Process for the continuous production of thin-walled hollow profiles which are composed of nonferrous metals and have small diameters and are corrugated in sections

Abstract

A process for the continuous production of thin-walled, radially closed hollow profiles which are composed of nonferrous metals and have a small cross section comprises supply of a flat strip of the nonferrous metal to a forming apparatus () at a first supply speed, where the thickness of the strip corresponds to the wall thickness of the hollow profile. The forming apparatus () is configured for continuous forming of the flat strip supplied into a shape corresponding to the hollow profile. After forming, two opposite edges of the flat strip rest flush against one another in a contact region. A welding apparatus () continuously welds the edges which rest flush against one another by means of a laser which emits light having a wavelength of less than 600 nm. The laser heats a point in a welding region which has a diameter which is less than 20% of the cross-sectional dimension of the hollow profile. The welded hollow profile is taken off from the welding region, provided in a corrugator () with parallel or helical corrugation in sections and taken up in an uptake device ().