A novel approach to regulate energy allocation and melt flow in narrow gap laser welding with electromagnetic assisted wire wobbling

A novel, new approach of electromagnetic assisted wire wobbling to regulate energy allocation, melt flow and metallurgical structure is introduced in laser narrow gap welding of 316 L stainless steel. The formation of melt pool, weld surface morphologies and microstructure features in conventional laser welding, laser wobble welding and electromagnetic assisted wire wobble welding were compared. The results reveal that the forced convection generated by electromagnetic swing wire could broaden the melt pool size and compulsively push high-temperature weld metal towards groove sidewall. The wetting of liquid weld metal on groove sidewall was improved and concave weld morphology was obtained, thereby avoiding incomplete fusion of sidewall and favoring the filling of next weld bead. The temperature and element distribution in weld zone would be more uniform by the periodically and drastically forced convection, which helped to inhibit the growth of columnar crystals and promote the uniform distribution of elements. The average microhardness value in weld zone was uniform with the using of electromagnetic swing wire. Moreover, mechanisms of enhanced sidewall wetting and grain refinement were discussed in electromagnetic assisted wire wobble laser welding.