Abstract
Experiments on laser beam welding of sheets of stainless steel to brass sheets were performed using a high power CO 2 -laser. The welds were produced to fulfil various technical and decorative demands in the manufacture of door handles. One requirement was to produce a weld strong enough to withstand a deep drawing process. On the other hand the weld should show a straight and "clear" borderline between both metals when viewed by the naked eye. Both aims were achieved by the laser welding process used in these experiments. The mechanical properties of the dissimilar metal welds exhibited a higher tensile and yield strength than welds of brass-brass joints. Deep drawing of the welded sheets to form semispherical shells were possible without the welds showing cracks. The intermixing region of the molten weld could be kept below 200 µm enabling a "perfect" seam after surface finishing.