Comparison of Plasma, Metal Inactive Gas (MIG) and Tungsten Inactive Gas (TIG) Processes for Laser Hybrid Welding (302)

In this paper, TIG, plasma, and MIG processes have been individually combined with a 2.6 kW CO2 laser. In a number of systematic laboratory tests, the general benefits and drawbacks of each process have been individually assessed and compared. Aspects such as ease of integration with a CO2 laser source, ignition and running torch stability, weld phase transformation and change in ductility and overall weld quality are described.

The results show that all three processes can successfully be integrated with a CO2 laser beam for hybrid welding. Due to the pilot arc in plasma welding, this process enables a more stable ignition and running process than both TIG and MIG hybrid welding. Because of the delivery of extra material from a hot wire, the MIG hybrid process is well suited for bridging gaps of up to 0.6 mm in butt-welding of 2 mm steel.

But because of the constant delivery of new material, the MIG process is more difficult to control than laser/plasma and laser/TIG processes. All three types of secondary heat sources enable an increased ductility of the weld as compared to pure laser welding when welding 1.8 mm GA 260 with a TIG torch and 2.13 mm CMn steel with a plasma arc or MIG.

For the TIG, plasma, and MIG the reductions in hardness are 19, 27 and 33 %, respectively.