Laser Welding FAQ

Laser beam welding can be done without the use of filler metal, although fillers can be used for welding crack prone alloys as well as heat sensitive components. For deeper welds in crack prone aluminum alloys, for example, we have proprietary welding techniques that allow us to weld without the need for filler materials.

The laser’s ability to deeply penetrate into materials results in purer, stronger welds than traditional welding techniques. Not only is laser welding typically stronger than MIG, it’s three to ten times faster, welding relatively thick joints with ease, all without requiring multiple passes or high heat, which can diminish the strength of the welded materials.

Laser welding is capable of making very strong, pure welds. The laser’s focused beam generates less heat than traditional welding processes, which means heat transfer to the part is lessened and its structure is less affected, providing a much higher weld quality with greater tensile and bending strengths.

The typical defects that can occur in laser welds are solification cracking, the formation of shrinkage cracks during the solidification period of welded metal; porosity, the presence of cavities in the weld metal that form because of the freezing in of released gas from the weld pool as it solidifies; and spatter, droplets of molten material generated near or at the welding arc.

Given the small and precise nature of the laser beam, very small and thin materials can easily be welded together, making it perfect for precision and micro parts welding, medical devices, crack sensitive material welding, as well as any application that requires accuracy, low heat and high weld performance.

Laser welding is a fusion welding process that utilizes a laser beam as the energy source in order to weld together metals or thermoplastics. It’s known as a high density beam process which can be used to join thick materials with deep and narrow welds.