A method for fusion welding of one or more steel sheets (1, 2) made of press-hardened steel, preferably manganese-boron steel is disclosed. At least one of the steel sheets has a metallic coating (4) which contains aluminum, and the fusion welding is performed while filler material (11) is being fed into the molten bath (9). In order to improve the hardenability of the weld seam (14), irrespective of whether the steel sheets to be welded together are steel sheets of the same or different material grades and/or steel sheets of different sheet thicknesses, a single laser focal spot (16) with different energy distribution is generated on the molten bath by means of one or more optical elements such that the laser focal spot (16) has a smaller laser focal spot area (16.1) and a larger laser focal spot area (16.2).

To solve the problem about the difference in temperature increasing rate between an overlapped part and a one-sheet part so as to further improve the corrosion resistance of plating after hot stamping. An overlapped blank for hot stamping includes: a first steel sheet; and at least one second steel sheet connected to a surface of the first steel sheet via a welding point and smaller in area than the first steel sheet, wherein: the first steel sheet is a plated steel sheet having an aluminum-based plated layer on both faces of the first steel sheet, and the second steel sheet is a plated steel sheet having an aluminum-based plated layer on both faces of the second steel sheet; a coating weight of the aluminum-based plated layer on the first steel sheet is W1 (g/m.sup.2) in terms of an average coating weight on both the faces; a coating weight of the aluminum-based plated layer on a surface on a side not in contact with the first steel sheet in the second steel sheet is W2 (g/m.sup.2); and each of the W1 and the W2 is within a range of 20 g/m.sup.2 or more and 120 g/m.sup.2 or less, and satisfies relationships of Expression (1) and Expression (2).

A method for laser welding the end faces of joints of two connecting flanges, which are held against each other, of two connecting partners made from a steel material, of which at least one is provided with a metallic coating with an evaporation temperature that is below the melting temperature of the steel material. The method is carried out such that, for the process of laser welding, the connecting flanges of the two connecting partners are held against each other enclosing an angle that opens pointing in a direction from the joint side on which the laser is applied, as a result of which a degassing gap, which increases in the direction of heat introduction, is provided between the connecting flanges, through which degassing gap evaporation products of the coating material resulting from the introduction of heat are carried off.

A method for laser welding the end faces of joints of two connecting flanges, which are held against each other, of two connecting partners made from a steel material, of which at least one is provided with a metallic coating with an evaporation temperature that is below the melting temperature of the steel material. The method is carried out such that, for the process of laser welding, the connecting flanges of the two connecting partners are held against each other enclosing an angle that opens pointing in a direction from the joint side on which the laser is applied, as a result of which a degassing gap, which increases in the direction of heat introduction, is provided between the connecting flanges, through which degassing gap evaporation products of the coating material resulting from the introduction of heat are carried off.

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing an equal-strength steel thin-wall welding component with an aluminum or aluminum-alloy plating, wherein the plating comprises an intermetallic compound alloy layer in contact with the base body and a metal alloy layer on the intermetallic compound alloy layer; the plating is not removed or thinned before or during welding; and by presetting a welding gap and using a carbon-manganese-steel welding wire, a welding process and protective gas for welding, the tensile strength of a welding seam of the welding component after hot stamping processing is greater than the tensile strength of a base metal, and the elongation of a welded joint is greater than 4% Further disclosed are a welding wire for welding and an equal-strength steel thin-wall welding component with an aluminum or aluminum-alloy plating.

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing an equal-strength steel thin-wall welding component with an aluminum or aluminum-alloy plating, wherein the plating comprises an intermetallic compound alloy layer in contact with the base body and a metal alloy layer on the intermetallic compound alloy layer; the plating is not removed or thinned before or during welding; and by presetting a welding gap and using a carbon-manganese-steel welding wire, a welding process and protective gas for welding, the tensile strength of a welding seam of the welding component after hot stamping processing is greater than the tensile strength of a base metal, and the elongation of a welded joint is greater than 4% Further disclosed are a welding wire for welding and an equal-strength steel thin-wall welding component with an aluminum or aluminum-alloy plating.

Various embodiments directed to manufacturing a battery assembly or battery pack are described. In some embodiments, the manufacturing process utilizes a welding jig to facilitate the placement and disposition of cell connection materials to battery cells when forming a battery assembly or pack. Using the jig, the connection materials can be fused to the cells using a laser welding process. In doing so, the process enables certain materials, typically unsuitable for welding processes (e.g., spot welding) to be utilized as connection materials between cells.

Various embodiments directed to manufacturing a battery assembly or battery pack are described. In some embodiments, the manufacturing process utilizes a welding jig to facilitate the placement and disposition of cell connection materials to battery cells when forming a battery assembly or pack. Using the jig, the connection materials can be fused to the cells using a laser welding process. In doing so, the process enables certain materials, typically unsuitable for welding processes (e.g., spot welding) to be utilized as connection materials between cells.

The invention concerns an apparatus and a method for laser processing. There is provided at least one first laser beam from at least one first optical feed fiber connected to at least one first laser device and at least one second laser beam from at least one second optical feed fiber connected to at least one second laser device. Said first and second laser beams are combined in a multi-core optical fiber. Said first core of said multi-core optical fiber has a circular cross-section, and said second core has an annular shape concentric to said first core. A composite laser beam comprising first and second output beams is directed from said multi-core optical fiber to a workpiece with overlapping elements to be welded.

The invention concerns an apparatus and a method for laser processing. There is provided at least one first laser beam from at least one first optical feed fiber connected to at least one first laser device and at least one second laser beam from at least one second optical feed fiber connected to at least one second laser device. Said first and second laser beams are combined in a multi-core optical fiber. Said first core of said multi-core optical fiber has a circular cross-section, and said second core has an annular shape concentric to said first core. A composite laser beam comprising first and second output beams is directed from said multi-core optical fiber to a workpiece with overlapping elements to be welded.