High throughput laser beam welding with 16 kW 1.03 µm annular beam shaping

Abstract

Multi-kilowatt Laser Beam Welding (LBW) processes must take up three challenges to keep improving its performance: handling high power, shaping the output beam and reducing focus shift. This will lead to a higher quality and speed as well as the capability to weld thicker parts. We describe here a beam shaper compatible with industry standard equipment (collimation and focusing modules, arm robot and laser) handling up to 16kW average power delivering a mm-wide annular shape and reducing the focus shift. The LBW processes improvements on different materials are described.