Collection of ENEA technology and expertise
Laser welding system
Vacuum chamber
Laser welding system
Application sectors
Problem to solve
The plant allows to evaluate the feasibility of new joining and treatment processes based on high-power lasers. The size of the plant and the relative instrumentation cover most of the current applications. It is therefore possible to both carry out experimental studies on innovative materials and the concrete application to real components. The potential users are all those who need to carry out laser processing without owning one and/or cannot face the costs deriving from the process development phases. The integration with the instrumentation and the expertise of the Technologies and materials for Additive Manufacturing Laboratory allows to offer a complete result through the qualification with metallographic examinations, destructive and non-destructive tests. Potential users come from the aerospace, automotive and research sectors for example in physics and fusion laboratories.
Description
Laser welding system consisting of a 4 kW fiber laser source, robotic arm and auxiliaries for the study and execution of welding and surface treatment processes for metallic materials. Laser technology allows for the creation of high-precision joints with minimal heat input, reduced distortions and alterations to material properties and high productivity. The system includes accessories that expand its operating range, including: focusing system with wobbling and camera for process control, vacuum welding chamber, sample clamping systems with preheating up to 400 °C, joint tracking system. The movement of the laser beam and the parts to be welded is achieved with an industrial-type robot manipulator with a 60 kg wrist capacity and a 2-meter reach. A workpiece table manages the positioning of parts up to 250 kg. The system is managed in compliance with the regulations: it is completely confined in an environment with access control and has a welding fume extraction and filtering system. The system performance is monitored by devices measuring the power emitted by the laser and the intensity profile of the beam (focus and power monitor). The set of equipment and skills available allows to effectively carry out both the feasibility study of welding and the execution of processes on real components of interest for the manufacturing industry and research. Most metals and alloys of industrial interest can be treated. With the aid of the vacuum system it is also possible to effectively weld reflective materials such as copper alloys.
Innovative aspects and advantages
- Integration with the MAIA laboratory for the rapid production of auxiliary components through additive manufacturing with increased operational possibilities and productivity
- Skills resulting from decades of operation of laser systems (Enea Trisaia research center) and electron beam welding (Casaccia) which has worked at the state of the art level of concentrated energy techniques for a long period
- The Enea Technologies and materials for Additive Manufacturing Laboratory that manages the plant has the instruments and expertise for a complete characterization of the processes carried out
- The plant includes a very complete and coordinated set of industrial standard devices: lasers, robots, control systems, vacuum chamber
Admissible applications
- "Additive manufacturing" and "repair" for high-cost, high-added-value components
- Creation of new products and structures/architectures with a high strength/weight ratio.
- Integrating technologies into high-productivity systems.
- Sviluppo di processi di saldatura efficienti e robusti per vari settori delle costruzioni (Automobile, navale, aeronautico ed aerospaziale).
Research group involved
Revision date
20-06-2025
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