Have you seen the video in this post? Tabless design cylindrical cells testsCombination of both, I suppose
Spot welding copper thick enough to carry the current needed for most applications is nigh impossible with conventional equipment. Laser or ultrasonic welders would be needed for that.
He successfully welded 0.2 mm copper strip direct (no nickel sandwich) to a 18650 cell using copper flux, using a Glitter 811H set at 30% power. Maybe this special copper flux will allow lower power spot welders like what you have to weld 0.2 mm copper direct to 18650 cells?