Interaction of both plasmas in CO2 laser -: MAG hybrid welding of carbon steel

Researches and developments of laser and arc hybrid welding has been curried out since in 1978(1)2)). Especially, CO2 laser and TIG hybrid welding has been studied for increasing the penetration depth and welding speed(3)4)) Recently laser and MIG/MAG/Plasma hybrid welding processes have been developed and applied to industries. It was recognized as a new welding process that promote the flexibility of the process for increasing the penetration depth, welding speed and allowable joint gap and improving the quality of the welds. In the present work, CO2 Laser-MAG hybrid welding of carbon steel (SM490) was investigated to make clear the phenomenon and characteristics of hybrid welding process comparing with laser welding and MAG process. The effects of many process parameters such as welding current, arc voltage, welding speed, defocusing distance, laser-to-arc distance on penetration depth, bead shape, spatter, arc stability and plasma formation were investigated in the present work. Especially, the interaction of laser plasma and MAG arc plasma was considered by changing the laser to arc distance(=D-LA).