National+ Laser Welders



National+ Laser Welders Products





National+ Laser Welders Description

A laser welder functions by using a concentrated beam of light to join materials, primarily metals or thermoplastics, through the process of melting and fusing them together. Here's a detailed overview of how it works:

Heat Source: The laser provides a highly focused heat source, allowing for narrow, deep welds with minimal distortion due to the small heat-affected zone. This is achieved because laser welding can deliver energy with high precision to a very small area, often in the form of a spot or a line.
Welding Modes: 
Conduction Mode: At lower power settings, the laser heats the materials to the point of melting without vaporizing them, creating shallow welds.
Keyhole Mode: At higher power densities, the laser beam can vaporize metal to form a keyhole or cavity in the material. The pressure from the vaporized metal keeps the keyhole open, allowing the laser to penetrate deeper into the material, resulting in deep and narrow welds.
Precision and Speed: Laser welding is renowned for its precision, which is crucial for applications requiring exact welds. It also offers high welding speeds, much faster than traditional methods like TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding, which can significantly increase productivity in manufacturing.
Materials: It can weld a wide range of materials, including but not limited to steel, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, and copper, often without the need for additional filler material. However, for some applications, filler material might be used to fill gaps or improve weld quality.
Automation: Laser welding is particularly suited for automation, as the process can be precisely controlled by computer systems. This is beneficial in industries like automotive, electronics, and aerospace, where high volume or high precision is required.
Safety and Environment: While laser welding offers advantages in terms of clean welds with minimal post-weld cleanup, it does require specific safety measures due to the risks associated with laser beams, like eye damage or fires.
Applications: It's used in applications where traditional welding methods might be less effective, such as welding thin materials, dissimilar materials, or when very precise control over the weld bead is necessary.

Laser welders have become more accessible with the introduction of handheld models, which combine the benefits of laser welding with ease of use, allowing even less experienced operators to achieve professional results quickly. 

For further reading on the specifics of laser welding, including types of lasers used and detailed process parameters, you might look into resources like those from engineering and manufacturing websites or manufacturer's guides