Joining techniques for aluminium spaceframes used in automobiles

Joining techniques for aluminium spaceframes used in automobiles: Part I — solid and liquid phase welding

The objective of this work was to change a steel forged block with great dimensions by the fine sheet hot laminated steel, welded by Laser CO2, destined to manufacture rotors for electric machines until 40 MW of power, it was used steel sheet with 3 mm of thickness pilled, compacted and fixed by lifter. Considering that the width of the bobbins and blanks available in the national market do not supply the dimensional necessities of the product, it made necessary the joint of plates with great precision, by the Laser process of welding. The steel chosen for such purpose was a high-strength low alloy steel (HSLA) with 550 MPa of Yield strength. The economical interest of this study is the substitution of the traditional material, a block of great dimensions in forged steel type SAE 4140B for hot rolled steel plates, which costs 4 times less. The technical relevant factor in this research was the preservation of physical, chemical and mechanical properties using controlled parameters of Laser cutting and Laser CO2 welding. It searched to identify and quantify the heat affected zone, to analyze structural changes, hardness variation using the Brinell method, and correlate these results with the chemical composition and the rupture resistance by the tensile test and the Erichsen method to determine the presence, or not, of micro tearing, pores, non metallic inclusions or other anomalies that could compromise together the welded joint. It was also considered the importance of the realization of tests for the Qualification of the Welding Procedure in agreement with the requirements of ASME Code Section IX, QW 150 for tensile test and QW 160 for the bend test, in order to get the validation of the procedure. The obtained results indicate that Laser CO2 welding of the HSLA steel is adequate for this construction type.

C. Emmelmann

Papers

Robotic laser welding in the automotive industry