Method of joining a cast iron component with a steel component and assembly produced therefrom

A method of joining a first component made of ductile cast iron with a second component made of steel, comprising:

• providing a mold having a cavity therein;
• positioning an insert made of low carbon steel against an inner mold surface within the cavity;
• filling the cavity with molten cast iron, wherein the molten cast iron is disposed in contact with the insert;
• cooling the molten cast iron to form the first component, wherein the insert is bonded to the first component to form a first assemblage;
• removing the first assemblage from the mold;
• placing the second component in contact with the insert;
• and
• focusing a laser welding beam at a contact point between the second component and the insert so as to locally melt the second component and the insert at the contact point to form a weld nugget thereat without use of a filler material therebetween, wherein the weld nugget bonds together the second component and the insert.

An assembly, comprising:

• a first component made of ductile cast iron;
• an insert made of low carbon steel and having a first insert surface in contact with the first component, wherein the insert and the first component have respective and complementary geometric features which keep the insert in contact with the first component and constrain the insert against movement with respect to the first component;
• and
• a second component made of steel and disposed in contact with a second insert surface of the insert;
• wherein the second component is bonded to the insert by a weld nugget located at a contact point between the second component and the insert, wherein the weld nugget is composed of low carbon steel from the insert and steel from the second component that have been locally melted and solidified to form the weld nugget without use of a filler material therebetween.