Laser welding has many advantages over conventional welding, and we will discuss in depth the main reasons for the popularity of Fiber laser welding machines:
Fast welding: Laser welding is non-contact welding and the laser beam’s energy is huge, so the welding speed is very fast.
Safe operation: No radiation or harmful gases are produced during the welding process
High welding accuracy: Laser welding provides a small and precise weld seam
Small size: The compact construction of the machine greatly reduces the footprint
Automation: The welding process is highly intelligent and only requires the appropriate parameters to be set on the computer for production use. The laser fiber welder also has a touch screen for real-time reading of machine faults, feedback and alarm functions.
Multiple welding methods: Continuous welding, fish scale welding, full welding, electric welding and many other welding methods can be easily realized.
No maintenance required: The machine has almost no wear and tear during use, so there is no need to worry about later maintenance.
Of course, fiber laser welding machines also have some disadvantages in use, as follows:
Expensive: handheld or CNC welding machines are expensive.
The welding technique and parameters are different for different metals and must be reset before welding.
In order to better understanding the various features of the fiber laser welding machine will present more challenges to help you.
Important components of the fiber laser welding machine
Laser source
The laser source is the heart of the welding machine and is the most expensive of all components. The Fiber laser source consists of a fiber core, a doping medium, and a laser cavity, and its role in the welding machine is to convert electrical energy into light energy. An electric current is applied at both ends of the laser, and the fiber core reflects the electrons into photons. This is then turned into light of a specific wavelength by the doping element, passing through the laser cavity, where the laser light is amplified.
Optical elements
The optical elements consist of focusing mirrors and reflectors, which bring together the resulting laser beam.
Wire feeders
The function of the wire feeder is to add filler material to the welding process. The wire feeder slows the welding speed and improves the weld quality in most cases. However, it also accelerates the solidification of the metal and may cause the weld to fracture easily.
Welding heads
The welding head contains a vibrating mirror, a nozzle and a focusing mirror. The portable welding machine allows the welding head to be easily moved.
Protective gas
Those familiar with laser cutting machines are probably aware of the air assist on the machine, which acts in the same way as the shielding gas on the welding machine. The shielding gas helps to reduce defects in the weld and improves the quality of the weld.
Laser controller
We control the fiber laser welding machine’s laser power, pulse duration and repetition rate on a touch screen. It also monitors the overall safety of the machine in real-time to ensure good welding quality.
Water chillers
Some welding machines are air-cooled and do not require a water chiller. The rest of the water-cooled machines need a water cooler to ensure they work at the right temperature.
Factors affecting the price of a fiber laser welding machine
Laser power: General laser power is the main factor influencing the price of a fiber laser welder. The higher the laser power, the higher the water cooler, the standard of protection and the various accessories, which will cost more money.
Lasers: There are two common types of lasers: pulsed and continuous, with pulsed lasers usually being more expensive.
Considerations for choosing a fiber laser welding machine
Lasers: Pulsed lasers have many advantages over continuous lasers. For example, they can weld smaller seams with a lower heat-affected zone.
Accuracy: Welding accuracy determines the aesthetics of the weld, and single-mode lasers are usually more suitable for high-precision applications.
Energy density: Multimode has a lower energy density and is suitable for handling large welding areas. Single-mode is the opposite and suitable for more precise welding.
Price: You can choose the right machine parameters and features according to your budget.
Welding speed: The speed of the weld affects the strength of the weld, but unlike a cutting machine, the speed of the welding machine has to be chosen with the right parameters, not the faster, the better.
Welding power: If the power of the fiber laser welding machine is too low, the laser beam’s energy will not be able to melt the material, so the welding cannot be completed. When choosing a fiber laser welder, you must ensure that the energy released will reach the material’s melting point.
Laser marking machines can easily handle many high-precision markings, and this advanced technology is of great help to hospitals and industries that require high-precision engraving.
You have noticed many types of laser marking machines, which can be roughly divided into 3 categories: UV, CO2 and fiber laser marking machines. Do you know what the differences are between them?
Let’s learn more about the basics of laser marking machines!