Laser welding melt efficiency comparison: cw and Q-switched Nd:YAG

T. C. Webber

doi:10.1117/12.237724

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8 April 1996 Laser welding melt efficiency comparison: cw and Q-switched Nd:YAG

T. C. Webber

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Proceedings Volume 2703, Lasers as Tools for Manufacturing of Durable Goods and Microelectronics; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.237724
Event: Photonics West '96, 1996, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

Investigators use melt efficiency to gain understanding of a very dynamic process. The results can be quite useful in the quest to understand the mechanisms of laser welding as well as providing a basis unto which a prediction can be made as to the outcome of a particular parameter set. This analysis utilizes the physical constants of the material to be studied, the weld section area, and other pertinent parameters. It is widely assumed that laser welding is an average power process, in other words, that the physical constants of metal integrate peak energies to produce a net result. To test this assumption, a study was conducted to compare the melt efficiency of continuous wave Nd:YAG laser to a similarly powered Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser. Conditions of the weld test were kept virtually identical. A range of weld speeds were examined. The operating parameters of the Q-Switched laser were varied over several frequency and peak energy values. The results of the study contradicts the assumption of the average power process: melt efficiency increased with increased peak energies.

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T. C. Webber "Laser welding melt efficiency comparison: cw and Q-switched Nd:YAG", Proc. SPIE 2703, Lasers as Tools for Manufacturing of Durable Goods and Microelectronics, (8 April 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.237724

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