Overview
EN ISO 15609-6:2013 - Specification and qualification of welding procedures for metallic materials - Welding procedure specification (WPS) - Part 6: Laser‑arc hybrid welding - defines the required content of welding procedure specifications for laser‑arc hybrid welding processes. It lists the variables that influence the quality and properties of the welded joint and gives the structure and technical detail a WPS must contain. Annex A provides an example WPS format for laser‑arc hybrid welding.
Key topics and requirements
This standard requires WPS documentation to include comprehensive, traceable information that controls welding quality. Key technical topics covered:
- Identification and traceability
- Manufacturer identification, WPS identity and references to welding procedure qualification records (WPQR).
- Parent materials and dimensions
- Material identification (by relevant standards), product form and ranges for thickness and outer diameter.
- Welding process designation
- Use of ISO 4063 process codes (e.g., laser + arc shown as “laser + MIG” with appropriate code).
- Joint design and preparation
- Sketches, dimensions, tolerances, surface finish, cleaning and preparation methods.
- Welding position and technique
- Position designation (ISO 6947) and details of runs (tack, welding, cosmetic), oscillation parameters where applicable.
- Fixtures, backing and shielding
- Fixing methods, backing type (material or gas), shielding gas, flow rates, flux requirements and treatment.
- Filler materials and equipment
- Filler classification, wire/strip dimensions, drying/treatment needs, and equipment identification.
- Welding parameters and thermal conditions
- All parameters affecting the weld (laser power, arc parameters, travel speed, geometrical relationships, working distance) and ranges/tolerances.
- Post‑weld operations
- Operations between runs and after welding, clamping/fixture removal and any heat treatment or inspection instructions.
The standard emphasizes specifying ranges and tolerances based on manufacturer experience and noting variables that influence mechanical and metallurgical properties.
Applications and users
EN ISO 15609-6:2013 is practical for:
- Welding engineers and procedure writers creating WPS documents for laser‑arc hybrid processes.
- Quality assurance and inspection teams verifying compliance with documented procedures.
- Fabricators and OEMs implementing laser‑arc hybrid welding in automotive, shipbuilding, energy, aerospace and heavy fabrication.
- Certification and testing laboratories preparing WPQRs and validating WPS scope.
- Standards bodies and procurement teams referencing harmonized WPS content.
Using this standard improves repeatability, traceability and acceptance of hybrid laser‑arc welds and supports compliant qualification and production control.
Related standards
Keywords: EN ISO 15609-6:2013, welding procedure specification, WPS, laser‑arc hybrid welding, hybrid welding, WPQR, welding parameters, joint design.