Institut Maupertuis improves the process of copper laser welding with gap thanks to CANUNDA-HP

Copper welding with gap…

> CU ETP

> 1030 nm

> < = 8 kW

> Large depth of field (+/-4 mm)

> Process window: 3-35m/min

> Limited pores and spatters

> 0 mm to 0.3 mm gap

…with a central spot and ring

in the processing plane:

> Ø Dot = 100 µm
> Ø Ring = 400 µm
> 70% Spot, 30% Ring

Gap Tolerated x1.5

The partner

Institut Maupertuis, a French center of industrial expertise with a test platform and high-quality devices, specializes in high-power laser processes such as laser welding, laser cutting and additive manufacturing. The institute seeks to offer new solutions to the issues faced by its industrial partners.

The application

One of the major challenges of laser welding for e-mobility is copper welding. Many of the components required to operate batteries are made of copper and need to be welded together. For example, busbars are copper or aluminium parts that must be welded for electricity to pass from one component to another (battery, motor,etc.).

The problem

The aim of the study was to carry out laser welding tests on copper samples by transparency on several configurations with a variable gap between plates in order to assess the maximum permissible gap for three optical configurations and thus determine the best solution for dealing with this problem.

The CANUNDA-HP solution

CANUNDA-HP for Copper Welding delivers a beam consisting of an intense spot surrounded by a ring, ideal for copper welding. With its fully reflective design, thanks to MPLC technology and optimal optics cooling, it can handle high powers.

Industrial integration of the CANUNDA-HP Custom Laser Head

CANUNDA-HP was used at the Institut Maupertuis to make welds with Cu ETP samples of different thicknesses (1mm/1mm, 1mm/2mm and 3mm/3mm). It is configured to deliver a 400m diameter ring and a 100m diameter central spot (70% of the energy in the central spot, 30% in the ring). It has already enabled us to weld busbars, with limited pores and spatter.