Product Code: ICAL07_1904

Experience with Shipyard Installation of a Hybrid Pipe Welding System
Authors:
Edward Reutzel, Arl, the Penn State University; State College PA USA
Jay Tressler, Arl, the Penn State University; State College PA USA
Ludwig Kern, Arl, the Penn State University; State College PA USA
Michael Sullivan, General Dynamics Nassco; San Diego CA USA
Presented at ICALEO 2007

Laser-Gas Metal Arc (GMA) hybrid welding is fast making the transition from laboratory to production, in industries as diverse as shipbuilding to automobile manufacture. For the past 3 years, our team has striven to both develop a hybrid welding process for steel pipe, and to specify, build, and install a hybrid pipe welding system in a General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard. In March 2007, the system was successfully installed into the shipyard. This work presents a summary of our continued experimental explorations into various practical aspects of hybrid welding, discusses the system design, and provides an overview of the installation of the system into the shipyard. Test results are presented, as well as lessons learned throughout the project.