Devices, Methods, and Control Programs for Laser Welding Using Welding Wire

A welding robot having a device for laser welding using welding wire as added material, the device comprising:

• a welding head that is connected to a beam source and generates a laser beam that is directed at a welding point;
• a wire guide for the welding wire;
• a wire feed drive configured to move the welding wire during a welding process relative to the wire guide with a feed movement in a feed direction extending in a longitudinal direction of the wire;
• and
• a positioning device configured to position a wire end of the welding wire in a welding readiness position on the device for laser welding, the welding readiness position being a desired position relative to the welding point;
• wherein the positioning device for the welding wire includes a positioning drive configured to oscillate the welding wire in the longitudinal direction of the welding wire relative to the wire guide when the wire end of the welding wire is positioned in the welding readiness position.

A method for laser welding using welding wire as added material, the method comprising:

• generating a laser beam by a beam source;
• directing the laser beam by a welding head to a welding point;
• moving the welding wire during a welding process relative to a wire guide by a wire feed drive with a feed movement in a feed direction extending in a longitudinal direction of the wire;
• positioning a wire end of the welding wire by a positioning device on the device for laser welding at a welding readiness position, the welding readiness position being a desired position in which the wire end is arranged relative to the welding point at a start of the welding process;
• and
• oscillating the welding wire in the longitudinal direction of the wire relative to the wire guide when the leading wire end of the welding wire is positioned in the welding readiness position by a positioning drive of the positioning device.

A control program for operating a device for laser welding using welding wire as added material, the device comprising:

• a welding head that is connected to a beam source and generates a laser beam that is directed at a welding point;
• a wire guide for the welding wire;
• a wire feed drive configured to move the welding wire during a welding process relative to the wire guide with a feed movement in a feed direction extending in a longitudinal direction of the wire;
• and
• a positioning device configured to position a wire end of the welding wire in a welding readiness position on the device for laser welding, the welding readiness position being a desired position relative to the welding point;
• wherein the positioning device for the welding wire includes a positioning drive configured to oscillate the welding wire in the longitudinal direction of the welding wire relative to the wire guide when the wire end of the welding wire is positioned in the welding readiness position;
• wherein control instructions ensure that a method for laser welding using welding wire as added material is carried out when the control program runs on a numeric control unit of the device for laser welding, the method comprising:
• generating a laser beam by a beam source;
• directing the laser beam by a welding head to a welding point;
• moving the welding wire during a welding process relative to a wire guide by a wire feed drive with a feed movement in a feed direction extending in a longitudinal direction of the wire;
• positioning a wire end of the welding wire by a positioning device on the device for laser welding at a welding readiness position, the welding readiness position being a desired position in which the wire end is arranged relative to the welding point at a start of the welding process;
• and
• oscillating the welding wire in the longitudinal direction of the wire relative to the wire guide when the leading wire end of the welding wire is positioned in the welding readiness position by a positioning drive of the positioning device.