Light-weight structures produced by laser beam joining for future applications in automobile and aerospace industry

Light-weight components are of crucial interest for all branches that produ ce moving masses. The aim to reduce weight has to be accompanied by high pr oduction efficiency and component performance. Laser beam joining offers th e possibility to manufacture joints of all light metals and their combinati ons. This paper will give examples for structures built with aluminium, tit anium, magnesium and their combinations and explain how the requirements of the industry could be fulfilled by applying laser beam joining. For alumin ium the weldability of the so-called non-weldable alloys by use of powder f iller will be explained for aerospace applications, Another example will de al with increased process stability during laser beam welding of aluminium. Especially for future car manufacturing applications, Al-steel and Al-Mg j oints will be presented for optimised material use. Stiffened titanium stru ctures for aerospace applications will demonstrate the potential of a combi nation of laser welding and straightening for precision manufacturing. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. Ali rights reserved.