Abstract: In many cases, the coating material of coated sheet metal has a significantly lower boiling point than the sheet metal material. Thus, an explosive vaporization of coating material can occur when sheet metal of this type is joined by welding, negatively affecting the quality of the connection. To improve the connection quality, narrow gaps are created by means of spacers, allowing the vaporized coating material to escape through said gaps. The spacers are created e.g. by the laser radiation of the sheet metal. The aim of the invention is to reduce the variations in distance between the sheet metal sheets by the appropriate shaping of the spacers. This is achieved by a method, in which the laser beam executes a movement comprising transverse and longitudinal components through and/or around the center of its processing surface. This creates a topographical modification with a spherical form, i.e. with an apex radius that is greater than the height of said topographical modification.

Abstract: A laser weld seam with reduced end crater and a process for production thereof are provided. The seam end is provided at a location, which exhibits a excessive material relative to the surrounding surface or thereby, that the seam towards the seam end exhibits a counter-running direction change of its preferred direction, which is designed in such a manner, that as a consequence of the interaction between cooling forward and counter-running seam a backfill of the melt towards the seam end occurs.