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As you can tell from the title, today we’re going to look at an extremely advanced technology, namely laser welding. We will look at its principle, advantages and places of use, compare it to the more traditional welding to find out whether LBW is really good or whether it is better to choose alternatives.
Is laser welding different from conventional welding?
To begin, let us define what we mean. So, laser welding is the process of joining materials with a focused light beam. There are two main ways of fusing materials: laser welding and arc welding, which is more traditional. In arc welding, like MIG and TIG, an electric arc is used to melt metal and create a junction. This process is well-known for being reliable and being used a lot in industry, but it often causes a lot of heat distortion and needs further machining.
Additionally, laser welding produces a clean, exact bond with little distortion of the objects being connected because it uses a highly concentrated laser beam. Compared to arc one, this method precisely joins thin materials, most commonly metals and plastics, more quickly. Nonetheless, because of its affordability and adaptability, the latter is still in demand. Due to its efficiency, accuracy, and ability to operate in conditions where conventional methods could be less effective, laser beam welding has gained popularity.
In contrast to conventional techniques like tungsten inert gas (TIG) and continuous arc welding (MIG), laser beam helps to weld relatively thin materials with great precision and little distortion.
What types of laser welders are there?
They are mainly differentiated by the type of laser source built in. Let’s look at some examples.
Solid
One of the most commonly used solid-state lasers is the fiber laser. It has high efficiency, is compact and will reliably last for more than one year.
Another type is neodymium. Its distinctive feature is that it can operate in both pulsed and continuous modes, providing high accuracy and control.
Disk lasers have an active medium in the form of a thin disk, thanks to which high power is achieved while maintaining the quality of the beam.
Semiconductor
This category of lasers includes diode lasers. They are energy efficient, fairly compact and are often used for welding thin and small parts.
Things to think about when selecting laser beam welding machines?
So, you have decided to buy one — where to start, what to pay attention to? Let’s figure it out!
First things first, you need to understand why you need it. Do you really need a laser or is arc welding more suitable? If you clearly understand that your production requires the first option — great, let’s move on. Let’s break down each criterion in detail.
Laser mode of operation
Make a decision between pulsed and continuous lasers based on your production requirements. The latter are more appropriate for rapid and effective welding in mass-production settings, like the car industry. When doing sensitive tasks like welding jewelry or electronic components, pulsed lasers are the way to go.
Kind of laser source
The most suitable option for a laser welder is the fiber laser type. It is highly efficient and accurate, which is indispensable for this type of production. The Wattsan 4-in-1 and 5-in-1 models, for example, are just right for all requirements and for all necessary welding tasks.
Laser power
When choosing the right power, you should base your choice on the type of material and its thickness. For example, for thin metal sheets, a power in the range of 150-500 watts is sufficient. But for welding of large thicknesses, e.g. thick steel, or for mass production it is better to choose a power of 1 kilowatt or more.
Cost
The criterion is vital. Even if you think that your budget is big enough, you may find machines that cost more. Remember that there is not only the initial cost of buying the equipment, but also consumables, electricity, etc.
Service and support
Do not underestimate this criterion. Of course, when buying a product we may not think about the fact that at some point we will need to repair or replace parts, but everything happens in life! So pay attention to whether local technical support is available and whether you can get parts and consumables quickly.
In general, to make sure you don’t make a mistake when choosing a laser welder, consider as many criteria as possible, even the seemingly minor ones.
What materials are laser weldable?
All in all, a handheld laser welding equipment is capable of joining metals, polymers, ceramics, and other materials together. Combinations of various metals, polymers, and metal kinds are also possible. Elements with additions that alter the metal’s resistance to corrosion can be joined together. The product layer that needs to be welded might have a maximum thickness of 2 cm.
What business needs laser beam welders?
This machinery is versatile and useful in almost any business. It is especially popular in aircraft, ship and car building, electronics, jewelry, watchmaking, medical industry and so on.
Below are also some examples of products that can be manufactured using laser welding:
- Solar panels;
- Airplane structures, turbine blades;
- Sensors, microchips;
- Surgical instruments;
- Chassis, batteries;
- Jewelry, watch details.
Extraordinary applications for laser welders
Let’s look at some really interesting and unusual aspects of laser welding:
Underwater laser beam welding
This industrial process can be performed underwater, which opens up new opportunities for the repair and construction of underwater facilities such as oil platforms and underwater tube lines. This is especially useful in cases where traditional welding methods are ineffective or impossible.
Laser beam welding in space
The use of laser welding under space circumstances is among its most unusual applications. In order to build and repair spacecraft while they are in orbit, NASA and other space agencies are investigating the use of this type of welding. These machines operate well in microgravity without the use of additional sophisticated tools.
Laser beam welding in art
Artists and sculptors use laser welding to create unique pieces of metal art. High precision and the ability to work with different materials allow artists to bring the most daring ideas to life.
Laser welding in 3D printing
Laser welding is used in additive manufacturing (3D printing) to create complex metal parts. The laser melts the metal powder layer by layer, creating durable and detailed products. This allows you to create parts that cannot be manufactured using traditional methods.
These examples demonstrate how diverse and innovative the application of laser welding is in various fields of activity, from space to art and medicine.
The bottom line
Thus, we now know that laser beam welding provides excellent accuracy and very little material deformation. To guarantee the optimum fit for production requirements, it’s crucial to take the type, power, and mode of operation of a laser into account when choosing a machine. Compared to MIG and TIG welding, it is therefore the ideal choice for sectors requiring the highest level of precision as well as for large production facilities with huge batches. Thus, in today’s industry, laser welding is emerging as a crucial instrument for raising quality and productivity.