Laser-GMA Hybrid Pipe Welding System

Abstract : The combination of laser welding with conventional gas metal arc welding technology offers substantial increases in production rate of joining pipe through single-pass joining compared to multi-pass techniques that are commonly used. The hybrid process has been examined and developed for this application, and the process has been qualified through the American Bureau of Shipping for a wide range of pipe schedules. A system to realize this application has been specified, designed, built, and implemented in General Dynamics NASSCO Shipyard, and been subjected to a seven month evaluation on the production floor. Lessons learned have been documented to benefit future efforts. Fifteen actual production pipe spools were manufactured using the system.