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Simultaneously cutting and welding sheet metal using laser energy

  • US 4,798,931 A
  • Filed: 07/17/1987
  • Issued: 01/17/1989
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1987
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of simultaneously cutting and welding at least two sheets of metal, comprising the steps of overlaying said sheets of metal on each other, producing a focused beam of laser energy, subjecting the areas of said overlaid sheets along a line of progress where they are to be cut and welded to said focused beams of laser energy, providing a shield of inert gas around said laser beam;

  • and selecting the operating parameters of at least said inert gas shield, said laser energy, and the speed of progress of said laser beam on said sheets along said line of progress with respect to at least the number, thicknesses and types of metals in said sheets so that a relatively narrow melt zone and cut is created along said line of progress, and so that surface tension on the molten metal in said melt zone after breakthrough will cause said molten metal in said melt zone on both sides of said line of progress to form smooth beads on the cut edges of said sheets on both sides of said line of progress.

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