Hybrid Laser/MIG-p weld, TIG-dressed

Welding conditions:

• 6mm thickness 355MPa yield plate steel
• 4kW laser with 0.95mm beam diameter
• 1.2mm std MIG wire
• Lincoln "RapidArc" @ 8m/min, Trim 1.0, Waveform 8
• Weld travel speed 2m/min

General view

Two-pass TIG dress - straight "stringer" pass down each toe

Single-pass TIG dress at 160A

On visual examination of sawed ends of samples to fatigue test, two-pass dressing is to be preferred as weld penetration is more uniform but concentrated where most needed at the weld toes.