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.

Abstract: During laser beam welding a so-called end crater forms at the end of the weld seam. The end crater is formed by the volume shrinkage of the solidifying melt after the laser beam reaches the seam end and is switched off or repositioned. The end crater acts as a geometric notch or groove and deteriorates the mechanical properties of the weld seam, so that holes or tears in the area of the end crater can occur. The task of the present invention as comprised therein, of providing a laser weld seam with reduced end crater and a process for production thereof. The task is solved thereby, that 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.