Laser welding remains a good option for businesses looking to minimize costs and improve productivity in welding operations. Now more than ever, laser welding services are more affordable and accessible, providing faster travel speeds than other processes.
Understanding Laser Welding
Laser welding processes unfold through finely tuned sequences using a highly focused and single laser beam. From the start, this laser beam offers an unparalleled heat source with pinpoint intensity and accuracy. It uses different kinds of lasers to weld as an industrial welding process. Fiber lasers are the more prevalent forms of lasers that welders use for welding. However, you can still use other types, including CO2, Nd, YAG, diode, and blue/green lasers.
Applications
Welders mainly use laser welding in the automotive industry. Welders use lasers because car assembly welding processes sometimes require precision work. In addition, laser welding equipment improves automobile manufacturing and is compatible with automation processes. Apart from the automotive industry, the following sectors also use laser welding:
- Manufacturing industry of electronic components
- Jewelry Making
- Machine production
- Manufacturing of medical devices
- Aerospace industry
Why Use Laser Welding?
According to experts at Micro Weld, there are a lot of reasons why businesses use laser welding. These reasons include the following:
- Narrow and Deep Welds
Laser welding allows for deep and narrow welding, giving reasonable depth to narrow width ratios. Because of that, it is an effective technique for every joint configuration, which is unsuitable through other welding methods, like the stake welding process through a lap joint.
- Quality Welds
If incorporated with wobble features, laser welding machines can produce quality and clean welds with few defects, porosity, or splatter. This is very important in sectors where the appearance of welds is important, like the arts, automotive, food industry, and semiconductors. Businesses that supply stainless hardware to the BBQ world and food industry often use lasers because they require less post-processing. The outcome of this is quality and aesthetically pleasing welds.
- Flexibility and Speed
Laser welding is one of the fastest techniques. Depending on the power and type of laser, you can weld thin materials at a speed of many meters per minute. Therefore, lasers are best when working in automated and high-productivity environments. In addition, laser welding is often automated, with optical fiber being delivered from disk, fiber, or diode lasers. This, in turn, leads to a flexible manufacturing process.
- High Precision and Accuracy
Laser welding processes provide a greater level of accuracy and precision. They produce complicated and microscopic welds with high accuracy and precision. These two properties enable welders to weld smaller parts without causing thermal deformation or damage.
- Suitable for Different Thicknesses and Materials
You can weld or join a variety of materials, including both non-metallic and metallic, using lasers. For instance, you can use materials like titanium, textiles, plastics, stainless steel, nickel alloys, and steel. If you decide to weld steel, you can join the material with a thickness between 1mm and 30mm. However, the success of the process will depend on the power and the type of laser you decide to use.
- Cost-savings
Conventional welding techniques require post-welding processes and extensive preparation. All these can be costly and time-consuming. On the other hand, laser welding provides more streamlined approaches, which minimizes the cost of material and labor. Using laser techniques means businesses can reduce the need for investing in additional materials, such as:
- Fluxes
- Filler metals
In conclusion, laser welding is the most advanced technology, which comes with many benefits in terms of quality, speed, and precision. Whichever industry your business operates in, the technology can help you to assemble important components and parts.
