Hybrid laser lights the way to radically lower costs and higher quality

Florence, SC – The launch of ESAB Welding & Cutting Products’ pioneering Hybrio™ technology marks the entry of the first commercially available automated laser welding system on the global market. Welding at three to ten times the speed of conventional processes, with 80-90% less heat input, enables breakthrough performance gains unseen in a generation of welding process developments. Available in gantry, robotic and specialized automated solutions, ESAB now has a system configuration well suited to many industrial applications. All versions feature ESAB’s unique adaptive welding process control and an easy to use human-machine interface. Fully backed by ESAB’s global support and service organization, customers are assured of optimal reliability and maximized up-time.

ESAB’s Hybrio™ hybrid laser welding technology combines the deep weld penetration and low heat input associated with laser welding with the excellent weld properties and superior gap tolerance of GMAW. This has created a radically new welding alternative. Laser welding produces very narrow, deep welds at very high speeds. This reduces heat input to the part and the associated weld shrinkage and distortion that can make post-welding fit-up unpredictable and costly to repair. Laser-only welding, however, is limited in its ability to produce acceptable welds in joints with wide gaps between parts. Hybrio™ solves this by using GMAW in tandem with the laser, adding a relatively modest amount of filler metal. This permits wider weld beads that can bridge weld gaps that are four times wider than with a conventional laser-only process. Adding GMAW also allows users to add filler metal to adjust the weld’s metallurgical properties and create beads and fillets, while the slower cooling rate reduces hardness in the welds. These benefits are especially advantageous for joining high performance carbon and stainless steels.

ESAB’s patented adaptive control system permits monitoring of the weld joint in real time, modifying the process to accommodate joint gaps and mismatch. This advanced next-generation intelligent control broadens the welding performance envelope by a factor of five compared to hybrid laser welding with conventional controls. This breakthrough in welding control enables the use of hybrid welding on large structures and complex assemblies without excessive reliance on very expensive pre-processing, machining and fixturing.

The Hybrio™ process not only improves process efficiency, overall productivity and weld quality, it also lowers production costs and offers greater versatility than conventional welding processes, establishing a new benchmark for productivity, cost efficiency and flexibility in heavy fabrication applications.

ESAB Welding & Cutting Products is one of the world’s largest and most experienced manufacturers of welding and cutting equipment and welding filler metals. Recognized as the technological leader in the industry, ESAB is committed to providing customized solutions for its customers.

For more information on our pioneer Hybrio™ technology, visit www.esab.com/hlaw or send us an e-mail.

http://www.esab.com/hlaw