Equivalent Pulsed GMA Power to 2 kW CW Nd:YAG Laser Power in Welding of Carbon Steel and Al Alloy

Abstract

Based on the bead on plate test and the effects of heat input on weld penetration, the equivalence between 2 kW CW (Continuous Wave) Nd:YAG laser power and pulsed GMA(Gas Metal Arc) power and the effect of welding speed on their equivalent ratios in welding carbon steel and Al alloy were studied. The studied results show that 9.8 kW pulsed GMA power is needed to reach the same weld penetration depth with 2 kW CW Nd:YAG laser power for welding of low carbon steel at v=1.2 m/min; for Al alloy, it is 3.92 kW pulsed GMA power. The equivalent ratios of 2 kW Nd:YAG laser power and pulsed GMA power are 4.9~6.4 and 1.85~2.1 times at different welding speed for low carbon steel and Al alloy, respectively. But their equivalent ratios have different variations with welding speed; at which the equivalent ratio of low carbon steel increases with welding speed and that of Al alloy decreases. The studied results offer the experimental boundary of heat input for analyzing the effect of Nd:YAG laser power and pulsed GMA power on laser+pulsed GMA hybrid welding process.