Abstract

This investigation was focused on the high speed laser welding (HSLW) of 0.4 mm tin-plated steels used for joining together parts of three-piece Food Cans (FCs). The HSLW quality is generally restricted due to several welding discontinuities that occur with change of traverse speed. A study on the production set-up by a FC manufacturer was first addressed and reasons for introducing HSLW were further discussed. A rotary axis as a welding fixture was designed and made to achieve high surface speeds. Thereafter, an experimental investigation was conducted using a CO2, neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser and hybrid of plasma augmented laser welding (PALW) applied to the typical FC material. Conventional welding defects found during HSLW were observed for all three laser welding techniques. However, humping gradients reduced with PALW and penetration was evident up to welding speeds of 98 m/min. Furthermore, the HSLW defects were discussed and possible solutions to eliminate the humps and further work into the application of the HSLW process for the Canning industry were mentioned.