US 12,220,766 B2Granted

Method for producing metal structures

AssigneeFronius International GmbH

InventorsManfred RührnößL, Markus Schorn, Herbert Staufer

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Abstract

In order to provide an improved method for producing metal structures which allows a high level of flexibility in respect of process speed of production, material composition of the metal structure, production accuracy, and the quality of the produced metal structure, according to the invention, a second metal additive is supplied to a welding point on a metal base material, which second metal additive is fused at least by a second electric arc produced between a second electrode and the metal base material in order to produce a second weld seam at the welding point, wherein different materials are used as the first metal additive and as the second metal additive, and wherein the first metal additive and the second metal additive are supplied to the welding point sequentially in time and are fused in the region of the welding point in whichever of the first and second electric arcs is burning, in order to form the three-dimensional metal structure.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method for automated production of at least one three-dimensional metal structure on a metal base material, comprising:

when a first welding torch is activated, supplying a first metal additive to a welding point on the metal base material the first metal additive being fused at the welding point in a first part of a welding process to produce a first weld seam via at least by a first electric arc produced between a first electrode of the first welding torch and the metal base material, whereby the first weld seam produces a first portion of the three-dimensional metal structure consisting of a material of the first metal additive;
supplying a laser beam to the welding point;
and
supplying, via a second welding torch, a second metal additive to the welding point, the second metal additive being fused at the welding point in a second part of the welding process to produce a second weld seam at least by a second electric arc produced between a second electrode of the second welding torch and the metal base material, whereby the second weld seam produces a second portion of the three-dimensional metal structure consisting of a material of the second metal additive,
wherein the first metal additive and the second metal additive are different materials, and
wherein the first metal additive and the second metal additive are supplied to the welding point sequentially in time by switching from the first welding torch, which is deactivated so that no electric arc burns any longer when the first weld seam or part of the three-dimensional metal structure consisting of the material of the first additive has been completed, to the second welding torch, so that the second part of the welding process is continued from the first part of the welding process and the first portion of the three-dimensional metal structure and the second portion of the three-dimensional metal structure are fused in a region of the welding point to form the three-dimensional metal structure.

3 more elements

A welding arrangement for producing metal structures on a metal base material, comprising:

optics for generating a laser beam;
a first welding torch with a first electrode for generating a first electric arc between the first electrode and the base material for fusing a first metal additive in order to produce a first weld seam on the base material, which is a first portion of the metal structure consisting of a material of the first metal additive;
a first supply device is arranged to supply the first metal additive to a welding point;
at least one controller for controlling the welding arrangement;
at least one second welding torch with a second electrode for generating a second electric arc between the second electrode and the base material is arranged in the welding arrangement in order to fuse a second metal additive in order to produce a second weld seam on the base material, which is a second portion of the metal structure consisting of the material of the second metal additive;
and
a second supply device is arranged to supply the second metal additive to the welding point,
wherein the first metal additive and the second metal additive are different materials,
wherein the controller is configured to control the first and second supply device, in order to supply the first metal additive and the second metal additive to the welding point sequentially in time, wherein the controller is configured to make a switch from the first welding torch, when the first weld seam or part of the metal structure consisting of the material of the first additive has been completed, to the second welding torch, whereby the first welding torch is deactivated so that no first electric arc burns any longer and the second welding torch is activated to produce the second weld seam, in order to fuse the first metal additive and the second metal additive in a respective sequentially burning one of the first and second electric arcs, in order to form the three-dimensional metal structure, and
wherein the first welding torch and the second welding torch are designed as separate units or as a double welding torch.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/277,509Filed 18 Sep 2019
Priority: EP 1819576620 Sep 2018
Published: US 2021/0370442 A12 Dec 2021
Granted: 11 Feb 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

B23K 26/1423
Using a fluid stream, e.g. a jet of gas, in conjunction with the laser beam; Nozzles therefor: the flow carrying an electric current
B23K 26/342
Laser welding for purposes other than joining: build-up welding
B23K 9/1675
And of a non-consumable electrode: making use of several electrodes
B23K 9/1735
And of a consumable electrode: making use of several electrodes