Narrow Gap Welding, Laser Cladding and Hybrid Welding

H. K. D. H. Bhadeshia

These photographs were all taken at CSIRO in Australia. Narrow gap welding is a high productivity process which exploits a special torch which is only 8 mm in width and can reach deep in grooves, allowing very thick plates to be joined using few weld passes.

In laser cladding, the laser is the heat source which melts a filler material which overlays a component. In this case, a power plant component which needs to be wear resistant.

In the hybrid plasma and laser method, the plasma melts a powder which the laser then fuses on to the surface of a component. The major energy source is the plasma. The method allows for high efficiency coating of large areas.

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The narrow gap welding torch developed at CSIRO Woodville.
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Laser cladding in progress.
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The hybrid laser/plasma welding equipment.

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