Laser welding seam with reduced end-crater and process for production thereof

A laser weld seam with reduced end crater, produced by

• determining the location on a surface at which the seam is to end,
• providing excess material projecting above the surface to be welded at the location at which the seam is to end, and
• welding the seam with a laser beam, ending at the predetermined location, such that excess material is melted by the laser beam and at least in part fills the end crater.

A laser weld seam with reduced end crater, produced by

• determining the location on a surface at which the seam is to end,
• welding the seam with a laser beam in a forward direction,
• changing the direction of the laser beam to run in the counter-direction, such that as a consequence of the interaction between cooling melt from the seam produced in the forward direction and melt from the counter-running seam, a backfill of the melt towards the seam end occurs.

A process for producing a laser weld seam with reduced end crater, said process comprising:

• determining the location on a surface at which the seam is to end,
• providing excess material projecting above the surface to be welded at the location at which the seam is to end, and
• welding the seam with a laser beam, ending at the predetermined location, such that excess material is melted by the laser beam and at least in part fills the end crater.

A process for producing a laser weld seam with reduced end crater, said process comprising:

• determining the location on a surface at which the seam is to end,
• welding the seam with a laser beam in a forward direction,
• changing the direction of the laser beam to run in the counter-direction, such that as a consequence of the interaction between cooling melt from the seam produced in the forward direction and melt from the counter-running seam, a backfill of the melt towards the seam end occurs.