[1] The combination of laser light and an electrical arc into an amalgamated welding process has existed since the 1970s, but has only recently been used in industrial applications.
Whereas in the early days laser sources still had to prove their suitability for industrial use, today they are standard equipment in many manufacturing enterprises.
This means that a laser beam and an electrical arc act simultaneously in one welding zone, influencing and supporting each other.
The resulting higher quality of beam can be exploited either to obtain a smaller focus diameter or a larger focal distance.
In laser-hybrid welding, using MIG, vaporisation takes place not only from the surface of the workpiece but also from the filler wire, so that more metal vapor is available to facilitate the absorption of the laser radiation.
Over the years a great deal of research has been done to understand fatigue behavior, particularly for new techniques like laser-hybrid welding, but knowledge is still limited.