of this process is much higher than conventional fusion weldings, e.g., SAW for less than steel plate 16 mm thick.(2)High energy density of laser beam helps to produce finely distributed oxides.

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