Abstract
This investigation was focused on the high-speed laser welding of 0.4-mm tin-plated steels used for joining together parts of three-piece food cans. The high-speed laser welding quality is generally restricted due to several welding discontinu-
ities that occur with the change of traverse speed. A study on the production set-up by a food can manufacturer was first addressed, and reasons for introducing high-speed laser welding were further discussed. A rotary axis as a welding
fixture was designed and made to achieve high surface speeds. Thereafter, an experimental investigation was conducted using a CO2, neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet laser and hybrid of plasma augmented laser welding applied to
the typical food can material. Conventional welding defects found during high-speed laser welding were observed for all three laser welding techniques. However, humping gradients reduced with plasma augmented laser welding and penetra-
tion were evident up to welding speeds of 98 m/min. Furthermore, the high-speed laser welding defects were discussed, and possible solutions to eliminate the humps and further work into the application of the high-speed laser welding pro-
cess for the Canning industry were mentioned
ities that occur with the change of traverse speed. A study on the production set-up by a food can manufacturer was first addressed, and reasons for introducing high-speed laser welding were further discussed. A rotary axis as a welding
fixture was designed and made to achieve high surface speeds. Thereafter, an experimental investigation was conducted using a CO2, neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet laser and hybrid of plasma augmented laser welding applied to
the typical food can material. Conventional welding defects found during high-speed laser welding were observed for all three laser welding techniques. However, humping gradients reduced with plasma augmented laser welding and penetra-
tion were evident up to welding speeds of 98 m/min. Furthermore, the high-speed laser welding defects were discussed, and possible solutions to eliminate the humps and further work into the application of the high-speed laser welding pro-
cess for the Canning industry were mentioned
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 715 - 729 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part B: Journal of Engineering Manufacture |
Volume | 228 |
Issue number | 7 |
Early online date | 7 Apr 2014 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 15 May 2014 |