| 摘要 |
A method of welding at least two sheets using a high energy density radiation beam that preferably is a laser beam or an electron beam for producing a welded lap joint that is substantially completely fused across the width of overlap of the sheets preferably for enabling shaping or forming to be performed such that at least one of the sheets and at least portion of a weld line defined between the overlapped sheets are bent or three dimensionally contoured. In practicing a preferred embodiment of the method, the sheets are overlapped and welded by directing at least one radiation beam toward the overlapped sheets having sufficient power density and for a sufficient amount of time to weld the sheets such that they are substantially completely fused from front to back in the overlap region. As a result, the sheets form a blank that preferably is formed or shaped, such as by shaping, deep drawing, hydro-forming or roll forming, such that at least one of the sheets and a portion of the weld line of the sheets are bent or three dimensionally contoured. After shaping or forming, the sheets preferably form at least part of an article of manufacture. |
