Single point powder feed nozzle for use in laser welding

摘要

An apparatus for welding together a plurality of portions of a workpiece with a complex geometric surface includes a laser source for generating a laser beam; the laser source is positioned at a predetermined distance from the workpiece portions to form a weld bead of a selected width. The apparatus also includes a powder feed mechanism with a nozzle for depositing a chosen volume of powder per unit of time onto the workpiece surface. The powder feed nozzle includes a structure for preventing a reflected laser beam from the workpiece surface and the weld bead from being incident upon an orifice of the nozzle and thereby preventing the powder from melting and clogging the nozzle orifice. Either the workpiece or the laser source in combination with the powder feed mechanism may be mounted on a manipulator arrangement for moving either the workpiece portions or the combination of the laser source and powder feed mechanism relative to one another to deposit the weld bead along a predetermined weld path.