Fastening & Joining Methods

 

Fusion Welding Processes
Arc-welding	Oxyacetylene Gas Welding (OFW)
Shielded-metal Arc Welding (SMAW)	Laser-beam Welding (LBW)
Gas-metal Arc Welding (GMAW) or (MIG)	Electroslag Welding (ESW)
Fluxed-core Arc Welding (FCAW)	Electron-beam Welding (EBW)
Gas-tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) or (TIG)	Percussive Arc Welding
Submerged Arc Welding (SAW)	Resistance Spot Welding (RSW)
Plasma Arc Welding (PAW)

Laser-beam Welding (LBW)

Laser Beam Welding (LBW) produces a coalescence of metals by the radiation emitted from a concentrated beam of coherent light. A shielding gas is used to protect the molten pool. Welds may be fabricated with or without filler metal. LBW is used to weld all the commercially important metals, including steel, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, nickel, copper and certain dissimilar metal combinations.

Advantages

1. high travel speeds
2. minimal heat affected zones
3. high mechanical properties
4. low distortion
5. no slag or spatter
6. automated process

Thick (>1 inch) single pass welds can be achieved with high powered CO2 systems. Nd:YAG lasers can be delivered via fiber optics and thus can be manipulated by robotics and can weld complex structures.