TECHNICAL ISO/TR

REPORT 17671-6

First edition
2005-02-15

Welding — Recommendations for

welding of metallic materials —
Part 6:
Laser beam welding
Soudage — Recommandations pour le soudage des matériaux
iTeh STANDARD
métalliques — PREVIEW
(standards.iteh.ai)
Partie 6: Soudage par faisceau laser

ISO/TR 17671-6:2005
https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/099b7285-7c77-4b93-
92d8-b475df66cf46/iso-tr-17671-6-2005

Reference number
ISO/TR 17671-6:2005(E)

© ISO 2005
ISO/TR 17671-6:2005(E)

PDF disclaimer
This PDF file may contain embedded typefaces. In accordance with Adobe's licensing policy, this file may be printed or viewed but
shall not be edited unless the typefaces which are embedded are licensed to and installed on the computer performing the editing. In
downloading this file, parties accept therein the responsibility of not infringing Adobe's licensing policy. The ISO Central Secretariat
accepts no liability in this area.
Adobe is a trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
Details of the software products used to create this PDF file can be found in the General Info relative to the file; the PDF-creation
parameters were optimized for printing. Every care has been taken to ensure that the file is suitable for use by ISO member bodies. In
the unlikely event that a problem relating to it is found, please inform the Central Secretariat at the address given below.

iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW

(standards.iteh.ai)
ISO/TR 17671-6:2005
https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/099b7285-7c77-4b93-
92d8-b475df66cf46/iso-tr-17671-6-2005

© ISO 2005
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either ISO at the address below or
ISO's member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
Case postale 56 • CH-1211 Geneva 20
Tel. + 41 22 749 01 11
Fax + 41 22 749 09 47
E-mail copyright@iso.org
Web www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland

ii © ISO 2005 – All rights reserved

 ISO/TR 17671-6:2005(E)

Contents Page

Foreword ............................................................................................................................................................. v
Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................... vi
1 Scope...................................................................................................................................................... 1
2 Normative references ........................................................................................................................... 1
3 Terms and definitions........................................................................................................................... 3
4 Health and safety and protection of the environment....................................................................... 3
5 Quality requirements ............................................................................................................................ 3
6 Equipment.............................................................................................................................................. 4
6.1 General ................................................................................................................................................... 4
6.2 Provisions for acceptance testing ...................................................................................................... 4
6.3 Provisions for maintenance and calibration ...................................................................................... 4
7 Qualification of welding personnel ..................................................................................................... 4
8 Welding procedure specification ........................................................................................................ 5
9 iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW
Welding procedure test ........................................................................................................................ 5
10
10.1
(standards.iteh.ai)
Consumables......................................................................................................................................... 5
Filler metals ........................................................................................................................................... 5
10.2 Gases...................................................................................................................................................... 5
ISO/TR 17671-6:2005
11 Design ....................................................................................................................................................
https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/099b7285-7c77-4b93- 6
11.1 Overall design of structure or product ............................................................................................... 6
92d8-b475df66cf46/iso-tr-17671-6-2005
11.2 Joint design ........................................................................................................................................... 6
11.3 Joint preparation ................................................................................................................................... 6
12 Laser beam welding.............................................................................................................................. 7
12.1 Characteristics ...................................................................................................................................... 7
12.2 Advantages and limitations ................................................................................................................. 9
12.3 Assembling and fixtures .................................................................................................................... 10
12.4 Process control ................................................................................................................................... 10
12.5 Inspection and testing ........................................................................................................................ 10
12.6 Imperfections....................................................................................................................................... 10
Annex A (informative) Equipment ................................................................................................................... 11
A.1 Description of laser process.............................................................................................................. 11
A.2 Laser beam sources ........................................................................................................................... 12
A.3 Guiding, shaping and focussing the beam ...................................................................................... 14
A.4 Devices used to crate a relative movement between the laser beam and the work piece.......... 18
A.5 Fixtures used to hold the work piece................................................................................................ 18
A.6 Cooling system ................................................................................................................................... 19
A.7 Control systems .................................................................................................................................. 19
Annex B (informative) Laser beam properties............................................................................................... 20
Annex C (informative) Information about weldability of metallic materials ............................................... 22
C.1 General ................................................................................................................................................. 22
C.2 Steels and iron alloys ......................................................................................................................... 22
C.3 Nickel alloys ........................................................................................................................................ 24
C.4 Aluminium and magnesium alloys.................................................................................................... 24
C.5 Copper and its alloys.......................................................................................................................... 24
C.6 Refractory and reactive materials ..................................................................................................... 24

© ISO 2005 – All rights reserved iii

ISO/TR 17671-6:2005(E)

C.7 Titanium and its alloys........................................................................................................................ 25

C.8 Dissimilar metals ................................................................................................................................. 25
C.9 Non-metals ........................................................................................................................................... 25
Annex D (informative) Information about causes of weld imperfections and their prevention................ 26
Annex E (informative) Beam control and monitoring.................................................................................... 28
E.1 General ................................................................................................................................................. 28
E.2 Focal point ........................................................................................................................................... 28
E.3 Beam alignment and pilot beam coincidence .................................................................................. 28
E.4 Beam power ......................................................................................................................................... 29
E.5 Beam power distribution .................................................................................................................... 29
E.6 Nozzle alignment ................................................................................................................................. 29
E.7 Pulsed beam power data .................................................................................................................... 30
E.8 Manipulators, guides, etc. .................................................................................................................. 30
Annex F (informative) Laser beam processing .............................................................................................. 31
F.1 Laser beam cutting.............................................................................................................................. 31
F.2 Laser beam drilling.............................................................................................................................. 33
F.3 Laser beam surface treatment ........................................................................................................... 33
F.4 Laser beam cladding........................................................................................................................... 34
F.5 Laser beam marking and engraving.................................................................................................. 35
Bibliography...................................................................................................................................................... 36

iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW

(standards.iteh.ai)
ISO/TR 17671-6:2005
https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/099b7285-7c77-4b93-
92d8-b475df66cf46/iso-tr-17671-6-2005

iv © ISO 2005 – All rights reserved

 ISO/TR 17671-6:2005(E)

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.

International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.

In exceptional circumstances, when a technical committee has collected data of a different kind from that
which is normally published as an International Standard (“state of the art”, for example), it may decide by a
simple majority vote of its participating members to publish a Technical Report. A Technical Report is entirely
informative in nature and does not have to be reviewed until the data it provides are considered to be no
longer valid or useful.
iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
(standards.iteh.ai)
ISO/TR 17671-6 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 44, Welding and allied processes,
ISO/TR 17671-6:2005
Subcommittee SC 10, Unification of requirements in the field of metal welding.
https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/099b7285-7c77-4b93-
92d8-b475df66cf46/iso-tr-17671-6-2005
ISO/TR 17671 consists of the following parts, under the general title Welding — Recommendations for
welding of metallic materials:

 Part 1: General guidance for arc welding

 Part 2: Arc welding of ferritic steels

 Part 3: Arc welding of stainless steels

 Part 4: Arc welding of aluminium and aluminium alloys

 Part 5: Welding of clad steels

 Part 6: Laser beam welding

 Part 7: Electron beam welding

© ISO 2005 – All rights reserved v

ISO/TR 17671-6:2005(E)

Introduction
ISO/TR 17671 has been issued in several parts in order that it can be extended to cover the different types of
metallic material that are produced in accordance with all International Standards for weldable metallic
materials.

When ISO/TR 17671 is referenced for contractual purposes, the ordering authority or contracting parties
should state the need for compliance with the relevant parts of ISO/TR 17671 and such of the annexes as are
appropriate.

This part of ISO/TR 17671 gives general guidance for the satisfactory production and control of welding and
associated processes and details of some of the possible detrimental phenomena that can occur, with advice
on methods by which they can be avoided. It is generally applicable to laser beam processing of metallic
materials and also to some extent for non-metallic materials. It is appropriate regardless of the type of
fabrication involved, although the relevant product standard, structural code or design specification can have
additional requirements. Permissible design stresses, methods of testing and inspection levels are not
included because they depend on the service conditions of fabrication. These details should be obtained from
the relevant application standard or established by agreement between the contracting parties.

It has been assumed in the drafting of this part of ISO/TR 17671 that the execution of its provisions is
entrusted to appropriately qualified, experienced and trained personnel.
iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW
Requests for official interpretations of any aspect of this part of ISO/TR 17671 should be directed to the
(standards.iteh.ai)
Secretariat of ISO/TC 44/SC 10 via your national standards body. A complete listing of these bodies can be
found at www.iso.org.
ISO/TR 17671-6:2005
https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/099b7285-7c77-4b93-
92d8-b475df66cf46/iso-tr-17671-6-2005

vi © ISO 2005 – All rights reserved

TECHNICAL REPORT ISO/TR 17671-6:2005(E)

Welding — Recommendations for welding of metallic

materials —

Part 6:
Laser beam welding

1 Scope
This document gives general guidance for laser beam welding of metallic materials in all forms (e.g. cast,
wrought, extruded, forged), and associated processes.

NOTE Some guidance on laser beam cutting, drilling, surface treatment and cladding is given in Annex F.

2 Normative references
iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
(standards.iteh.ai)
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO/TR 17671-6:2005
https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/099b7285-7c77-4b93-
ISO 286-2, ISO system of limits and fits — Part 2: Tables of standard tolerance grades and limit deviations for
holes and shafts 92d8-b475df66cf46/iso-tr-17671-6-2005

ISO 636, Welding consumables — Rods, wires and deposits for tungsten inert gas welding of non-alloy and
fine-grain steels — Classification

ISO 3834-2, Quality requirements for fusion welding of metallic materials — Part 2: Comprehensive quality
requirements

ISO 3834-5, Quality requirements for fusion welding of metallic materials — Part 5: Normative references for
the requirements of ISO 3834-2, ISO 3834-3 and ISO 3834-4

ISO 6520-1, Welding and allied processes — Classification of geometric imperfections in metallic materials —
Part 1: Fusion welding

ISO 9013, Thermal cutting — Classification of thermal cuts — Geometrical product specification and quality
tolerances

ISO 10218, Robots for industrial environments — Safety requirements

ISO 11145, Optics and optical instruments — Lasers and laser-related equipment — Vocabulary and symbols

ISO 11553-1, Safety of machinery — Laser processing machines — Part 1: General safety requirements

ISO 13919-1, Welding — Electron and laser-beam welded joints — Guidance on quality levels for
imperfections — Part 1: Steel

ISO 13919-2, Welding — Electron and laser-beam welded joints — Guidance on quality levels for
imperfections — Part 2: Aluminium and its weldable alloys

© ISO 2005 – All rights reserved 1

ISO/TR 17671-6:2005(E)

ISO 13920, Welding — General tolerances for welded constructions — Dimensions for lengths and angles —
Shape and position

ISO 14175, Welding consumables — Shielding gases for arc welding and cutting

ISO 14232, Thermal spraying — Powders — Composition and technical supply conditions

ISO 14341, Welding consumables — Wire electrodes and deposits for gas shielded metal arc welding of non
alloy and fine grain steels — Classification

ISO 14343, Welding consumables — Wire electrodes, wires and rods for arc welding of stainless and heat
resisting steels — Classification

ISO 14732, Welding personnel — Approval testing of welding operators for fusion welding and resistance
weld setters for fully mechanized and automatic welding of metallic materials

ISO 14919, Thermal spraying — Wires, rods and cords for flame and arc spraying — Classification —
Technical supply conditions

ISO 15609-4, Specification and qualification of welding procedures for metallic materials — Welding
procedure specification — Part 4: Laser beam welding

ISO 15613, Specification and qualification of welding procedures for metallic materials — Qualification based
on pre-production welding test

iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW

ISO 15614-7, Specification and qualification of welding procedures for metallic materials — Welding
procedure test — Part 7: Overlay welding
(standards.iteh.ai)
ISO 15614-11, Specification and qualification of welding procedures for metallic materials — Welding
procedure test — Part 11: Electron and laser beam welding
ISO/TR 17671-6:2005
https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/099b7285-7c77-4b93-
ISO 15616-1, Acceptance tests for CO2-laser beam machines for high quality welding and cutting — Part 1:
92d8-b475df66cf46/iso-tr-17671-6-2005
General principles, acceptance conditions

ISO 15616-2, Acceptance tests for CO2-laser beam machines for high quality welding and cutting — Part 2:
Measurement of static and dynamic accuracy

ISO 15616-3, Acceptance tests for CO2-laser beam machines for high quality welding and cutting — Part 3:
Calibration of instruments for measurement of gas flow and pressure

ISO 16834, Welding consumables — Wire electrodes, wires, rods and deposits for gas shielded arc welding of
high strength steels — Classification

ISO 17632, Welding consumables — Tubular cored electrodes for gas shielded and non-gas shielded metal
arc welding of non-alloy and fine grain steels — Classification

ISO 17633, Welding consumables — Tubular cored electrodes and rods for gas shielded and non-gas
shielded metal arc welding of stainless and heat-resisting steels — Classification

ISO 17634, Welding consumables — Tubular cored electrodes for gas shielded metal arc welding of creep-
resisting steels — Classification

ISO 17662, Welding — Calibration, verification and validation of equipment used for welding, including
ancillary activities

ISO/TR 17671-1:2002, Welding — Recommendations for welding of metallic materials — Part 1: General
guidance for arc welding

2 © ISO 2005 – All rights reserved

 ISO/TR 17671-6:2005(E)

ISO 18273, Welding consumables — Wire electrodes, wires and rods for welding of aluminium and aluminium
alloys — Classification

ISO 18274, Welding consumables — Wire and strip electrodes, wires and rods for arc welding of nickel and
nickel alloys — Classification

ISO 18276, Welding consumables — Tubular cored electrodes for gas-shielded and non-gas-shielded metal
arc welding of high-strength steels — Classification

ISO 22827-1, Acceptance tests for Nd:YAG laser beam welding machines — Machines with optical fibre
delivery — Part 1: Laser assembly

ISO 22827-2, Acceptance tests for Nd:YAG laser beam welding machines — Machines with optical fibre
delivery — Part 2: Moving mechanism

IEC 60825-1, Safety of laser products — Part 1: Equipment classification, requirements and user's guide

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 11145 apply.

4 Health and safety and protection of the environment

iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW
A general checklist on protection of the environment in welding and allied processes is in preparation by
(standards.iteh.ai)
CEN/TC 121. It covers laser applications.

Laser beam processing introduces additional hazards over and above those normally experienced in arc
ISO/TR
welding. Specialist advice should be sought, see 17671-6:2005
e.g. IEC 60825-1 and ISO 11553-1.
https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/099b7285-7c77-4b93-
Guidance on safety aspects related92d8-b475df66cf46/iso-tr-17671-6-2005
to the application of industrial robots for manipulation of the focussing
devices and/or the components to be welded can be found in ISO 10218.

5 Quality requirements
Laser beam welding is a complex process needing detailed process control. All processing is performed under
numerical control, necessitating programming of each single operation. The application has to be controlled at
a level compatible with ISO 3834-2 and ISO 3834-5.

NOTE This does not entail a requirement for certification, but the process control should operate in accordance with
ISO 3834-2 and ISO 3834-5.

It is a condition for efficient process control that quality requirements for joint geometry and other relevant
requirements have been specified prior to start of fabrication. A number of International Standards specify joint
geometry and relevant quality criteria and can be used for reference, as appropriate (see Table 1).

© ISO 2005 – All rights reserved 3

ISO/TR 17671-6:2005(E)

Table 1 — Quality criteria

Requirements and tolerances Standard No.

Quality requirements for beam welded joints ISO 13919-1

ISO 13919-2
Quality requirements for cut surfaces ISO 9013
General tolerances ISO 13920
General requirements ISO 3834-2 and ISO 3834-5 specify provisions for information and items
to be agreed and specified prior to the start of fabrication.
ISO/TR 17671-1:2002, Annex A, can be used as guidance if ISO 3834-2
and ISO 3834-5 are not called for.

6 Equipment

6.1 General

Information about particular equipment for laser beam processing has to be found in information from the
supplier. A number of textbooks and a large number of articles provide background information. Annex A
provides some very general information on principles and techniques. Annex B provides general information
on the properties of laser beams.
iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW
6.2 Provisions for acceptance testing
(standards.iteh.ai)
Provisions for acceptance of laser beam equipment are found in the following standards (see Table 2).
ISO/TR 17671-6:2005
https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/099b7285-7c77-4b93-
Table 2 — Provisions for acceptance testing
92d8-b475df66cf46/iso-tr-17671-6-2005
Type of equipment Standard No.

CO2 laser beam equipment ISO 15616-1, ISO 15616-2 and/or ISO 15616-3

Nd:YAG laser equipment ISO 22827-1, ISO 22827-2

6.3 Provisions for maintenance and calibration

Provisions for maintenance are not standardized. The supplier's manuals have to be consulted. Principles for
calibration, verification and validation and minimum requirements are specified in ISO 17662.

7 Qualification of welding personnel

The requirements for the qualification of personnel for fully mechanized and automatic welding and allied
processes are laid down in ISO 14732. Among the different procedures specified in this standard, the
functional test is particularly suitable as a basis for qualification of personnel responsible for the operation and
set-up of laser beam processing. In a functional test, the operator or setter demonstrates his/her knowledge of
working with a procedure specification and of setting, supervising and checking the laser beam processing
machine.

4 © ISO 2005 – All rights reserved

 ISO/TR 17671-6:2005(E)

8 Welding procedure specification

All details for the laser beam welding of components are to be recorded in a welding procedure specification
(WPS) in accordance with ISO 15609-4. Procedure specifications for cutting, drilling, surface treatment and
cladding are not standardized. ISO 15609-4 can, however, give some guidance.

9 Welding procedure test

Formal qualification of all procedures for laser processing is recommended for all applications and required for
many applications. Qualification of procedures for laser beam welding (when required) can be performed by
procedure testing (see ISO 15614-11). Qualification by pre-production testing can also be relevant, however
(see ISO 15613). Qualification by pre-production testing is common practice for cutting, drilling and surface
treatment. ISO 15613 can give some guidance.

Qualification of procedures for laser beam welding for cladding (when required) can be performed by
procedure testing (see ISO 15614-7). Qualification by pre-production testing can also be relevant, however
(see ISO 15613).

10 Consumables

10.1 Filler metals

iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW

Filler metals are used for laser beam cladding and sometimes for laser beam welding. The main problem as
regards filler metals for laser applications is that the market for such filler metals is rather small and that
(standards.iteh.ai)
dedicated standards for filler metals for laser applications do not exist. The usual form of delivery is solid
cylindrical wires but powders can also be used, in particular for cladding. What is commercially available is the
following: ISO/TR 17671-6:2005
https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/099b7285-7c77-4b93-
 Wires marketed as consumables for gas shielded metal arc welding and tungsten inert gas welding.
92d8-b475df66cf46/iso-tr-17671-6-2005
However, it should be noted that metal cored tubular wires might also be suitable. Small-scale
(experimental) production of tubular wires can even be feasible for special applications. Relevant
standards are ISO 636, ISO 14341, ISO 14343, ISO 17633, ISO 18273, ISO 18274, ISO 17632,
ISO 17634, ISO 18276, ISO 16834.

 Wires marketed as consumables for thermal spraying. The usual form of delivery is solid cylindrical wires.
Such wires are standardized in ISO 14919.

 Powders for thermal spraying. Such powders are standardized in ISO 14232.

 Powders for powder metallurgy.

10.2 Gases

Gases are used for shielding and plasma suppressing in laser beam welding, as cutting assist gases in laser
beam cutting, and for shielding in laser beam cladding, drilling and marking. Further, CO2 lasers may need a
continuous supply of laser gas.

The only relevant standard is ISO 14175. This standard is, however, not adequate for all gases used for laser
beam processing. Careful specification of composition, tolerances, etc., is necessary for all non-standardized
gases when ordering.

© ISO 2005 – All rights reserved 5

ISO/TR 17671-6:2005(E)

11 Design

11.1 Overall design of structure or product

The main consideration is to ensure that all joints are accessible. It can be an advantage for the focussing
head to be some distance from the surface of the joint. However, when shielding gas or plasma suppression
jets are used, these nozzles have to be placed close to the surface. The use of sensors augments the
requirements for accessibility.

11.2 Joint design

Joint design is, of course, relevant to laser beam welding. The default joint is a normal square butt weld in a
butt joint. T-joints are welded similarly but full penetration may not be necessary. Overlap points are used for
spot welding.

Laser beam welding can ensure welding of components to tight tolerances. It is a condition, however, that
either the fixtures hold the parts very accurately or that the joints are “self-positioning”.

Laser beam welding with root backing can be employed if spatter and undercut are to be avoided.

For axial circular welds on components with narrow dimensional tolerances, a press fit like H7/r6 to H7/n6
(see ISO 286-2) is recommended. For circular welds with a clearance fit, tacking is essential.

11.3 Joint preparation

iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW
The quality of laser beam welding relies on the accuracy and cleanliness of joint preparation. Joints can be
(standards.iteh.ai)
prepared by machining or cutting. Attention should be paid to the resulting surface condition. Cleaning of weld
joint surfaces should be carried out if they are contaminated by oxides, oil, grease, coolant or paint.
ISO/TR 17671-6:2005
The specific cleaning method used will be dependent on the material type, the component size and the quality
https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/099b7285-7c77-4b93-
requirements as well as the operational circumstances. The following treatments can be used:
92d8-b475df66cf46/iso-tr-17671-6-2005
 manual degreasing with a solvent;

 cleaning in a closed solvent vapour unit or in an ultrasonic bath;

 pre-treatment by steam cleaning with a slightly alkaline additive, following by drying;

 acid pickling neutralization, washing in distilled water, drying, short-term storage;

 mechanical cleaning by grinding, brushing, etc.;

 primers and similar layers on steel plates can be burnt away by de-focussing the laser beam and moving
it along the joint prior to welding (very high speeds in excess of 100 mm/s can be used during this
treatment).

Where components have surface layers produced by carburizing, anodizing, cadmium plating, nitriding,
phosphating, galvanizing, etc., these layers usually have to be removed, preferentially by machining of the
surface in the weld joint region.

If the component cannot be machined in the weld start and finish regions to remove the end crater, run-on or
run-off plates should be used (see Figure 1). These run-on/run-off plates also suppress heat accumulation at
the work piece ends. The run-on/run-off plates should be attached to the work piece by clamping or welding to
achieve good thermal contact and are removed subsequently.

6 © ISO 2005 – All rights reserved

 ISO/TR 17671-6:2005(E)

Key

1 run-on plate
2 work piece
3 run-off plate
4 start of weld
5 end of weld

Figure 1 — Work piece with run-on and run-off plate for separating the weld start and weld end

12 Laser beam welding

iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW
12.1 Characteristics
(standards.iteh.ai)
12.1.1 Modes
ISO/TR 17671-6:2005
Laser beam welding is a fusion welding process and the joint is characterized by heat-affected zones in the
https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/099b7285-7c77-4b93-
parts joined by weld metal. 92d8-b475df66cf46/iso-tr-17671-6-2005

Laser beam welding is often performed as keyhole mode welding. Keyhole mode welding requires a beam
with a high power density, able to vaporize the material at the point of interaction. The beam then is able to
create (by the vapour pressure) a deep cavity, roughly cylindrical in shape. The walls of the cavity are covered
by molten material. When the process is under control, the cavity is propagated with the beam along the joint.
Heat and material propagation is essentially two-dimensional. The material melts at the front of the cavity and
moves to the trailing edge, where it solidifies, creating the weld metal. A small proportion of the material
evaporates or is ejected as spatter and this part of the material is transported in the direction along the axis of
the beam. Keyhole mode welding is the usual mode for full and partial penetration butt welds in thick materials.

Another mode is conduction mode welding. In this mode, the intensity of the beam is insufficient to create a
keyhole and the heat distribution becomes similar to the heat distribution in arc welding. Conduction mode
welding occurs when the beam (of low intensity) is de-focussed or oscillated. Conduction mode welding can
result in a three-dimensional heat distribution and the weld cross-section is then approximately circular with a
width at the surface approximately two times the depth of penetration. However, the heat input can be spread
over a wider area, resulting in a weld with a width larger than two times the depth of penetration. A similar
technique is used for laser beam cladding where penetration usually is minimized.

In spot welding, the focussing head is kept stationary in relation to the parent material during welding. Welding
time for each spot can be measured in milliseconds. Pulsed lasers are commonly used for this purpose. The
resulting weld profile is usually intermediate between conduction and keyhole welds.

© ISO 2005 – All rights reserved 7