Laser welding technology is the most recent technology used in most modern manufacturing industries. In the traditional metal welding, arc welding is more widely used. But with the popularity of laser welding machines, many manufacturers have started to abandon arc welding and have started using lasers to weld metals instead. Many users who are not yet in contact with laser welding have shown curiosity and doubts about this emerging process. Is laser welding really better than electric arc welding? How is the effect of laser welding? In this article, we analyze the characteristics and capabilities of laser welding machines from several aspects to provide you with a reference for choosing a good metal welding method.
While arc welding requires a combination of materials or fillers to join two pieces of metal, laser welding can form a direct metal-to-metal bond without the need for fillers. The way arc welding joins metals causes slag to form at the weld joint, and this slag needs to be cleaned twice or it may contaminate the application environment. Laser welding, on the other hand, is much cleaner than traditional arc welding, with a clean, beautiful weld seam and no slag to clean, thus helping to reduce labor costs and reduce the risk of contamination. These characteristics of laser welding make it especially important in applications such as medical devices and scientific instruments, where it will not cause harm to personnel or delicate equipment by dislodging debris.
Another feature of laser welders is the ability to weld very thin metal sheets (down to 5mm) without damaging the metal, which is not possible with electric arc welding. In terms of welding speed, laser welding is much faster than arc welding, about 6-10 times faster. Therefore, more workpieces are processed in the same time using a laser welding machine than by electric arc welding. On the other hand, arc welding requires contact with the surface of the material and produces thermal shock, which is a slow process. Laser welding does not require contact with the surface, so the weld is much more aesthetically pleasing and requires essentially no secondary processing before it can be put into the next production process.
Of course, as with any mechanical device, laser welding machines have their limitations. For one thing, it is not suitable for welding thick metal plates, such as large pipes or structural beams. Another limitation is that not every metal can be welded to other types of metal by laser. Arc welding, on the other hand, does not have this problem because it uses a filler to bond two pieces of metal together, not through the metal itself. On top of that, there is a big difference in price between the two of them. The accuracy and efficiency of laser welding machines and other advantages determine that they are more expensive than arc welding equipment. But it also means that the quality of the workpiece after laser welding is higher and shop productivity is higher.
Laser welders often begin work with a handheld laser welding gun, and its ease of operation and precision make it more suitable for applications in metal projects that require high quality, such as: medical devices, stainless steel kitchenware, household appliances, and bathroom products. The controllability of laser welding means it can be easily automated and has less variability in welding, higher quality, and faster overall production speeds.
