Product Code: JLA_18_3_169

Authors:
A. Mahrle
University of Technology at Dresden, Institute for Surface Technology and Production Metrology, Postbox, D-01062 Dresden, Germany

E. Beyer
University of Technology at Dresden, Institute for Surface Technology and Production Metrology, Postbox, D-01062 Dresden, Germany and Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology, Winterbergstr. 28, D-01277 Dresden, Germany

Hybrid laser welding technologies can be defined as the combination of a high quality laser heat source with an additional secondary heat source. Based on such a definition, known hybrid techniques are classified by the type of the heat sources used as well as their arrangement relative to each other. The classification is followed by a discussion of different theoretical aspects occuring during a hybrid laser beam welding process concerning the plasma characteristics and the resultant temperature distribution of the superposed heat sources. Finally, some practical examples demonstrate how the potential of hybrid technologies can be used to extend the application spectrum of the laser beam welding process.