Features of Laser Welding Machines
Wuxi Top Optics Laser specializes in the research, development, production, and sales of laser technology as a new industry. With an annual output of 1,000 units, the company primarily manufactures laser welding machines, laser cutting machines, and laser marking machines. Laser welding technology has now reached maturity, finding applications across diverse industries—from small stainless steel kettles to large-scale aerospace projects.
The principle of welding machines involves using high-energy laser pulses to locally heat minute areas of material. The energy from laser radiation diffuses into the material's interior through heat transfer, melting the material to form a specific molten pool. This innovative welding method is primarily suited for thin-walled materials and precision components, enabling spot welding, butt welding, lap welding, and seal welding. It achieves high aspect ratios, with narrow weld widths, minimal heat-affected zones, low distortion, and high welding speeds. The welds are smooth and aesthetically pleasing, often requiring no or only minimal post-weld treatment. They exhibit high quality, are free of porosity, and allow precise control. The focused spot size is small, positioning accuracy is high, and implementation is straightforward.
Welding Characteristics
Laser welding is a fusion welding process utilizing a laser beam as the energy source, which impacts the joint of the workpieces.
The laser beam is guided by flat optical elements (such as mirrors) and then projected onto the weld seam via reflective focusing elements or lenses.
Laser welding is a non-contact process requiring no pressure during operation. However, inert gas shielding is essential to prevent oxidation of the molten pool, and filler metal may occasionally be used.
Laser welding can be combined with MIG welding to form laser-MIG hybrid welding, achieving deep penetration while significantly reducing heat input compared to MIG welding alone.
Advantages:
1) Heat input can be minimized to the absolute minimum requirement, resulting in a small heat-affected zone with minimal metallurgical changes and minimal deformation caused by heat conduction.
(2) Welding parameters for single-pass welding of 32mm plate thickness have been validated, reducing thick plate welding time and potentially eliminating filler metal usage.
(3) Eliminates electrical contact, avoiding contamination or damage concerns. As a non-contact process, tool wear and deformation are minimized.
(4) The laser beam is easily focused, aligned, and guided by optical instruments. It can be positioned at an appropriate distance from the workpiece and redirected around surrounding equipment or obstacles—limitations that prevent other welding methods from operating effectively in such confined spaces.
(5) Workpieces can be placed in enclosed spaces (under vacuum or with controlled internal gas environments).
(6) The laser beam can be focused on a very small area, enabling welding of small components with close spacing.
(7) It can weld a wide range of materials and join dissimilar materials together.
(8) It is easily automated for high-speed welding and can be controlled digitally or by computer.
(9) When welding thin sheets or fine wires, it does not suffer from the backflow issues common in arc welding.
(10) Unaffected by magnetic fields (unlike arc welding and electron beam welding), enabling precise alignment of workpieces.
(11) Capable of joining two metals with differing physical properties (e.g., varying resistivity).
(12) Requires neither vacuum nor X-ray shielding.
(13) With keyhole welding, the weld depth-to-width ratio can reach 10:1.
(14) A switching device can direct the laser beam to multiple workstations.