Page:Advanced Automation for Space Missions.djvu/304

Table 5.17.- Typical Performance Data For CO₂ Welding/Cutting Lasers

Demonstration butt welds on tanker construction steels (Nagler, 1976)
Thickness		Laser power, kW	Weld speed		Comment
in.	mm		in./min	mm/sec
0.375	9.5	10.8	50	21.2	Single pass
0.375	9.5	10.8	45	19.0	Single pass
0.5	12.7	12.0	27	11.4	Single pass
0.5	12.7	12.0	30	12.7	Single pass
0.625	15.9	12.0	24	10.2	Single pass
0.75	19.1	12.0	45	19.0	Dual pass
1.0	25.4	12.0	30	12.7	Dual pass
1.0	25.4	12.0	30	12.7	Dual pass
1.125	28.6	12.8	27	11.4	Dual pass
0.375-0.5	9.5-12.7	11.0	90	38.1	Tee joint
0.375-0.5	9.5-12.7	7.5	65	27.5	Tee joint
1.0	25.4	12.0	27	11.4	Dual passa
1.0	25.4	12.0	25	10.6	Dual passa
a0.001-in. (0.03 mm) aluminum foil preplaced at weld interface

Material	Thickness		Weld type	Laser power, kW	Weld speed		Number of pieces
	in.	mm			in./min	mm/sec
HY-130 steel	0.25	6.4	Butt	5.5	50	21.2	3
HY-180 steel	0.062	1.6	Butt	5.5	160	67.7	2
HY-180 steel	0.062	1.6	Lap	5.5	140	59.2	1

Typical cutting and drilling rates for a 1-kW CO2 laser (Yankee, 1979)
Metal thickness, in.	Stainless steel	Cutting rates (in./min)		Titanium
		Aluminum	Galvanized steel
0.020	750	800	250	---
0.032	650	---	---	---
0.040	550	350	100	250
0.062	450	200	50	150
0.080	325	100	---	100
0.125	200	---	---	---

Drilling rate: less than 1 msec is required to drill each of these holes:
Material	Thickness	Hole diameter
Tungsten	0.020 in. (0.51 mm)	0.020 in. (0.51 mm)
Ceramic	0.020 in. (0.51 mm)	0.050 in. (1.27 mm)
Brass	0.010 in. (0.25 mm)	0.250 in. (6.35 mm)