Citation:
Eurico Assuncao, Stewart Williams and David Yapp. Interaction time and beam diameter effects on the conduction mode limit. Optics and Lasers in Engineering, Volume 50, Issue 6, June 2012, Pages 823-828
Abstract:
Laser welding has two distinctive modes: keyhole and conduction mode. Keyhole
mode is characterized by deep penetration and high welding speeds, while
conduction mode has higher quality welds with no defects or spatter. This study
focuses on the transition from conduction to keyhole mode by increasing power
density and using different beam diameters and interaction times. Based upon the
results it was possible to evaluate that there is a transition mode between
conduction and keyhole mode. The results show that the transition between
conduction and keyhole mode is not defined by a single power density value. This
transition has a range of power densities that depend on the beam diameter and
on the interaction time. This study allows the identification of the power
density that limits conduction mode, based on parameters such as beam diameter
and interaction time instead of a single power density value independent of
these parameters.