Laser welding apparatus

摘要

A rotary welding apparatus for joining two metallic workpieces together by forming a semi-circular weld at a semi-circular interface formed at mating surfaces of the workpieces. A turntable is rotated by a turntable drive. The turntable supports and indexes three lower tools around a circular path between a load station and a weld station. Each lower tool supports two workpieces to be welded together. A workpiece rotary drive connects to whichever of the lower tools is at the weld station then rotates that lower tool about a workpiece axis. A laser emitter supported adjacent the weld station directs a laser beam at a circular or semi-circular interface between respective mating surfaces of the two workpieces and welds the workpieces together as the workpiece rotary drive rotates them. The laser emitter is supported on a laser emitter mount near the weld station in a position directing a laser beam at the interface of the workpiece mating surfaces. The laser emitter mount has two support points spaced radially from each other relative to the laser emitter to stabilize the laser emitter for improve welding accuracy.