Objective:
The goal of this project is to test the weldment and heat affected zone material properties resulting from an IPG LightWeld XR laser welding system used to produce tack welds, which are then welded on top of with various conventional shipyard welding processes. Proving that the heat-affected zone of the tacks are not negatively impacted by the laser beam will provide a path for shipyards to pursue qualification for using the process to produce tack welds.
Summary:
This project is intended to address two problems, oversized tack welds for fillet welded joints on ship structure and lack of Navy codes and standards that address semi-automatic laser welding processes.
Handheld Laser welding equipment, such as the IPG LightWeld XR, use a laser beam to join base materials with a small wire additive process, and can produce extremely small fillet weld sizes with deep penetration. There is no doubt that using this type of equipment for tacking would eliminate the problem of oversize tacks. The problem with this new technology however, is that it is not a conventional welding process currently recognized by Navy requirements standards. Using this technology on Navy ship structure would require special approval, which would be dependent on the Navy understanding the material properties of the heat affected zone of the tack, and if those properties are impacted by a continuous weld performed over top of it.
Key Deliverables / Benefits:
This project will be presented at NSRP Panel Meetings and will present the results from the project within a Final Report.
Overview
Project Team:
- Huntington Ingalls – Ingalls Shipbuilding
- Colorado School of Mines
- NAVSEA 05
- Naval Surface Warfare Center - Carderock
2025
NSRP ASE Investment: $193K
