Multi-pass laser welding of thick plate with filler wire by using a narrow gap joint configuration

A 17 mm low-carbon steel plate is welded by a fiber laser with a narrow gap joint configuration and multi-pass technique. A high-speed camera is used to real-time monitor the welding process, and the effects of groove size and the side shielding gas on the weld quality are studied. Experimental results showed that a concave shape in the bottom of weld can be formed when use a general shielding gas nozzle with the 8.0 mm external diameter. Through a special design of the shielding gas nozzle with the 2.0 mm external diameter which can deep into the interior of groove, the pressure from shielding gas can balance the surface tension from the liquid in the top of groove, so the shielding effect can be dramatically improved and the concave shape in the bottom of weld can be eliminated. When the filler wire and laser beam can smoothly enter the groove, using a relatively small groove size not only reduce the consumption of filler wire but also reduce the deflection of filler wire in the gap that can improve the fusion of groove.