Laser seamless welding is Haier's first introduction and comprehensive promotion of the inner cylinder manufacturing process in China. It reduces the gap of the riveted inner cylinder commonly used in the industry from 8mm to 0.55mm, with only 10 hairs thick and thin. It can be called a manufacturing process revolution in the washing machine industry. The following introduces the technology of laser welding in the inner cylinder of washing machine.
This paper introduces the process technology of laser welding technology in the inner cylinder of washing machine. Firstly, we understand the changes of the inner cylinder process of washing machine. In 1928, the world's first drum washing machine was born, and the riveted inner cylinder has always occupied the mainstream position. Riveting technology uses rivets for mechanical connection. There are many gaps or irregularities at the joints, and the 8mm gap is very easy to cause clothing wear. At the end of the last century, the laser welding technology gradually matured and was first applied to precision manufacturing industries such as aerospace, aircraft, ships and even automobiles. The laser welding technology in the household appliance industry started late. While the industry is still focusing on upgrading the riveted inner cylinder, Haier took the lead in studying electric welding and laser welding.
Although laser welding and riveting processes are also involved in many fields, these two transition trends are particularly obvious in the field of washing machines. From the process analysis, the strength of the inner cylinder made by laser seamless welding technology is nearly 4 times that of the inner cylinder made by riveting technology, and the smoothness of the interface is nearly 15 times higher. The smooth seams of the inner cylinder are designed to better protect the fabric of clothes. This is an experience that riveting technology is difficult to achieve. At the same time, it is also meeting the consumers' demand for quality life under the current consumption upgrading trend.
Laser seamless welding is a fusion connection. Compared with riveting technology, it has higher requirements on the refinement of raw materials and welding environment. In the welding process, the burr and straightness of the inner cylinder sheet, the matching of the tooling and fixture, the power, focal length and running speed of the laser welding should be closely coordinated.
The washing machine has the largest cylinder diameter of 525mm in the industry, which not only realizes the washing demand of the same volume and larger capacity, but also greatly improves the difficulty of inner cylinder welding. During welding, the diagonal dimension error of raw steel plate shall not exceed 1mm, the tangent precision of inner cylinder shall be controlled within 0.05mm, and the vertical angle of slice shall be controlled within 0.05 °. In the face of improving the manufacturing accuracy of the inner cylinder by more than 10 times, Haier has introduced multinational resources from six countries around the world to study product solutions, and has undergone repeated experiments. Finally, the inner cylinder is smooth and smooth with 0.55mm by high-speed fusion welding in 0.02 seconds at 1500 ° high temperature. The inner cylinder is repeatedly rubbed with real silk without snagging, and the roses are still intact after 20 minutes of cleaning. The example of seeing is the reality proves the extreme care of the laser seamless welding inner cylinder for clothes.
The above is the process technology of laser welding technology in the inner cylinder of washing machine. From traditional riveting to laser seamless welding, it is another innovation iteration in the manufacturing process of washing machine industry. At present, the laser seamless welding technology has become the mainstream trend in the washing machine industry, while the traditional riveting technology will continue to shrink with the upgrading of market demand, and then withdraw from the historical stage. Haier is the first enterprise to develop and popularize laser seamless welding technology in the washing machine industry. In recent years, Haier has upgraded to meet the needs of users for laundry care and popularized direct drive washing machines all over the world. The innovation of this power system has brought revolutionary improvement to the high-speed operation of the washing machine, making it possible to rotate at 1400 and 1600 revolutions per minute, and also bringing upgrading requirements to the strength of the inner cylinder.
Source: Wuhan Ruifeng Optoelectronics
