Effect of Beam Oscillation Patterns on Laser Welding of 304L Stainless Steel: An Experimental and Modeling Study

Abstract

Laser welding is increasingly recognized for its precision and efficacy, particularly in handling complex materials like 304L stainless steel. This study investigates the impact of various laser welding parameters, including laser power, welding speed, and beam oscillation patterns (sinusoidal, square, and triangular), on the quality of welded joints. Using the Taguchi method, we structured an L9 experimental design to analyze these parameters systematically. The key findings revealed that beam oscillation patterns significantly influence both the microhardness and tensile strength of the welds. Notably, square and sinusoidal patterns achieved higher microhardness values than triangular patterns, which correlated with their differing impacts on the weld's mechanical properties. Further analysis using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression models validated the critical roles of laser power and welding speed, offering predictive insights into optimizing welding conditions for enhanced joint integrity. This study provides a foundational approach for tailoring laser welding settings to improve weld quality in industrial applications, contributing to the body of knowledge with specific data on the effects of beam oscillation in 304L stainless steel welding.