Laser welding on the fly with coupled axes systems

摘要

The availability of high power high beam quality lasers permits to increase the processing speed for laser welding up to 10 m/min or more. But for complex shaped 3D welding paths conventional laser motion systems restrict the attainable welding speed because of limited dynamic and accuracy. Coupled axes systems can overcome these problems. A handling system with coupled axes consisting of a conventional industrial robot and a high-power beam deflection optics for laser beam welding with high power Nd:YAG – laser beams will be introduced. The example of stitch seam welding combining the deflection optics and a robot will be presented to describe the potential of the new development. Methods of resolution for optimizing the motion of the robot and the synchronized beam deflection will be discussed and evaluated in respect to the increase in productivity.