Sensing, monitoring and control for laser based welding of aluminium sheets

Abstract

Weight reduction is important in the automotive industry. To achieve this, Tailor Welded Blanks (TWB’s) are used. Good examples are body panels consisting of sheets which are welded together and formed into the desired shape. TWB’s are thicker at highly loaded places and thinner in other areas. In contrast to steel, aluminium TWB’s have been introduced only recently. The forming of the sheets poses high requirements on the welds. Laser welding has the potential to produce these strong, yet deformablewelds.