do some hybrid and limited keyhole welding as the beam quality is not as good as fi ber or disk lasers). Most often laser welding is done autogenously


ILC Laser Micro Welding Pulsed Nd:YAG laser micro welding of computer battery. Courtesy of Miyachi America


tics and lasers that can weld visually clear plastics.


Laser Macro Welding—High-Power Laser Welding By David Krattley, Industrial Sales Manager— Materials Processing, IPG Photonics


Some general specifi cations and limits of high-


power laser welding are weld speeds in the range of 40–350 ipm (1–9 m/min) and weld depths up to 5/8" (16 mm).


Lasers have been an industrial tool for more than


30 years. The laser sources being used for high-power laser welding before 2003 were CO2 and fl ashlamp pumped CW YAG lasers. Since 2003, diode-based lasers have taken over the majority share of this in- dustrial laser market segment. This is partly due to the commercial benefi ts of these diode-based products such as smaller size, reduced power consumption, and decreased maintenance and partly due to the improved optical and delivery characteristics. There are a variety of these laser types, the main ones being fi ber lasers, disk lasers, and fi ber delivered direct diode (for the purpose of high- power welding this laser can


Laser Seam Stepper (replacement for resistance spot welder). Courtesy of IPG Photonics


LF12 MfgEngMedia.com


and part fi t-up and fi xturing are key elements. For diffi cult material combinations, poor part fi tup, and welds with deeper penetration than autogenous methods permit, hybrid welding is used. Methods include the addition of either cold or hot wire with laser. Some of the benefi ts of the fi ber and disk lasers (in addition to being fi ber delivered which makes integration to robots or equipment easy) are very good beam quality which allows the use of long focal lengths and the ability to do remote welding. Remote welding uses special optics or a high-power galva- nometer to steer the beam and produce very fast welds. High-power laser welding is used by aerospace,


automotive, mining, construction, and agriculture in a variety of applications. The benefi ts of speed and repeatability make lasers an excellent choice for high production parts that demand quality welds. Some such applications are transmission gears, muffl er components, axles, and body in white. New applica- tions are constantly being developed for these new diode-based high beam-quality sources, one such application is a laser seam stepper that replaces a traditional resistance spot welder.


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