Patent ID: 8552337
Filing Date: 2013-10-08
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
1. A laser hybrid welding system, comprising: a welder configured to perform a laser hybrid welding operation in which a workpiece is heated by a laser in a laser welding process and filler metal is added by an arc welding process; a sensor configured to acquire data regarding a parameter of the laser hybrid welding operation; and a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to receive the acquired data from the sensor, to determine whether the acquired data is indicative of a welding defect, and if the acquired data is indicative of a welding defect, to determine which of the laser welding process, the arc welding process, or both, should be altered to fix the welding defect, and to output a control signal that directs the laser hybrid welding system to automatically alter the laser, the arc welding process, or both, during the laser hybrid welding operation to coordinate to attempt to fix the welding defect.