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JP4265854B2 - Laser welding method - Google Patents

Laser welding method Download PDF

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Publication number
JP4265854B2
JP4265854B2 JP2000157529A JP2000157529A JP4265854B2 JP 4265854 B2 JP4265854 B2 JP 4265854B2 JP 2000157529 A JP2000157529 A JP 2000157529A JP 2000157529 A JP2000157529 A JP 2000157529A JP 4265854 B2 JP4265854 B2 JP 4265854B2
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JP
Japan
Prior art keywords
wire
laser
laser welding
welding method
laser beam
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
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JP2000157529A
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Japanese (ja)
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JP2001340982A (en
Inventor
博記 後藤
博司 光吉
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Honda Motor Co Ltd
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Honda Motor Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
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Priority to JP2000157529A priority Critical patent/JP4265854B2/en
Publication of JP2001340982A publication Critical patent/JP2001340982A/en
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Description

【0001】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は2つの部材を突合せて溶接するレーザ溶接方法に関する。
【0002】
【従来の技術】
燃料タンク等のような複雑形状の製品は、ブランク材をプレス成形して左右の半体(若しくは3分割以上に分れた分割体)を成形し、この左右の半体を突合せて溶接することで製品としている。
【0003】
上記半体を溶接するには、不活性ガスをシールドガスとする溶極式アーク溶接(ミグ溶接)が一般的である。しかしながら、ミグ溶接は溶接箇所に投入される熱量が大きいので溶接後の部材が波打ってしまう不利がある。
【0004】
そこで、レーザ溶接方法が試みられている。このレーザ溶接方法は図4に示すように、2つの部材W1,W2の突合せ箇所にレーザ光Lを照射し、突合せ箇所を溶解して2つの部材W1,W2を溶接するのであるが、突合せ箇所に隙間があると、この隙間を溶融金属が埋めきれない為、溶接部が陥没してしまう。そこで、従来からフィラーF(溶加材)をレーザ光Lにて溶融し、この溶融したフィラーFで隙間を埋めている。
【0005】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
上述したようにレーザ溶接にて部材を溶接する場合には、フィラーFを用いている。このフィラーFを溶融して2つ部材の突合せ部の隙間を埋めるには、レーザ光の焦点をフィラーFの先端に合せる必要があり、この為の制御が困難である。特に燃料タンクのように溶接する箇所が直線ではなく曲線を描く場合には、この曲線に沿ってレーザ光の焦点とフィラーFの先端とを同期して移動させなければならない。
【0006】
更にフィラーFは徐々に溶解して減ってくるのでその分を補給しなければならない。この補給速度が消失速度と一致しないとレーザ光の焦点とフィラーFの先端とがズレてくる。このように従来のレーザ溶接は、多くのファクターを極めて高精度にコントロールしなければならず、実用化が困難となっている。
【0007】
一方、燃料タンクを構成する左右の半体は、従来にあってはブランク材をプレス成形することで得ており、その周囲はプレス成形の際に高精度にトリミングされているので、左右の半体を突合せた場合でも、突合せ部に生じる隙間はそれほど大きくはない。
【0008】
しかしながら、最近では機械による切断を廃止し、環境面や効率を考慮してレーザ光による切断が試みられている。このレーザ光によって切断された部材同士を突合せて溶接する場合には、部材の切断線に沿った部分の凹凸が相対的に大きくなるため、益々レーザ溶接しにくくなる。
【0009】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記課題を解決すべく本発明は、2つの部材を突合せ、この突合せ部に一方の側からレーザ光を照射し、突合せ部の部材を溶融せしめて接合するレーザ溶接方法において、前記突合せ部の他方の側に突合せ部に沿って予め線材をセットしておき、前記レーザ光にて線材も同時に溶融し、この溶融した線材を表面張力によって突合せ部の隙間に充填せしめるようにした。
【0010】
尚、本発明の実施に用いるレーザ溶接機としては、炭酸ガスレーザ、アルゴンレーザ等の気体レーザ溶接機でも良く、YAGレーザ、ルビーレーザ等の固体レーザでもよい。
【0011】
また、溶接される部材を受け治具に載置して溶接する場合には、該受け治具の表面に突合せ部に沿った溝を形成し、この溝内に線材をセットした状態で溶接せしめることが好ましい。
【0012】
また、溶接される部材としてはプレス成形の際に周囲をトリミングされたものの他に、レーザ光によってブランク材から切断されたものであってもよい。具体的な溶接される部材としては、燃料タンクを構成する左右の半体が挙げられる。
【0013】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下に本発明の実施の形態を添付図面に基づいて説明する。図1は本発明に係るレーザ溶接方法によって燃料タンク半体を溶接している状態を示す正断面図、図2は図1のA−A方向矢視図、図3(a)〜(c)は線材の状態変化を示す図1の要部拡大図である。
【0014】
図において、1は受け治具であり、この受け治具1上には燃料タンクを構成する鋼板製の左右の半体T1,T2が載置され、これら半体T1,T2は溶接すべき端縁を突合せた状態で上方から押え治具2によって受け治具1上に押し付けられている。この状態で、左右の半体T1,T2の突合せ端間には図3(a)に示すように隙間Gが形成されている。
【0015】
また、左右の半体T1,T2の突合せ部に沿った受け治具1の上面には溝3が形成され、この溝3内には溶接前に予め線材(溶加材)4がセットされている。この線材4は例えばドラム5に巻回しておき、必要量(1回の溶接量)だけドラム5から溝3内に繰り出すようにする。
【0016】
そして、左右の半体T1,T2をレーザ溶接するには、図1に示すように、線材4を配置した側とは反対側となる上方から突合せ部に向けてレーザ光Lを照射する。
【0017】
突合せ部のうち隙間がない箇所についてはレーザ光Lによって部材自身が溶解し、隙間Gが生じている箇所についてはレーザ光Lは図3(a)に示すように、隙間Gを通過し、その下にセットされている線材4に照射される。
【0018】
すると、線材4はレーザ光Lによって溶融せしめられ、図3(b)に示すように、溝3内は溶融した線材にて満たされる。ここで、隙間Gがない箇所の直下にセットされている線材には直接レーザ光Lが照射されないが、隣接する箇所の線材が溶融するため隙間Gがない箇所の直下にセットされている線材も溶融する。
【0019】
上記したように溝3内が溶融した線材にて満たされ、この溶融金属が隙間Gの近傍に接触すると、表面張力によって隙間G内に前記溶融した線材が入り込み、冷却されると、図3(c)に示すように、半体T1,T2の突合せ部に沿って正常な溶接ビード6が形成される。ここで、受け治具1は銅製のため溶融した線材は溝3内に強固に付着することなく、冷却後に簡単に溝3内から除去することができる。
以上のようにしてレーザ溶接が終了したならば、溶接ビード6の突出部を研磨して除去することで塗装前の燃料タンクが完成する。
【0020】
尚、実施例にあっては、受け治具を用いて溶接する例を示したが、本発明は受け治具を用いないでレーザ溶接する場合にも適用し得る。
また、実施例にあっては燃料タンクを2つの部材を溶接することで得る例を示したが、3つ以上の部材からなる燃料タンクにも本発明は適用でき、また燃料タンク以外の製品を溶接する場合にも本発明方法を適用し得る。
【0021】
【発明の効果】
以上に説明したように本発明によれば、2つの部材をレーザ溶接するにあたり、2つの部材の突合せ部に沿い且つレーザ照射側と反対側になる位置に予め線材をセットしておき、レーザ光にて線材も同時に溶融し、この溶融した線材を2つの部材の突合せ部の隙間に充填せしめるようにしたので、従来のようにレーザ光の焦点とフィラー(溶加材)の先端とを一致させつつ両者を移動させる必要がなくなり、その結果、2つの部材の接合部に従来のような高精度が要求されない。また、レーザ光の焦点位置についても従来のような高精度が要求されない。
【0022】
具体的には、従来のレーザ溶接にあっては突合せ部の隙間は0.2mm以下とし、レーザ光の焦点位置のズレは0.2mm以下とする必要があったが、本発明方法によれば、突合せ部の隙間は0.5mm以下、レーザ光の焦点位置のズレは0.3mm以下でよくなった。
【0023】
特に溶接する部材をブランク材からレーザ光にて切断する場合には、機械的な切断に比べて切断線に凹凸が生じので、切断線の部分を突合せて溶接すると隙間が大きくなって従来のレーザ溶接法では溶接不良が生じることもあったが、本発明方法によれば、斯かる場合にも確実に溶接することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図1】本発明に係るレーザ溶接方法によって燃料タンク半体を溶接している状態を示す正断面図
【図2】図1のA−A方向矢視図
【図3】(a)〜(c)は線材の状態変化を示す図1の要部拡大図
【図4】従来のレーザ溶接法を説明した斜視図
【符号の説明】
1…受け治具、2…押え治具、3…溝、4…線材、5…ドラム、6…溶接ビード、L…レーザ光、G…隙間、T1,T2…燃料タンクを構成する左右の半体。
[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a laser welding method in which two members are butt-welded.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For products with complex shapes such as fuel tanks, press the blank material to form the left and right halves (or divided parts divided into three or more parts), and butt and weld the left and right halves. As a product.
[0003]
In order to weld the above-mentioned half bodies, a melting electrode type arc welding (MIG welding) using an inert gas as a shielding gas is generally used. However, MIG welding has the disadvantage that the amount of heat input to the welded portion is large, so that the member after welding undulates.
[0004]
Therefore, laser welding methods have been tried. In this laser welding method, as shown in FIG. 4, the laser beam L is irradiated to the butted portions of the two members W1 and W2, and the butted portions are melted to weld the two members W1 and W2. If there is a gap, the weld metal will sink because the molten metal cannot be filled in the gap. Therefore, conventionally, filler F (melting material) is melted with laser light L, and the gap is filled with the melted filler F.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, the filler F is used when the members are welded by laser welding. In order to melt the filler F and fill the gap between the butted portions of the two members, it is necessary to focus the laser beam on the tip of the filler F, and control for this is difficult. In particular, in the case where a place to be welded draws a curved line instead of a straight line like a fuel tank, the focal point of the laser beam and the tip of the filler F must be moved synchronously along this curved line.
[0006]
Further, since the filler F is gradually dissolved and reduced, the amount must be replenished. If the replenishment speed does not coincide with the disappearance speed, the focal point of the laser beam and the tip of the filler F are misaligned. As described above, the conventional laser welding has to control many factors with extremely high accuracy and is difficult to put into practical use.
[0007]
On the other hand, the left and right halves constituting the fuel tank are conventionally obtained by press molding a blank material, and the periphery thereof is trimmed with high precision during press molding. Even when the bodies are butted, the gap generated at the butted portion is not so large.
[0008]
However, recently, cutting by a machine has been abolished, and cutting with a laser beam has been attempted in consideration of environmental aspects and efficiency. When the members cut by the laser beam are butted and welded together, the unevenness of the portion along the cutting line of the member becomes relatively large, so that laser welding becomes more difficult.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a laser welding method in which two members are butted together, and a laser beam is irradiated to the butted portion from one side to melt and join the members of the butted portion. A wire was set in advance along the abutting portion on the side of the wire, the wire was also melted simultaneously by the laser beam, and the melted wire was filled in the gap of the abutting portion by surface tension.
[0010]
In addition, as a laser welding machine used for implementation of this invention, gas laser welding machines, such as a carbon dioxide gas laser and an argon laser, may be sufficient, and solid lasers, such as a YAG laser and a ruby laser, may be sufficient.
[0011]
When the member to be welded is placed on a receiving jig and welded, a groove is formed on the surface of the receiving jig along the butt portion, and the wire is set in the groove and welded. It is preferable.
[0012]
Further, the member to be welded may be a member cut from a blank material by a laser beam in addition to a member whose periphery is trimmed during press molding. Specific members to be welded include the left and right halves constituting the fuel tank.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing a state in which a fuel tank half is welded by a laser welding method according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrows AA in FIG. 1, and FIGS. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 1 showing a state change of the wire.
[0014]
In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a receiving jig. On the receiving jig 1, left and right halves T1, T2 made of a steel plate constituting a fuel tank are placed, and these halves T1, T2 are ends to be welded. It is pressed onto the receiving jig 1 by the pressing jig 2 from above with the edges butted. In this state, a gap G is formed between the butted ends of the left and right halves T1 and T2 as shown in FIG.
[0015]
Further, a groove 3 is formed on the upper surface of the receiving jig 1 along the abutting portions of the left and right halves T1, T2, and a wire (melting material) 4 is set in advance in the groove 3 before welding. Yes. The wire 4 is wound around, for example, a drum 5 and is fed out from the drum 5 into the groove 3 by a necessary amount (a welding amount per one time).
[0016]
In order to laser weld the left and right halves T1, T2, as shown in FIG. 1, the laser beam L is irradiated from the upper side opposite to the side on which the wire 4 is disposed toward the butted portion.
[0017]
The member itself is melted by the laser beam L in the butt portion where there is no gap, and the laser beam L passes through the gap G as shown in FIG. The wire 4 set below is irradiated.
[0018]
Then, the wire 4 is melted by the laser beam L, and the groove 3 is filled with the melted wire as shown in FIG. Here, the laser beam L is not directly applied to the wire set immediately below the portion where there is no gap G, but the wire set on the location where there is no gap G because the wire at the adjacent location melts. Melt.
[0019]
As described above, when the inside of the groove 3 is filled with the molten wire and the molten metal comes into contact with the vicinity of the gap G, the molten wire enters the gap G due to surface tension and is cooled. As shown in c), a normal weld bead 6 is formed along the butted portions of the halves T1, T2. Here, since the receiving jig 1 is made of copper, the molten wire can be easily removed from the groove 3 after cooling without firmly adhering to the groove 3.
When laser welding is completed as described above, the protruding portion of the weld bead 6 is polished and removed to complete the fuel tank before painting.
[0020]
In addition, in the Example, although the example welded using a receiving jig was shown, this invention is applicable also when performing laser welding without using a receiving jig.
In the embodiment, an example in which the fuel tank is obtained by welding two members has been shown. However, the present invention can be applied to a fuel tank composed of three or more members, and products other than the fuel tank can be used. The method of the present invention can also be applied when welding.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when laser welding two members, a wire is set in advance at a position along the butt portion of the two members and opposite to the laser irradiation side. At the same time, the wire was melted at the same time, and the melted wire was filled in the gap between the butted parts of the two members, so that the focal point of the laser beam and the tip of the filler (melting material) were matched as in the past. However, it is not necessary to move both of them, and as a result, the conventional high accuracy is not required for the joint between the two members. In addition, the high accuracy of the focus position of the laser beam is not required as in the prior art.
[0022]
Specifically, in the conventional laser welding, the gap between the butt portions should be 0.2 mm or less, and the deviation of the focal position of the laser beam must be 0.2 mm or less. The gap between the butting portions was 0.5 mm or less, and the deviation of the focal position of the laser beam was 0.3 mm or less.
[0023]
In particular, when a member to be welded is cut from a blank with a laser beam, the cutting line has irregularities as compared with mechanical cutting. Although welding failure sometimes occurred in the welding method, according to the method of the present invention, welding can be reliably performed even in such a case.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing a state in which a fuel tank half is welded by a laser welding method according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrows AA in FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 1 showing the state change of the wire. FIG. 4 is a perspective view explaining the conventional laser welding method.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Receiving jig, 2 ... Holding jig, 3 ... Groove, 4 ... Wire rod, 5 ... Drum, 6 ... Welding bead, L ... Laser beam, G ... Gap, T1, T2 ... The left and right half which comprises a fuel tank body.

Claims (4)

2つの部材を突合せ、この突合せ部に一方の側からレーザ光を照射し、突合せ部の部材を溶融せしめて接合するレーザ溶接方法において、前記突合せ部の他方の側に突合せ部に沿って予め線材をセットしておき、前記レーザ光にて線材も同時に溶融し、この溶融した線材を表面張力によって突合せ部の隙間に充填せしめることを特徴とするレーザ溶接方法。In a laser welding method in which two members are butted together, and a laser beam is irradiated to the butted portion from one side to melt and join the members of the butted portion, a wire rod is previously provided along the butted portion on the other side of the butted portion. The laser welding method is characterized in that the wire is melted at the same time with the laser beam, and the melted wire is filled in the gap of the butt portion by surface tension. 請求項1に記載のレーザ溶接方法において、前記2つの部材は受け治具に載置され、この受け治具表面には突合せ部に沿った溝が形成され、この溝内に線材をセットした状態で溶接せしめることを特徴とするレーザ溶接方法。2. The laser welding method according to claim 1, wherein the two members are placed on a receiving jig, a groove is formed along the abutting portion on the surface of the receiving jig, and a wire is set in the groove. A laser welding method characterized in that welding is performed using a laser beam. 請求項1または請求項2のいずれかに記載のレーザ溶接方法において、前記溶接される部材はレーザ光によってブランク材から切断されたものであることを特徴とするレーザ溶接方法。3. The laser welding method according to claim 1, wherein the member to be welded is cut from a blank material by laser light. 請求項1乃至請求項3のいずれかに記載のレーザ溶接方法において、前記溶接される部材は燃料タンクの一部を構成することを特徴とするレーザ溶接方法。4. The laser welding method according to claim 1, wherein the member to be welded constitutes a part of a fuel tank.
JP2000157529A 2000-05-29 2000-05-29 Laser welding method Expired - Fee Related JP4265854B2 (en)

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JP4265854B2 true JP4265854B2 (en) 2009-05-20

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