Laser welding technologies: high power diode laser application examples

In recent years, laser welding technologies have reached a stable position in the process of guaranteeing high quality and economy in many industrial applications: welding, cutting, hardfacing, alloying, remelting and heat treatment for top layers – . The only significant limitation on their common usage, especially with regard to Polish enterprises, is the high cost of laser stations, which varies from 100 to 300,000 euros, and even up to a million plus, depending on the laser type, its strength and the station’s equipment, vital in the automation and robotization of the welding process. The advantages of laser welding technologies, which result mainly from the very small linear energy of a high-energy focused laser beam, narrow heat affected zone (HAZ), minimal welding deformations and stresses, include – : . high quality of welded and repairable joints or those with alloy inserts (so-called alloyed joints) on top layers or cut edges, . the highest efficacy and easy automation and robotization, . no or very limited finishing, . very good local and operative weldability, . limited harmful effect on operators and the environment and . simple training and operation of devices.