Effects of Process Parameters on Weld Metal Keyhole Characteristics with CO2 Laser Butt Welding
Chengyun Cui, Jiandong Hu, Kun Gao, Shulai Pang, Yue Yang, Hongying Wang and Zuoxing Guo
Low carbon steel ST14 was successfully butt welded with a CO2 laser. The criterion for conduction and keyhole welding were studied together with the laser process parameters on weld quality. The experimental investigations were carried out to examine the effects of laser power, welding travel speed and on the defocusing distance on the weld dimensions and the microstructure during CO2 laser butt welding. It was found that even with full penetration welds there can be a significant variation in the metallographic morphologies of the weld due to very rapid solidification.