Analysis of Actual Problems of Laser Welding of Stainless Steel Thin Sheets and Search for Solutions

Authors- Yu.V.Yurchenko, A.V.Bernatskyi, O.V. Siora, M.V. Sokolovskyi, V.I. Bondarieva

Abstract-Over the past decade, there has been a rapid development of laser technologies, in particular laser welding, which has become more cost-effective due to a nearly 10-fold reduction in the cost per kilowatt of laser power. The global market for laser welding equipment is estimated at USD 2.5-2.9 billion in 2022-2023, with a projected growth to USD 4 billion by 2032. At the same time, laser welding is only gaining popularity in Ukraine. Therefore, the authors reviewed modern scientific works on laser welding of thin-walled products made of high-alloy corrosion-resistant steels to identify the main problems of welding such products. The review identified the main problems of laser welding of thin-walled products, such as: joining the edges of welded parts, clamping of welded parts, ensuring constant uniform heat removal, providing gas protection of the weld pool and cooling metal of the welded joint from interaction with the surrounding atmosphere, and forming a weld “on the hinge” and on the substrate. Based on the known problems, technological equipment in the form of a clamp and a gas protection system was developed to prepare test welded joints made of thin-walled corrosion-resistant steels in accordance with EN ISO 15614-11:2015. This will improve the quality and level of operational and functional properties of the resulting welded joints and develop technological recommendations for the manufacture of thin-walled products for various industries, taking into account the relevant operational requirements.

DOI: /10.61463/ijset.vol.12.issue5.289