APPLICATION OF A HYBRID ARC/LASER PROCESS TO THE WELDING OF PIPE

摘要

Process for manufacturing a welded pipe from a metal strip having two longitudinal edges approximately parallel to each other, which are brought together so as to come approximately into contact with each other and thus form an unwelded pre-tube, the said pre-tube then being welded in order to join the said edges together. According to the invention, the two edges are welded together to obtain a welded metal pipe by using, approximately simultaneously, at least one laser beam and at least one electric arc, that is to say using a hybrid arc/laser, preferably plasma/laser, welding process. This process can be used to produce weld seams of rectilinear, helicoidal or spiralled shape.