Abstract
We investgated high power CO2 laser welding properties of stainless steel (SUS304) using a laser-cut surface as a welding joint surface. We used O2 and N2 gas-assisted laser cutting and a conventional machined surface in this experiment. Results showed that the tensile strength and an impact value of O2 gas-assisted laser-cut surface welding joints were 10% and 50%, relatively lower than other joints, because oxide film obtained by O2 gas assisted-laser cutting, disolved in the weld zone, and its ductility was reduced. Rather straight bead shape was obtained when using O2 gas-assisted laser-cut surface welding.
