PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR LASER JOINING TWO COMPONENTS OF ALUMINIUM AND/OR ALUMINIUM ALLOYS THROUGH THE USE OF A LAMINAR INERT GAS FLOW COAXIAL TO A METAL FILLER WIRE

摘要

The present invention relates to process of joining a first metal component (4) to a second metal component at a joining region comprising the steps of projecting a laser beam (3) onto one or the components for providing a melt pool on the joining region; providing a metal filler wire (2) into the melt pool while substantially simultaneously providing a substantially laminar flow of a substantially inert process shielding gas to the location of the melt pool wherein the process shielding gas flows substantially coaxially around the filler wire (2); solidifying the melt pool thereby forming a joint at the joining.