The ecological footprint of laser beam welding

Abstract

As widely known laser materials processing has some advantages regarding local heat input and controllability. In many fields applications were developed which are not accessible for conventional thermal processing. In other fields laser-supported manufacturing techniques are a valuable alternative. On the one hand laser techniques enable increased processing speed and less post-processing, leading to an increased productivity. On the other hand low efficiencies in the energy conversion seem to be a major drawback and apparently limit the range of applications. In the frame of conventional processing schemes laser beam welding requires a high utilisation in order to run economically. Main advantages lie in the reduced consumption of material and the reduced efforts in post processing. Because of the locally concentrated heat input process emissions are lower which reduces energy and material consumption in the auxiliary chain

Experimental Investigation of Productivity, Specific Energy Consumption, and Hole Quality in Single-Pulse, Percussion, and Trepanning Drilling of IN 718 Superalloy

“…The energy efficiency of a laser-based process is low, but on the other hand, the material can be removed more precisely. Dahmen et al [26] revealed that lasers could impart to sustainable manufacturing because of the minimal use of consumables, confined heat input even at low energy, saving of cost and energy for heat treatment, and with the aid of hybrid methods. Utilising more economical laser sources, for instance, disc or fibre lasers can also be examined as a possible energy efficient method.…”

Improving Laser Beam Welding Efficiency

“…LBW provides increased processing speed, less post-processing and reduced consumption of materials, leading to increased productivity. The drawbacks of this welding technique are high costs of laser apparatus, difficulty in melting highly reflective or highly thermal-conductive metals, small gap tolerance, and a tendency to the formation of welding defects [12].…”

“…The laser beam is a tool with properties that make it well suited for welding. However, the efficiencies of the conversion of electricity to optical power are limited by the distances where radiated transmission is possible [12] [13].…”

Energy efficiency evaluation of hot-wire laser welding based on process characteristic and power consumption

“…To increase the laser welding energy efficiency, the characteristics of laser welding and the methods of proper improvements have been recently discussed in the studies (Apostolos et al, 2012;Dahmen et al, 2010;Daub et al, 2010). Apostolos et al (2012) discussed that laser machining is a thermal process with relatively low energy efficiency because materials machining and cleaning primarily rely on melting or vaporization mechanisms.…”

“…By measurement of separated boundaries laser systems, this research revealed that higher laser power and higher pulsing frequency improved the energy efficiency. By compared technical aspects of various laser welding, Dahmen et al (2010) proposed heat input and different laser system had influence on the energy efficiency, which could be increased by using laser light sources with high energy efficiencies, as using fiber lasers or disk lasers. Daub et al (2010) studied the relationship between the beam spot geometry and the laser energy efficiency.…”