Laser Welding Characteristics for Sheet Metal Components
Sheet metal parts are products manufactured through sheet metal processing techniques, and they are indispensable in our daily lives. Today, Tuoer Metal Laser Welding Machine Manufacturer will briefly introduce sheet metal laser welding machines.
Laser welding of sheet metal components utilizes a high-intensity laser beam. After focusing through an optical system, the power density at the laser focal point reaches 10⁴ to 10⁷ W/cm². The workpiece is placed near this focal point for heating and melting. Whether melting occurs and its intensity primarily depend on the duration of laser exposure, power density, and peak power at the material surface. By controlling these parameters, lasers can perform various welding processes. Due to the laser's unique properties—high brightness, high directionality, high monochromaticity, and high coherence—it finds extensive application in industrial processing, becoming a crucial welding technique.
Characteristics of Sheet Metal Laser Welding:
(1) High aspect ratio. The weld is deep and narrow, resulting in a bright, aesthetically pleasing seam.
(2) Low heat input. The high power density enables extremely rapid melting, resulting in minimal heat input to the workpiece. Fast welding speeds minimize thermal distortion and reduce the heat-affected zone.
(3) High density. Continuous agitation of the molten pool during weld formation facilitates gas escape, producing a dense, through-penetration weld free of porosity. The high cooling rate after welding promotes fine-grained microstructure refinement, yielding welds with superior strength, toughness, and overall performance.
(4) Strong and robust welds. The high-temperature heat source and thorough absorption of non-metallic constituents produce a purifying effect, reducing impurity content and altering the size and distribution of inclusions within the molten pool. The absence of electrodes or filler wires during welding minimizes contamination in the melted zone, resulting in weld strength and toughness that are at least equivalent to, or even exceed, those of the base metal.
(5) Precise Control. The minuscule focused spot enables high-precision weld positioning. The beam is easily transmitted and controlled, eliminating frequent torch or nozzle replacement. This significantly reduces auxiliary downtime, boosts production efficiency, and allows for rapid stop-and-start operations at high speeds due to the beam's lack of inertia.
(6) Non-contact, atmospheric welding process. Since energy originates from the laser, no physical contact occurs between the workpieces, eliminating applied forces. Furthermore, magnetic fields have no effect on laser welding.
(7) Low average heat input and high processing precision reduce rework costs. Additionally, laser welding operates at lower running costs, thereby lowering part costs.
(8) Easily automated with effective control over beam intensity and precise positioning.