Laser-hybrid welding is combination of laser welding and a arc welding process. Laser beam is focused perpendicular to work piece and arc is aimed to the same molten pool. Usually this combination is named HLAW which means hybrid laser arc welding. In laser-MAG-butt joints weld’s cross section is bowl-shape because MAG-welding makes penetration wider in the top of the weld and laser-welding adjust the penetration in the root deep and narrow. In addition to the improvements in productivity and penetration, tolerances to joint gaps and misalignments may be increased with HLAW. Better weld face, suppression of zinc spatter in coated steels and expulsion in aluminium alloys and reduction in weld hardness may be achieved. With such technical advantages, the cost of a hybrid system can be fraction of the cost of an equivalent laser-only solution, especially when welding thick sections. Hybrid-laser-arc welding is used i.e. in shipbuilding, bridge and pipe constructions and automotive industry.
Fiber laser-MAG hybrid welding