Magna International Inc.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING AN ACTIVE JOINING FORCE DURING LASER WELDING OF OVERLAPPING WORKPIECES

Abstract:

A pressing device for a laser welding apparatus includes an arm member with opposite mounting and pressing ends. A pressing pad at the pressing end has an opening for allowing a laser beam to irradiate a workpiece assembly that is being pressed by the pressing device. The mounting end has a mounting structure for detachably securing the pressing device to the laser welding apparatus. The arm member is shaped to position the opening at a known fixed distance from a laser source of the laser welding apparatus. The pressing pad has a pressing surface on a workpiece-facing side thereof for applying a joining force to the workpiece assembly at a welding location. At least one of the size, shape and smoothness of the pressing surface allows a sliding-contact movement of the pressing surface along a surface of the workpiece assembly during application of the pressing force.