Laser beam welding is a technique of material welding through the use of a laser beam. Laser beams provide a concentrated source of heat that allows for narrow welds and high welding rates. Laser beam welding is frequently used in high volume applications that are automated, i.e. in the automotive industry.
The high power density of laser beam welding results in small areas being affected by heat, which in turn leads to high heating and cooling rates. The laser spot size varies between 0.2 mm and 13 mm, however large spot size lasers are not typically used in welding. The depth of penetration is dependant on the amount of power supplied. Picosecond lasers and femtosecond lasers are used to weld thin materials, like razors, whereas continuous wave lasers are used in deep welding.
Laser welding is a versatile process that is capable of welding many different metals, including carbon steels, stainless steel, aluminum. The main advantages of laser beam welding are 1) transmission of the laser beam through air rather than requiring vacuum; 2) the process is widely automated; 3) the welds are high quality.
High beam quality is an important factor in laser beam welding. High beam quality can be defined as a measure of how tightly a beam of a laser can be focused. The ability to tightly focus a laser beam allows for a more precise weld that is required when working with small objects and tight seams between the metals. The use of high beam quality lasers in laser beam welding provides an opportunity for a large working distance. This can be highly desirable in order to protect the optics against debris and fumes.
High beam quality fiber lasers are most often based on single-mode fibers. Among other laser types that have high beam quality are gas lasers, like CO2 lasers. High beam quality fiber lasers are increasingly being used for robotic industrial welding due to the many advantages that they provide.
The high optical quality of high beam quality fiber lasers is a result of the fiber’s waveguiding properties. They reduce thermal distortion of the optical path, resulting in a production of a diffraction-limited optical beam. High beam quality fiber lasers also are able to have high output power – they can support kilowatt levels of continuous output power.
Optromix Company priority is to deliver the highest quality laser systems to our clients; we manufacture unique lasers for your specific needs. If you would like to buy high beam quality lasers, please contact us at info@optromix.com or +1 617 558 98 58.
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