Patent ID: 8729424

Claim:
A method of welding together a plurality of pieces of metal at a joint between the pieces of metal, comprising: directing a laser beam from a laser against a first side of the joint to produce a keyhole surrounded by a laser-created molten metal pool which extends from the first side of the joint toward a second side of the joint; simultaneously directing a first arc from a first arc welder against the first side of the joint to produce a first arc-created molten metal pool that joins with the laser-created molten metal pool to form a joined first-side molten metal pool; and simultaneously directing a second arc from a second arc welder against the second side of the joint to produce a second arc-created molten metal pool adjacent the second side of the joint, wherein the laser beam is directed such that the keyhole extends to the second arc-created molten metal pool, whereby the second arc-created molten metal pool is joined by the keyhole with the joined first-side molten metal pool to create a common molten metal pool which solidifies to form a weld extending through the joint from the first side to the second side, and wherein a the common molten metal pool provides stabilization to both the first arc and the second arc.