New techniques and process control in car body welding with laser radiation

In this paper some examples are discussed concerning overlap welding of zinc-coated and uncoated plates of a typical thickness between 0.7 mm and 4 mm. A 5 kW CO sub 2-laser is used for welding, combined with a roboter system and a gantry. The possibility of process control is discussed at some examples. A new technique using the beam polarization is described.