Laser welding method

A laser welding method comprising the following steps of:

• providing a panel assembly having at least one slit adjacent to a portion of the panel assembly where a weld bead is subsequently formed, wherein the panel assembly includes an inner panel having a peripheral portion and an outer panel having a hemmed portion in which the peripheral portion of the inner panel is disposed, the hemmed portion including a folded-back portion, and wherein said slit is made in the folded-back portion of the outer panel;
• and
• laser-welding the panel assembly using a laser to form the weld bead such that a plurality of weld beads extend intermittently adjacent to the at least one slit.

A laser welding method comprising repetition of the following steps of:

• laser-welding a panel assembly which includes an inner panel having a peripheral portion and an outer panel having a hemmed portion in which the peripheral portion of the inner panel is disposed, using a YAG laser at a first laser output level, so that a first weld bead is formed in both a folded-back portion of the outer panel and the peripheral portion of the inner panel with respect to a thickness direction of the panel assembly and which extends continuously for a first length in a direction along a welding schedule line;
• and
• laser-welding the panel assembly using a laser at a second laser output level so that a second weld bead is formed in only the folded-back portion of the outer panel with respect to the thickness direction of the panel assembly and which extends continuously from an end of the first weld bead in a direction away from the first weld bead along the welding schedule line.

A laser welding method comprising the following steps of:

• providing a panel assembly including an inner panel having a peripheral portion and an outer panel having a folded-over hemmed portion in which the peripheral portion of the inner panel is disposed, a portion of the outer panel at which the outer panel is folded over during hemming being pre-formed in the form of an arc in transverse cross section so that a line is formed at an intersection of the arc portion and a remaining flat portion of the outer panel;
• and
• laser-welding the panel assembly continuously or intermittently on said line, or along but close to said line.

A laser welding method comprising repetition of the following steps of:

• directing a single pulse of a YAG laser from a pulse YAG laser torch onto a panel assembly to laser-weld the panel assembly by forming a spot weld;
• and
• moving the laser torch and the panel assembly relative to one another while the laser torch emission is not being directed onto said panel assembly.