What is Laser Welding Machine: The Complete FAQ Guide
You may wonder if you are going to need laser welding machine to evolve the manufacturing process in your industry.
The conventional welding may still work but you cannot overlook the efficiency of this laser welding technology.
The fact that you come here is probably because you have doubt about this technology.
No worries, this is the complete Frequently Ask Questions (FAQs) guide that would help you get a better understanding of this highly efficient technology.
What is Laser Welding Machine?
Laser welding machine is a machine that enables the user to conduct a welding process by using laser beam as its heating sources.
How does a Laser Welding Work?
Laser welding works just like conventional welding.
By using high density laser beam, laser welding machine sprays high temperature laser to the edges of joined metal.
The heat then creates a weld by melting the metals so they can stick to one another.
How Strong is Laser Welding?
Nowdays, laser welding machine with power ranging from hundreds of Watts to 60 kW are available on sale.
This range of power is strong enough to conduct welding process comparable to TIG and MIG Welding.
What Types of Laser are Used for Welding?
Fiber laser, YAG pulsed laser, and continuous wave laser are the three most common laser used for welding.
Fiber laser is used for variety of welding covering from electronics to automotive industry.
YAG pulsed laser is suitable for large spot weld like in transportation manufacturing.
And continuous wave laser is ideal for high speed and deep penetrating welding such as in small tool manufacturing.
What is the Difference between Laser Welding and Conventional Welding?
The difference is in the heat source.
Conventional welding, such as TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) Welding and MIG (Metal Inert Gas) Welding, uses shielding gas to create an inert material that can heat up the metals.
Laser welding, on the other hand, uses high density laser beam to heat up the metal.
What is the Advatage of Laser Welding?
Laser welding has tons of advantages some of which include:
It can perform a welding process with high accuracy and precision.
It is capable of connecting complicated join in high speed.
There is no burr formation on the joining result.
It can perform repeatedly and consistently.
It can perform low heat application that that minimizes the distortion on the material used.
The welding result is relatively stronger.
What is the Disadvantage of Laser Welding?
The only disadvantage of laser welding is the cost.
Compared to conventional welding a laser welding machine is highly costly.
What is the Best Handheld Laser Welding Machine for Steel?
Any laser welding machine with enough power would be able to weld steel.
There is, however, one standard handheld laser welding machine which is common to use in simple manufacturing process.
You can look it up here.
Who Invented Laser Welding?
There is no clear record of who first used laser in wielding process.
Welding itself has been practiced by human since 2000 years ago with fire as the heat source.
After the invention of the high power laser, it is only natural that people would adopt it for welding.
The unique trait of laser is just so fit for manufacturing process especially welding.
Does a Laser Welding Use filler?
To strengthen the joint point between two metals, sometimes filler metal is used in the welding process.
The most common filler metal used is metal wire.
During the welding process, the metal wire is melted on the welding spot to add additional sticky element between the metals.
As a result, it would strengthen the bond of the metals.
Where is Laser Beam Welding Used?
Laser beam welding is commonly used in industrial areas that involves metal and plastic in the manufacturing process.
What is the Application of Laser Welding?
The application of laser welding is mainly in manufacturing industry related to metal and plastic.
Metal-based industry that applies laser welding in its manufacturing process includes shipbuilding, automobile, aerospace, fitness equipment, mechanical cabinets, elevator, kitchenware, sheet metal industry and so on.
And the plastic-based industry that applies laser welding in the manufacturing process includes toys, stationary, house tools, kitchenware industry and so on.
What is the Two Process of Laser Welding?
The two process of laser welding are conduction limited welding and keyhole welding.
Conduction limited welding occurs when the power density is low so the beam only touches the surface of the material and do not penetrate it.
Keyhole welding is the common process conducted in laser welding.
In contrast with conduction limited welding, keyhole welding occurs when the power density is high so the beam can penetrate the material.
What is Laser Screw Welding?
Laser screw welding is a welding technique used mostly on automobile industry.
This technique is believed to be highly superior over the conventional resistance spot welding.
The high heat caused by the conventional resistance spot welding can cause the metal joint to deform or distort.
In order to avoid it, the laser has to stop at regular interval which is time consuming.
In contrast, laser screw welding technique uses the laser to weld the metal joint together in much faster speed.
It also generates so little heat.
As a result, the deformation and distortion issues together with the time consuming issues can be solved.
What is the Limitation of Laser Beam Welding?
Below are the limitations of laser beam welding:
The joints must be accurately positioned right under the beam.
Rapid cooling rate may cause cracking in some metal.
The maximum joint thickness that can be welded is limited. Welding penetration of thickness bigger than 19 mm is difficult.
High reflective and high thermal conductive materials like Al and Cu alloy may affect the stabilization of the welding spot.
How to Buy Laser Welding Machine | Best Guide in 2022
Due to its most application than traditional welding, laser welding is most widely used in the industry. In the entertainment electronic market, medical equipment technology and the PV (photovoltaic) industry, the laser welding machines are in high demand.
Want to buy an affordable laser welding machine for custom made metal?
See the best buyer’s guide for CNC laser welders, operators and beginners in 2021. With professional customer support, we will provide you with the best laser welding machines in 2021 to meet your needs.
What is a Laser Welding Machine?
A laser welding machine is welding equipment that uses a fibre laser to connect sections of metal or thermoplastics. The laser beam fibre supplies a focused heating system used for the spot weld, edge of the cord, joint of the lap, seam, kissing welding button, deep welding, high levels narrower solders. In automation applications such as the automotive industry, the process is also used in high volumes. It is based on the socket or the pull model.
Moreover, fibre lasers can be applied for a range of applications from very small pieces to welding of thicker materials in the aerospace and automotive industries, widely used by manufacturers of engineering, medical and electronics industries. Fibre lasers are a multidimensional and affordable way of achieving spot welds of high quality.
Laser Welder and It’s Applications
The laser welding system has a wide variety of applications including fine welding in medical technology, high-precision spot welding, welding in equipment, mould manufacture and full vehicle bodies in auto construction.
Though, the laser soldering machine is used primarily to connect various components to be joined at high laser soldering rates, low thermal loss and thin and narrow welding edges.
In the modern manufacturing process, laser welding is a popular joining method with the opportunity to monitor the online performance, its excellent automation and its high laser soldering rates.
But, without all the benefits of laser, modern and effective methods are always unlikely. Thus, the different performance and thickness of sheet metal are transformed into personalized blanks via the welding resistance spot replaced with laser welding.
Laser Welder and It’s Features
Laser deposit welding
Redeveloped quality repair and upgrade.
Spot and seam welding
Through smaller welding spots to continuous sheets.
Scanner welding
No waste of time by moving workpieces or managing heads.
Laser welding of polymers
A balanced approach for maximum energy and ideal surface connections.
Tube and profile welding
Optimized tube and profile laser welding.
Laser Welding and It’s Benefits
Creating Complicated Joints
You can weld various materials and areas that would be too hard to reach using more conventional welding techniques with laser welding technology. Laser technology can handle difficult joints.
Precision
One of the key advantages of laser welding is that it provides high precision and power. Laser welder can be used without loss to weld the tiny pieces.
Low Heat
The low heat usage of the laser welding technology minimizes part loss. It is also the chosen laser welding procedure for those who manufacture luxury manufacture, such as custom-made jewellery. Laser beams use very local power such that contact-free application is possible, which ensures that the pieces are mounted with less heat expansion.
High Strength
Laser technology makes high strength welds possible for producers. Lasers offer excellent welding quality and clean processing, which makes manufacturers preferable, especially in the medical field where medical device and components are specifically safe.
Consistent
Manufacturers are selecting laser welders as their preferred welding tool number one because it enables reliable and continuous welding. It is a high-speed welding strategy and far more flexible than other traditional techniques. The laser welding devices allow excellent repeatability, making it flexible for companies to reduce unit costs significantly.
Laser Welding Machine – Which Laser to Choose?
Either of the following two types of lasers can be used as a laser welding system –
- Pulsed laser
- Continuous laser
The choice between one and the other depends on the thickness between the two. Consider the advantages of the two.
Advantages of Pulsed Laser
- The pulse-pulls are made of sheet metal, gold-pulse chains ties, titanium pacemakers and razor blades.
- Such a laser avoids melting or deformation of the metal.
- Appropriate for thin and light metals.
Advantages of Continuous Laser
- This is more expensive than the pulsed laser. It also decreases the cost of service.
- Most effective in highly resistant metals.
- Suitable for dense sections welding.
- If you use a metal or component that is too small, you will experience problems. The laser can damage, melt, or deform the portion in such cases.
Welding Machine – Which Configuration to Choose?
For welding machines, there are three types of configurations.
- Manual
- Semi-automatic and
- Automatic
However, your configuration choice will depend on your demand, whether small or huge and your workstation’s setup.
Manual
This requires considerable ability and skill and ease of maintenance in comparison with semi-automatic and automatic devices. The operator has to control the sequence of parts for welding. Best suited for production in small levels.
Semi-Automatic Laser
In a semi-automatic laser welding machine, the controller manually loads the pieces in the welding fixture. They are bigger than hand welding machines and have turntables. Ideal for medium and large industries.
Automatic Laser
These are the biggest laser welders. There is no human interference in these devices and so the user is relieved. The existence of a loading and unloading station reduces time and makes efficiency profits. The devices are robotically placed and handle the part under the laser automatically. Best for large-scale industries. However, it’s costly.
Laser Welding Types
The following can be classified as various laser welding processes –
Plates
Four types of welding processes are available.
- Butt welding
- End welding
- Central penetration melting welding
- Central piercing melting welding
Butt welding requires high-quality butt joint and is normally used for automatic welding or manual welding.
Wire to Wire
There are four different methods of manufacturing, including –
- Wire to wire butt welding
- Cross welding
- Parallel lap welding
- T-shaped welding
Such welding is not usually suited for automatic welding, manual welding or semi-automatic welding.
Metal Wire and Block Component
Laser welding can efficiently attach metal wires with a block element and randomly size the block element. The geometric measurements of the wire components should be taken into consideration in the welding.
Assembly and Sealing of Different Blocks
The joints of parts, such as sensors, include the seal welding and assembly welding.
Repair of Block Objects
Laser welding wire has been melted and placed on the laser surface. Generally suited for mould repair and repair of other items.
Let’s review each of them in details.
- What is Laser Welding Machine?
- How does a Laser Welding Work?
- How Strong is Laser Welding?
- What Types of Laser are Used for Welding?
- What is the Difference between Laser Welding and Conventional Welding?
- What is the Advatage of Laser Welding?
- What is the Disadvantage of Laser Welding?
- What is the Best Handheld Laser Welding Machine for Steel?
- Who Invented Laser Welding?
- Does a Laser Welding Use filler?
- Where is Laser Beam Welding Used?
- What is the Application of Laser Welding?
- What is the Two Process of Laser Welding?
- What is Laser Screw Welding?
- What is the Limitation of Laser Beam Welding?
- How to Buy Laser Welding Machine | Best Guide in 2022
- What is a Laser Welding Machine?
- Laser Welder and It’s Applications
- Laser Welder and It’s Features
- Laser Welding and It’s Benefits
- Laser Welding Machine – Which Laser to Choose?
- Welding Machine – Which Configuration to Choose?
- Laser Welding Types
