Method of improving weld quality

• US 20050121426A1
• Filed: 12/08/2003
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company), Curators of the University of Missouri (University of Missouri)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Menassa, Roland J., Wang, Pei-Chung, Tsai, Hai-Lung
• Granted Patent: US 7,154,064 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/121.640
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/10 Aluminium or alloys thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/067 Dividing the beam into multiple beams, e.g. multifocusing
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/244 Overlap seam welding
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/32 taking account of the properties of the material involved

Abstract

A method of improving weld quality between aluminum members by slowing the rate of solidification of a molten weld trough into solidified material. Upper and lower aluminum members are positioned together in contact between facing surfaces thereof to expose a first outer surface of the upper aluminum member to laser irradiation. A welding laser beam is moved in a path over the first outer surface, wherein the welding laser beam has an energy and width to progressively melt a trough of molten metal to a depth through the upper aluminum member and into the lower aluminum member. The molten metal in the trough has a void filled with gas, and the molten metal re-solidifies into re-solidified metal after the passage of the welding laser beam. An area in and around the trough is heated to slow the rate of solidification of the molten metal into the re-solidified metal, thereby preventing entrainment of the gas within the re-solidified metal.

Claims

1. A method of laser welding aluminum or magnesium members, said method comprising:

positioning said members together in contact between facing surfaces thereof to expose a first outer surface of at least one of said members to laser irradiation;

directing a welding laser beam at said members so as to form a molten weld pool to fuse said members together;

moving said welding laser beam relative to said members; and

heating a zone of said members so as to increase the temperature thereof and widen a heat-affected zone to slow the rate of solidification of said molten weld pool, thereby enabling formation of a substantially porosity-free weld bead joining said members.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said heating step includes widening a temperature distribution in said members around said molten weld pool by at least 25%.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said heating step includes positioning a heat source at a second outer surface of at least one of said members that is substantially opposite of said first outer surface.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said heating step includes positioning a heat source at said first outer surface.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said heating step includes said heat source being a heating laser beam that is fractionated from said welding laser beam.

6. A method of forming a linear weld between upper and lower members composed of aluminum or magnesium, said method comprising:

positioning said upper and lower members together in contact between facing surfaces thereof to expose a first outer surface of said upper member to laser irradiation;

moving a welding laser beam in a path over said first outer surface, said welding laser beam having an energy and width to progressively melt a trough of molten metal to a depth through said upper member and into said lower member, said molten metal in said trough having a void filled with gas, and said molten metal re-solidifying into re- solidified metal after the passage of said welding laser beam; and

heating in and around said trough to slow the rate of solidification of said molten metal into said re-solidified metal, thereby preventing entrainment of said gas within said re-solidified metal.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said moving step includes the depth of said trough being greater than its width.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein said heating step includes widening a temperature distribution in said members around said molten weld trough by at least 25%.

9. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein said heating step includes positioning a heat source at a second outer surface of at least one of said members that is substantially opposite of said first outer surface.

10. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein said heating step includes positioning a heat source at said first outer surface.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said heating step includes said heat source being a heating laser beam that is fractionated from said welding laser beam.

12. A method of improving the quality of a laser weld joining an assembly of members, said method comprising:

moving a welding laser beam in a path over said assembly, said welding laser beam having an energy and width to progressively melt a trough of molten metal to a depth through said upper member and into said lower member, said molten metal in said trough having a void filled with gas, and said molten metal re-solidifying into re-solidified metal after the passage of said welding laser beam; and

directing heat from a heating source toward said trough of molten metal and in accordance with said path so as to widen a heat-affected zone around said trough for slowing the rate of solidification of said molten metal into said re-solidified metal, thereby preventing entrainment of said gas within said re-solidified metal.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the depth of said trough is greater than its width.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said directing step includes widening a temperature distribution in said assembly around said molten weld trough by at least 25%.

15. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said directing step includes positioning a heat source on an opposite side of said assembly from said welding laser beam.

16. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said directing step includes positioning a heat source on a same side of said assembly as said welding laser beam.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said directing step includes said heat source being a heating laser beam that is fractionated from said welding laser beam.