Laser welding of stainless steel in different orientations

Laser welding of AISI304 stainless steel with a Nd:YAG laser in different orientations, so called the out-of-position welding, will be discussed in this paper. For each orientation the process windows have been determined. Mechanical properties of the welds have been investigated and will be discussed as well. In the Downhand welding orientation, a wide range of laser welding speeds can be used according to the process window. The Overhead welding process is quite stable when laser welding 1 mm plates. However, the welding process is less stable when the plate thickness is increased to 3 mm. For Vertical welding of 1 mm plates the welding speed was confined according to a narrower process window and the elongations of the welds were reduced.Laser welding of AISI304 stainless steel with a Nd:YAG laser in different orientations, so called the out-of-position welding, will be discussed in this paper. For each orientation the process windows have been determined. Mechanical properties of the welds have been investigated and will be discussed as well. In the Downhand welding orientation, a wide range of laser welding speeds can be used according to the process window. The Overhead welding process is quite stable when laser welding 1 mm plates. However, the welding process is less stable when the plate thickness is increased to 3 mm. For Vertical welding of 1 mm plates the welding speed was confined according to a narrower process window and the elongations of the welds were reduced.