Parametric Analysis of High Power Disk Laser Welding of 5052-H32 Aluminium Alloy

High power disk laser conducting welding of 2 mm thick AA 5052-H32 was performed within a process window and optimized for improved weld quality (i.e. penetration depth). The macrostructure of the weldment was investigated for the weld penetration depth at varying processing parameters using stereo zoom optical microscopy. The significance of the single effects and interaction effects of the parameters on the weld penetration depth was determined using ANOVA. Maximum weld penetration depth (1.71 mm) was achieved at laser power of 2600 W, welding speed of 0.03 m/s and focal position of -3.75 mm. At 95% confidence, only the welding speed -focal position interaction was found to contribute significantly to the weld penetration depth. The effect of the welding speed was most noticeable at low focal position (F < -3.9), that is, when the workpiece is further away from the focus. A linear regression mathematical model predicting the penetration depth of AA 5052-H32 disk laser weldments to an accuracy of 86% was developed and validated. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.