Patent ID: 8894721

Claim:
A method for beam welding a multi-sheet work stack using a beam source, comprising: positioning a first sheet adjacent to a second sheet; positioning a third sheet adjacent to the second sheet such that a single common welding interface is defined in the work stack by the first, the second, and the third sheets, wherein the third sheet defines one of: a flange portion and a slot which receives a tab portion of the second sheet, and wherein positioning the third sheet adjacent to the second sheet includes, when the third sheet defines the flange portion, placing the flange portion in direct contact with the first sheet along the single common welding interface and, when the third sheet defines the slot, inserting the tab portion into the slot so that the tab portion contacts the first sheet along the single common welding interface; positioning the beam source adjacent to a common end of the first, second, and third sheets; and directing an energy beam from the beam source onto the single common welding interface for a duration sufficient for forming a fusion weld along the single common welding interface.