Pros and Cons of Laser Welding
Various benefits of https://www.hmlasercutter.com/product/surrounding-double-platform-hm-gb1510-series/ have been identified in the medical field. In addition to medical applications, this process has wide range of other uses. Among them are textile, food packaging, biomedical devices, microfluidic chips, windows, signs, and automotive fluid vessels and brake components. This process can be carried out on different materials such as metals, plastics, glass, and even semiconductors. It also has limited drawbacks as well.
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As we’ve mentioned, laser welding offers faster processing speeds and higher quality. However, traditional welding techniques hang on, depending on who you ask and the type of application. Here are the pros and cons of laser welding. So, which one is right for you? Read on to find out more. And remember, there are pros and cons to both technologies. If you’re considering switching from conventional welding to laser welding, make sure to read the following limitations of laser welding first.
In the automotive industry, precision are of utmost importance. For an efficient and high-quality outcome, parts must be safe. Despite its limitations, laser welding is a highly effective process that guarantees the quality and safety of its components. This technology has the greatest application in the manufacturing and repair of automotive parts, but it also offers many other benefits. One of these is time efficiency. Many automotive components and cells are connected with many welds, and laser welding helps avoid the possibility of distortion after cooling.
Costs of laser welding
The costs of laser welding are largely determined by the materials and parts that need to be processed. A basic micro-system to carve wedding rings can cost several thousand euros, while a high-performance laser welding factory can set you back more than a hundred thousand euros. In any case, the high productivity of laser welding will make the costs more than offset by its high cost of production. Laser welding is usually faster than electric welding or inert gas welding. For this reason, laser welding requires a cost calculation for each part.
Laser welding machines generally range from $15k to $30k, but specialized industrial welders can reach $100K. This means that the initial investment for a laser welder is a significant one. However, if you assume that the laser will be operational for at least 70 percent of the time, you can calculate the operating costs of the laser unit. If you have a 5KW laser, for example, your operating costs will come to approximately $10 an hour, while a 2.5KW laser unit will cost you $6 per hour.
Types of lasers used for laser welding
Laser welding is a process of attaching pieces together by applying pulses of light. Each pulse is a different wavelength and dissipates in the form of heat. This type of laser is less efficient than fiber and CO2 lasers, and its settings must be matched to the welding process. The diameter of the laser beam also plays an important role in welding. It should be between 0.2 millimeters.
In addition to these two modes, lasers can be divided into solid-state and fiber-based systems. Each has its own specific properties. The two main modes are below and above the vaporization point. The former welds material with a narrower depth-to-width ratio. The latter provides a stronger weld due to limited heat-affected zone and rapid cooling. Lasers can weld dissimilar metals successfully.
Schematic diagram of laser welding
Typical laser welding equipment is a low-shift beam-type arc welder with a spot size of 200-300 mm. Larger spot sizes are generally only needed for low-shift welding, as larger weld spots require more energy and a greater heat input rate. The weld head functions with a collinear CCD camera to determine proper focal position and weld spot location. The projecting crosshair, or laser beam, is centered on the position of the weld spot.
The laser beams in these machines can operate in continuous or pulsed wave modes. The intensity of a pulsed beam varies with time, and the duration of a pulse is critical for weld penetration. The pulse duration must be long enough to allow conduction and melting at the desired depth. Focusing optics can control the beam power, and the energy density on the work surface. This allows the laser welder to produce welds with high strength.