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Title: Cost and Weight Reduction and Stiffness Improvement in a Liftgate through the use of Non-Linear Laser Welded Blanks
Document #: SAE 1999-01-3163
Presented at: International Body Engineering Conference & Exposition
(IBEC), September 1999, Detroit MI.
Author: Jonathan Drouin & Jody Shaw, U. S. Steel; Mark Williamson, Olympic Laser Processing.
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Abstract: With the increased focus on weight reduction in automotive body-in-white panels, laser welded blanks (LWB) have been embraced in the design of major body panels and closures. Current applications for laser welded blanks generally consist of two differently gaged blanks combined via a linear weld line. Advancing technology now offers opportunities to incorporate non-linear weld lines and part configurations of more than two blanks. This study shows how a liftgate inner panel featuring non-linear laser weld lines can be designed, which will decrease weight and cost, and improve stiffness performance.
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