Selection of processing parameters in laser microwelding. Part 1: Continuous wave (CW) mode

A phenomenological model which specifies the penetration depth and width of the fusion zone in laser microjoining can be a very useful tool in achieving the required welding parameters for a desired application. In this study the power factor model, previously established and validated in macrowelding, has been tested in fibre laser microwelding, enabling achievement of a particular weld independently of a laser system. Differ-ent weld profiles in aluminium and stainless steel were correlated with various combinations of parameters for a wide range of beam diameters. It has been shown that the same penetration depth can be achieved with different weld profiles. A similar trend, as previously found in macrow-elding, has been confirmed in microwelding. It was demonstrated that the depth of penetration can be kept constant independently of the laser sys-tem until certain limit of beam size.