The fast-paced world of metalworking is drastically changing with the introduction of handheld laser welding tools. Welders no longer have to rely on huge workshops for their work as it has become easier, faster, and more precise. The use of handheld laser welders offers unmatched flexibility and efficiency, which changes the way welding is customarily done. This article is designed to assist you and provide in detail everything you need to know about how these tools are shifting the paradigms of the metalworking world. We will examine in detail the unique features and benefits these tools have when compared to conventional welding methods, explain how they are used in practical situations, and point out the reasons why handheld laser welders are going to be the most important tools in precision metalworking. From a professional to a hobbyist, this article will show how these lasers are carving a niche in the field of craftsmanship and why you should care.
What is a Handheld Laser Welder, and How Does It Work?
A handheld laser welder is a portable device used for joining metal parts through a high-intensity focused laser beam. As the laser is applied, high-intensity heat is produced at the point of contact, which melts the material being welded. This method provides great control and precision, which results in very strong, clean welds with very little distortion. Handheld laser welders are easy to use due to their ergonomically shaped interfaces, which makes them useful in different fields such as manufacturing, automotive, and aerospace industries. Their accuracy and ease of use make them suitable for very complex and precise welding tasks.
Understanding the Laser Welding Machine
The laser welding machine employs a focused beam of light to join materials together with great accuracy and little heat damage by using a laser light focused on the aim surface, which produces adequate warmth to blend the materials together. This process is effective, precise, and flexible in carrying out complex or sensitive welding operations. Its typical uses are in automobile assembling, electronics fabrication, and manufacturing of medical instruments. Laser welding machines are preferred for their capability to provide strong and lasting joints throughout the workpieces without considerable subsequent treatments.
The Welding Process of a Handheld Laser
The portable laser welder simplifies the welding process by integrating precise laser technology and the convenience of a hand-held device. The process itself utilizes a highly concentrated laser beam that is projected onto the area to be welded. The energy from the beam melts material surfaces at a rapid pace, and when the beam is removed, the bond cools and becomes tightly fused. Compared to traditional welding techniques, handheld laser welding does not require as much heat, thus maximizing efficiency when working with intricate designs and thin materials.
Greater welding speed is one of the defining features of handheld laser welding. Research indicates it can be 4x faster than MIG and TIG welding. For instance, under ideal conditions, vertical welds can reach speeds of 120 inches per minute, which greatly improves efficiency and productivity. Moreover, the ability to use different materials is not limited to stainless steel and aluminum, as other metals such as carbon steel or alloys may also be used.
Another important advantage is the reduced requirement for post-processing work. Due to the accuracy of laser welding, there is frequently very little spatter, and the welded surfaces are clean; thus, less time and money is spent on cleaning and finishing. The combination of other technologies like wobble welding heads is also beneficial, as they compensate for gaps in surface geometry by modifying beam patterns so that stronger and more uniform welding can be done.
Additionally, an automatic laser welding machine of this type does not require as much manual supervision because it usually has effective cooling systems and other safety features, like automatic power setting changes and shields. With these features, handheld laser welders are becoming more common in the construction of metal parts, in aerospace, and in precise manufacturing due to the operational efficiency and repeatable productivity results they provide.
Key Components of a Handheld Laser Welding Machine
Laser Source
As the main part of a handheld laser welding machine, the laser source is tasked with the most crucial function of generating the coherent, concentrated light beam required for welding. Currently, fiber lasers are widely used because of their excellent energy efficiency, outstanding beam quality, and long operational lifetime. For instance, fiber lasers have power levels between 500W and 3000W, which can accommodate different material thicknesses and welding speeds.
Cooling System
An integrated cooling system helps in controlling the temperature of the laser source and other important components. Depending on the application, these Systems usually use air or water cooling. Commonly found in most industrial applications, water-cooled systems are more effective at managing high thermal loads, which helps in maintaining stable operation of the welder machine without overheating during extended usage.
Welding HeadÂ
In addition to optics, the welding head has a nozzle that allows the weld to be directed to the workpiece. Automated welding heads are more sophisticated than traditional welding heads and allow the operator to control the laser focal length, which adjusts the spot size of the laser for certain materials and thickness. Some oscillation-equipped models increase weld quality while reducing defects caused by non-uniform heat distribution.
Protective Measures
Operator safety is catered to in handheld laser welding machines through protective shielding around the welding site. This can be in the form of an Argon or Nitrogen shielding gas, which prevents oxidation and contamination of the weld. Users of the portable welding equipment are also safeguarded from inadvertent exposure to laser radiation through the use of safety interlocks and physical barriers while the laser is in operation.
Control Explanation
Control: advanced automated systems take care of the operator’s manual adjustments, providing the needed amount of power, regulating the pulse frequency, as well as other necessary factors such as speed. Nowadays, advanced handheld systems already have self-operating interfaces with monitor touchscreens and preset systems of welding that allows their basic use without prior teaching. Sensor feedback for many functions guarantees high and constant quality of work straightforwardly.
Ergonomic Handpiece
The need for maximum comfort and ease of operation has led to the development of a handheld design. Reducing device weight and handpiece ergonomic design are equally important to avoid user fatigue and enhance precision over prolonged operating periods. Some models also come with varying nozzles, usable for many welding operations such as deep penetrating and fine-tuning of weld seams.
Power Supply Unit
The power supply unit is made to serve as a stable energy source for the laser system. Industrial-grade power supply units provide reliability and also meet energy efficiency standards, thus contributing to lower operating costs.
As these relevant features are incorporated, the results are better performance, versatility across industries, and improved efficiency of the modern manufacturing processes.
How Does Laser Welding Compare to Traditional Welding Methods?
Advantages of Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG and MIG Welding
1. Accuracy and Regulation:
Tungsten welding gives precision that enables welders to fuse delicate and thin materials. This is helpful in the aerospace and automotive manufacturing industries, which require their products to be structurally sound.
2. Enhanced Weld Quality:
Welds made by MIG and TIG welding are clean and of high quality with almost no spatter. Tungsten inert gas (TIG welding is especially famous for its beautifully shaped weld beads and for having solid and durable joints.
3. Flexibility in Use:
Aluminium, stainless steel, and even magnesium are some of the metals TIG welding can work on, and this versatility makes it perfect for complex projects. Likewise, thick materials and immune industrial MIG welding is better suited for.
4. Friendly to Automation:
MIG welding has easy automation, which improves mass production efficiency. It’s common for this technology to be found in industrial robots as a means for guiding pieces together and improving turn around time.
5. Improvement in Procedure:
MIG welding speed, on the other hand, requires less precision and is, therefore, ideal for operations with tight deadlines, while the more precise TIG welding slower speed makes it less favorable for time-sensitive tasks.
6. Low Deformation:Â
Due to the precise application of heat in both techniques, the amount of workpiece distortation is lower, which helps in precision engineering tasks.
7. Cost Effectiveness:Â
Although the initial investment in equipment might be costly, long-term maintenance expenses for MIG and TIG welding are considerably less due to the processes’ efficient cost-saving and dependable characteristics.
8. Environmental Benefits:Â
MIG and TIG welding make use of argon or helium inert gases, which, unlike other welding processes, do not emit as many harmful byproducts, making these processes more environmentally friendly and safer.
9. Feasibility for Operators:Â
MIG welding is more accessible to novice welders as it requires less skill, compared to TIG welding, while retaining exceptional quality standards.
Each technique has its unique perks. Often, the decision for TIG or MIG welding comes down to the particulars of the project, including materials, accuracy, and deadlines.
Comparing Fiber Laser Welding to Arc Welding
Fiber laser welding and arc welding are two types of welding that are very useful and have their pros and cons in industrial contexts. Instead of an electric arc, fiber laser welding uses a high-intensity laser beam to join materials. This method creates a weld that is narrow and of high quality with a minimum heat affected zone, which reduces the possibilities of distortion or warping of the materials. This method is highly effective for thin materials and details, as is the case of the automotive and aerospace industries.
On the other hand, using an electric arc to melt and fuse metals is termed arc welding. While being more versatile in handling different material thicknesses and ranges when compared to fiber laser welding, it does possess higher levels of spatter and a wider heat affected zone, which makes post-processing work necessary. Arc welding also utilizes fewer techniques, which results in lower precision when compared to fiber laser welding. Its accuracy makes it unsuitable for intricate or delicate assemblies.
When it comes to performance, fiber laser welding has faster operational speeds. For instance, for some specific applications, the use of fiber lasers can yield processing speeds greater than 10 meters per minute, which is a considerable increase in productivity in comparison to productivity from arc welding. The fiber laser system’s automation and programmability also decrease the need for labor, which increases savings over time despite the greater capital costs in the beginning. Nevertheless, arc welding is still affordable for small-scale businesses or those that do not have tight tolerances.
As shown, both techniques have their own advantages; however, fiber laser welding is better for precision and efficiency, while arc welding provides the best economy and versatility in structural work.
Efficiency and Welding Speed of Laser Welders
The use of fiber laser welders has taken center stage in industry because of their unparalleled speed behind tasks like welding. Depending on the thickness and type of materials, welding with fiber lasers can be up to ten times faster than traditional welding, with thin sheets of one-millimeter stainless steel capable of being welded at speeds greater than six meters a minute. And the speed increases production exponentially, becoming perfect for industries known to mass manufacture, like aerospace and automotive.
Lasers have an incredibly high electrical to energy conversion rate, with 40% of input being used as useful laser light versus arc welding technologies. In addition, operational spending becomes much lower over time, with better control of power and speed enabling further precision optimisation when sculpting fragile materials.
Aside from these, one other defining aspect is a low amount of post-welding work required. Grinding or polishing becomes retired with the narrowed HAZ made by the laser welder. With these advantages, industries will benefit from unprecedented speed, sustainability, and unparalleled precision.
What Are the Applications of Handheld Laser Welding?
Industries Benefiting from Laser Technology
The adoption of laser welding technology has increased in various sectors due to its flexibility and greater benefits. Here are some of the industries that have adopted this technology for their operations:
Automotive Industry
In automotive production, laser welding is used for assembly processes because it is fast and accurate. It is important in the assembly of body shells, as well as the joining of the transmission and batteries, especially in Electric Vehicles (EVs). It is reported that laser welding can increase production rates by 50% when compared to traditional means of welding, making it possible to keep up with the rise in demand for EVs.
Aerospace and Aviation
Laser welding has many advantages for the aerospace industry due to its ability to provide good welds in aluminum and titanium alloys at high strengths and low weights. It is important for the structural durability of aircraft components, but is also critical for keeping weight to a minimum. It is used for turbine blades and housings, and fuel tanks, which lowers the maintenance costs while increasing effectiveness.
Medical Device Industry
The use of laser welding in assembling intricate components, including surgical instruments, implants, and even pacemakers, makes it easier to weld complex parts together, which is important in the manufacturing of medical devices. Because laser welding is non-contact and has low thermal distortion, sensitive materials can be left unaltered and meet strict regulations.
Electronics and Semiconductor Industry
As the need for sophisticated and compact electronic devices increases, the incorporation of micro-component laser seam welding is ideal as it has the most accurate precision in components joining. It guarantees the least amount of thermal distortion, which enables the fabrication of PCBs, sensors, and other miniaturized devices that are critical for modern technology using different materials and varying thicknesses. The development of novel techniques in fine laser welding has made it possible for manufacturers to work within the limits of 0.001mm.
Renewable Energy Sector
The renewable energy laser welding industry uses it for its versatility as well as its precise reliability. It is applied in the fabrication of solar panels, components of wind turbines, and battery storage systems. For example, laser welding increases the efficiency of assembling battery packs for massive energy storage systems, which corresponds to the increasing need of sustainable energy technologies.
These industries showcase the broad-ranging capabilities of laser welding, particularly its ability to deliver high precision, increased production speeds, and unparalleled versatility. This cutting-edge technology is paving the way for efficiency and innovation in modern manufacturing processes.
Types of Materials and Thicknesses Suitable for Laser Welding
Today’s advancements in laser welding have proven to be very beneficial for a range of materials and their respective thicknesses. This process easily accommodates steel, aluminum, titanium, and stainless steel due to their high absorptivity and conductivity for heat. Specialized methods allow certain non-metals, like some types of plastics, to be welded as well. In regards to thickness compatibility, for most systems, the limits are ultraplate around 0.1 millimeters to very thick sections over 20 mm. This level of compatibility is a significant reason why so many applications opt for laser welding.
Specialized Uses of Fiber Laser Welders
Precision, efficiency, and versatility are the reasons why industries are increasingly implementing fiber laser welders in greater numbers. One more focused area is the automotive industry, where they are employed for welding different parts of an automobile, such as engine parts, transmission components, and car body frames. Complex geometric features and high-strength materials are often integrated into modern automobiles, making fiber laser welding a necessary process. Studies show that laser welding in automotive applications can reduce material distortion by over 80% relative to other processes, such as conventional welding.
Fiber laser welders are also extensively used in the medical device industry. Components like pacemakers, implantable devices, and even stainless steel surgical instruments that require high precision are best manufactured with these welders. Stringent quality and precision standards are easily met. Medical grade components, especially the heat sensitive ones, are preferable to weld using fiber laser welding because of the minimal thermal damage to the component.
Furthermore, the fiber laser welding process is of vital importance to the electronics industry, particularly in the production of batteries and microelectronic devices. Laser welding is said to improve the bond strength and reliability of miniaturized components while also increasing the speed of production. For instance, the fabrication of lithium-ion batteries depends on the accuracy and consistency of fiber laser welders when tabs and connectors are welded, as this guarantees strong and long-lasting bonds.
These applications show the impact of fiber laser welding in industries that require precision, strength, and efficiency to achieve the desired results.
How to Choose the Right Handheld Laser Welder for Your Needs?
Assessing Laser Power and Welding Needs
You will want to carefully consider power output when selecting a handheld laser welder, as it is one of the most important selections due to how it directly affects the type and thickness of materials you can work with. Most models I have come across blast anywhere from 500W to above 3000W, granting the ability to accomplish multiple tasks. A 1000W welder would be able to perform exceptional and precise welds on thin materials like stainless steel or aluminum sheets under 2mm in thickness due to being able to exploit lower powered welders without the risk of excessive heat distortion. For thicker materials that tend to be 3mm or more, higher powered lasers will be required such as 2000W to 3000W, to ensure the joints have adequate strength and proper penetration.
The type of materials being welded will also play a huge factor in the handheld laser welding. For example, ferrous metals like carbon steel or stainless steel would do exceptionally well due to their thermal conductivity and reflective properties. Non-ferrous metals tend to be more difficult to work with as their increased reflectivity and heat dissipation wouldn’t work well without a higher-powered laser and advanced control systems. Recent industry tests show that a 1500W handheld laser welder with adjustable parameters was able to achieve a 50% increase in efficiency when cutting overlapping joints in 3mm stainless steel compared to TIG welding.
Also, take into consideration your volume of production alongside how complex your welds are. If you are working on fast and large projects, then it would be best to choose welders that have auto wire feeding and programmable controls, as these will assist in enhancing productivity and consistency. Knowing your welding requirements allows you to choose equipment that meets your operational needs without overspending or receiving poor quality.
Comparing Welding Equipment and Welding Systems
Welding equipment usually incorporates tools or machines that independently carry out the welding process, like handheld welders, welding torches, or power sources. These are usually independent pieces of equipment that are designed for specific tasks and can operate where flexibility, precision, and portability are required. For example, a MIG welder can weld mild steel, appearing to run at 30 inches per minute. This makes it efficient for small-to-medium volume work where manual intervention and control is desired.
By contrast, welding systems represent a higher degree of integration of technology, automation, and control technologies meant for advanced and high-volume welding operations. It is common for such systems to have robotic arms, automated feeding mechanisms, cooling equipment, and auxiliary programming and monitoring software. A fully automated robotic welding system can achieve cycle speeds in excess of 100 inches per minute for repetitive welds. This exceeds the manual equipment in efficiency and precision, and makes it ideal for industries like automotive or aerospace where consistency and scale of production is central.
Although welders are expected to have some level of skill along the spectrum, welding equipment features programmable parameters and real-time quality management systems that reduce the need for operator interaction and error. The associated costs, however, can be drastically different. For instance, the price for a basic TIG welder is somewhere between 2000 to 5000 USD, while a fully automated welding system will start at 50,000 and can go all the way up to 500,000 depending on the level of sophistication and features integrated into the system.
Ultimately, the choice between equipment and systems comes down to the scale of the project, accuracy required, budget constraints, and operational objectives. Considering these factors allows for the selection of portable welding equipment that meets productivity and cost efficiency targets and provides long-term sustainable value.
Understanding Laser Safety and Maintenance
Observing laser safety is paramount for protecting operators, as well as observing legal safety regulations. Operators must wear protective eyewear that corresponds to the laser’s wavelength and power class. When using portable laser equipment, it is important to operate the lasers in a controlled access area to reduce the risk of exposure. Signage indicating the use of lasers should be posted.
Maintenance consists of routine checks such as the alignment of laser beams, the cleanliness of the optics, and the equipment. Check if all safety features, like interlocked doors and emergency power switches, are functioning. For maximum reliability and lifespan of the equipment, use the recommended maintenance schedule and instructions provided by the manufacturer.
What Are the Best Practices for Using a Handheld Fiber Laser?
Setting Up the Handheld Welding Machine
With proper setup, a handheld fiber laser welding machine can be used for different applications while ensuring safety and optimal machine performance. Start by locating an appropriate area where the machine will be placed. Check that the area is free from obstacles and is level. The welder machine requires a stable and unencumbered area for proper operation. Connect the machine to a power source that meets the required voltage and current specifications. Depending on the model and regional standards, this value typically ranges from 110V to 480V. Finally, make sure that the grounding connection is secure to avoid electrical accidents.
Prior to starting operations, verify that all cables, assist gas, and cooling system connections are properly integrated. Make sure that the assist gas, argon, nitrogen, or a mix of both, is calibrated to operate at the recommended flow rate of 10-20 liters per minute. These gases help meet oxidation and porosity standards, resulting in clean and high-quality welds.
Check the working nozzle and optical components. Note that even minor cleaning or alignment adjustments of components may change the weld quality. Ensure that the control interface parameters correspond to the type, thickness, and required welding speed. A high number of handheld welding machines make use of integrated templates or pre-set parameters for standard materials like stainless steel, aluminum, and carbon steel. This certainly saves a lot of time during the setup.
The last step is to provide the operator with the correct laser PPE, which consists of laser goggles with the proper wavelength rating, usually 1064 nm for fiber lasers, and gloves that offer effective heat protection. After these steps, several test welds on some scrap materials should be done to adjust the parameters and check the accuracy before beginning the primary task. These processes help guarantee that machine operability and user safety are optimal.
Optimizing Welding Speed and Quality
For optimum weld quality and speed, multiple primary variables have to be finely tuned. One such variable is the machine’s power, which, while adjusting, dictates the amount of energy that will be fed into the workpiece. For example, fiber laser welding systems usually have an operational range of 500W to 10kW, where output power is directly linked to welding speed; as power increases, the speed of welding increases, although process controls, like controlling the welding rate to prevent porosity or warping, become more critical. According to research, adjusting the laser’s focal spot size will improve how the heat is distributed into the workpiece, which leads to a more solid and uniform bond for welding multi-material components.
Optimization is significantly dependent on the type and thickness of the material involved. Stainless steel, for example, can be welded with a 2kW fiber laser at speeds as high as 8 meters per minute for 2mm thick sheets. In the same way, slightly preheated aluminum alloys undergo welding with better reflectivity. With proper shielding gas selection, the weld pool is efficiently stabilized to prevent oxidation while improving overall quality. Argon or helium provide these benefits.
Accuracy and productivity are improved through precise automation. Systems that utilize real-time feedback and adaptive control can adjust parameters mid-process to account for changes in materials or the environment. Such changes are more useful in high-volume industries that can benefit from improved cycle times when welding speed is increased by even 5-10% without compromising quality.
Industrial studies have shown that the implementation of high-speed cameras and machine vision systems ensures that the operators’ supervision of key metrics like bead geometry, penetration, and HAZ dimension is automated. These tools guarantee quality compliance even with increased speed, which reduces the risks of defects.
Advanced technology and a good understanding of material-specific parameters give manufacturers the ability to boost welding speeds without compromising weld quality. This ultimately leads to lowering residual downtime and production costs.
Safety Precautions with Laser Welding Equipment
As the heavy-duty laser beam merges materials, safety measures must be kept in consideration for potential risks. Like every advanced piece of equipment, a powerful laser beam has to be dealt with carefully. Any exposure to the direct or even the reflected beams can result in severe eye damage and burns to the skin if contact is left uncontrolled. Laser operators must wear protective laser safety goggles and restrict the area to authorized people only.
Welding usually results in harmful fumes and particulate matter, which calls for proper ventilation. Research suggests that inhaling the metal fumes from materials such as aluminum and stainless steel can be detrimental to one’s health. Local exhaust ventilation or LEV systems can help maintain the required standards of air quality in the workspace along with good air filtration systems in place.
Fumes and equipment that can be extremely hot pose the risk of causing thermal damage. As a result, augmented protection in the form of heat resistant gloves and protective clothing need to worn. Safety is enhanced through regular upkeep of the laser equipment, which includes optic malfunction checks, beam delivery stability scans, and software systems that cause unintended exposure to the beam.
Ensuring safety at the workplace relies on compliance with safety measures set forth by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and ANSI (American National Standards Institute). For example, ANSI Z136.1 lays out fundamental instructions for the regulation of laser conotrols with lasers. If all necessary training sessions are held and reliable equipment protections are provided with these standards being met, companies can take full advantage of laser welding while mitigating the dangers associated with it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What benefits do handheld laser welders present over conventional welding techniques?
A: The benefits of handheld laser welders compared to traditional welding methods such as TIG welding, are their welding speeds, which can be as much as four times faster, and their accuracy. In addition to this, these portable hand-held devices can work on a variety of different materials and thicknesses, inclusive of difficult metals such as copper and aluminum. Furthermore, Welds of superior quality are achieved with less heat input and distortion of the welded parts, and the amount of post-weld cleaning required is minimized.
Q: How does a handheld laser welder differ from a welding gun or welding torch?
A:Â to an electric arc or flame. In addition, laser welders usually have shorter preparation periods and can work with thinner plates of materials without the danger of burn-through. Along with this, laser welders are even more useful as they can perform spot welds and continuous welds effortlessly.
Q: What materials can be welded using a handheld laser welder?
A: Handheld laser welders are flexible and can be used to weld a variety of materials. For metals, these tools are great for welding steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, and titanium. Some of the more advanced models are even able to weld together different types of metals. The accuracy of technology makes laser welding particularly advantageous for small delicate parts and thin materials as opposed to more traditional welding techniques.
Q: What are the key features to look for in a handheld laser welder?
A: It is recommended to examine adjustable welding parameters for handheld laser characters because customization regarding the thickness and the type of material used is important. Moreover, a high-quality laser source is important for proper functionality. Other features that one should consider are comfortable ergonomic design, existent welding safety features, and the ability to use different welding techniques such as continuous and point welding. Advanced models may offer more developed options, like wobble welding or laser cleaning.
Q: Is a wire feeder necessary when using a handheld laser welder?
A: Certain models of handheld laser welders can function without a wire feeder, however, most models do include it. A wire feeder is advantageous when needing to add additional filler material to the weld; typically, this is needed when joining thicker materials together or filling gaps within the weld. For thinner materials or specific joints, some types of laser welding do not require added filler wire, which makes those types of welding quicker and more efficient.
Q: What is the difference in speed between handheld fiber laser welding compared to other forms of welding?
A: Handheld fiber welding is much faster than traditional welding. The welding speed can be as much as 4 times faster than TIG welding or argon welding; it is over a hundred beats per minute due to the energy concentration of the laser beam. Heating and cooling cycles become very rapid because of the energy concentration. With the lasers, there is less time to spend in a lot of activities such as preparing for the work, cleaning up after the weld, and serving a considerable amount of time on these activities.
Q: What safety features should be considered with a handheld laser welder?
A: Safety should be one of the most important considerations when it comes to using a handheld laser welder. Important welding safety includes a welding mask that has filters for viewing the light of the laser welder so that the eyes are protected. Clothes and gloves must also be worn to prevent the reflection of the laser beam. Many welding hand tools have safety functions, but like other tools, there are manufacturer’s instructions that must be followed concerning personal protective equipment.
Q: Is it feasible to use a handheld laser welding gun in place of a TIG welder?
A: Although portable laser welding guns can perform many functions handled by TIG welders, they are not yet able to supplant TIG welding for every task. Laser welders are more effective for precision work, welding of thin materials, and applications where heat input needs to be minimized. However, some thicker materials, deep penetration welds, and situations with a high cost barrier to entry for laser equipment may favor TIG welding. Whether laser or TIG is used generally depends on the needs of the welding job.
Reference Sources
1. Title: AISI301LN Hand-Held Laser Welding for Aesthetic Parts Final Integration of Machine and Human Intelligence
- Authors: L. Caprio et al.
- Journal: Journal of Laser Applications
- Date: 2023-02-01
Highlights:
- This research presents an open-laboratory-developed hand-held laser welding (HHLW) system for process development.
- It investigates machine and human intelligence integration for welding processes and highlights the distinction human operators add towards weld repeatability.
- The study evaluates the welding cycle by welding two plates of AISI301LN stainless steel sheets that are each 2 mm thick both manually and automatically.
- The degree of variation in weld width was considered as an aesthetic measure, and mechanical properties were evaluated using the tensile test.
Methodology
- This study was conducted with four operators with no to little training to perform the welds in both hand-held and partly automatic configurations.
- Weld width variability and mechanical property data obtained from tensile tests provided useful information to assess the effect of the operator skill and configuration on weld quality(Caprio et al., 2023).
2. Title: The Creation and Use of a Hand-Held Laser Welding System
- Authors: Yang Xin and others
- Published in: Journal of Physics: Conference Series
- Publication Date: 2020-10-01
Highlights:
- The paper elaborates on the structure and control principles of the hand-held laser welding system with special consideration to its use in multi-position welding operations.
- It describes the benefits of this system, which include ease of implementation, short implementation times, and complete control functionality.
Methodology:
- The paper presents a new control system using PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) and a galvanometer motor, which considerably improves system performance and functionality.
- The finalized application shows that the system is capable of performing both continuous and spot welding tasks without restrictions to the welding operation type (Xin et al., 2020).
3. Welding
