Pre-Welding Analysis and Associated Laser Welding Methods and Fiber Lasers Utilizing Pre-selected Spectral Bandwidths that Avoid the Spectrum of an Electronic Transition of a Metal/Alloy Vapor
AssigneesIpg Photonics Corporation, EMPA Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Medtronic, Inc.
InventorsMatthias Leistner, Sebastian Favre-Bulle, Andrei Mashkin
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Abstract
The present invention benefits from the determination that pre-selected spectral bandwidths that avoid the spectrum of an electronic transition of a metal/alloy vapor allow for welds substantially free from detritus that may discolor the weld. Accordingly, the present invention provides analytical methods, welding methods and fiber lasers configured to provide high quality metal/alloy welds.
Claims13
A method of pre-selecting the parameters of a metal/alloy welding process independent of the spectral properties of a cover gas, the method comprising:
- a. determining the spectrum of an electronic transition of the metal/alloy vapor by analyzing an emission spectrum of a metal/alloy welding process using a broad bandwidth energy source or obtaining this information from literature;
- and
- b. selecting a laser wavelength and linewidth outside the spectrum of any electronic transition of the metal/alloy vapor.
A method of creating a metal/alloy weld in a workpiece independent of the spectrum of a cover gas, the method comprising:
- a. selecting one of a number of spectral bandwidths that avoids the spectrum of an electronic transition of a metal/alloy vapor;
- b. providing a spectrally-stable laser with power sufficient to create a weld pool with one of said spectral bandwidths;
- and
- c. subjecting the work piece with an output from said laser sufficient to create a weld.
A narrowband fiber laser comprising:
- a. Fiber Bragg gratings pre-selected to emit an output in a pre-determined narrow spectral bandwidth, the narrow bandwidth corresponding to a spectral bandwidth that avoids the spectrum of an electronic transition of metal/alloy vapor;
- b. An active fiber configured to suppress non-linearities;
- and
- c. Diode lasers configured to pump the active fiber so it can laser in the narrow bandwidth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.