Laser Welding By Skilled Technicians Can Produce Small, High Quality Welds

Laser welding is becoming more and more common in all types of metal joining.

Applied Energy Systems, Inc., incorporates YAG laser welding primarily for small, precise parts. Laser welding can offer the following advantages:

• Small more precise welds with a smaller heat affected zone. There is no plasma that heats up adjacent areas with unwanted energy.
• Laser welding can be directed into crevices or hard to reach areas where a tungsten inert gas process can not reach.
• Laser welds can be directed through glass into a hermetic volume where the actual welding will occur.

Laser Welding for Very Small Tubing

Applied Energy Systems, Inc. has been successful in welding tubing as small as 0.012" with a 0.001" wall thickness. This application requires precision vision systems for alignment and fit-up verification. This class of laser welding is not for the inexperienced.

Contact the Engineering Department at Applied Energy Systems, Inc. to discuss your application because:

• material selection,
• joint design,
• cleanliness and
• fit-up tolerance

can combine to make your part non-weldable.

Laser Welding of Stainless Steels

Applied Energy Systems, Inc. primarily performs laser welding on various stainless steel alloys, although work is periodically performed on aluminum and copper. Reflectivity problems can cause difficulty welding some materials as the energy needed to melt the material may be reflected away.

Various types of 300 and 400 series stainless steels are commonly welded. 316L is a material of preference in the Semiconductor and Pharmaceutical Industries. 316L is a material that can be electropolished resulting in a high chrome surface. This results in a very passive layer.

Numerous minor alloying elements can dramatically affect the weldability of stainless steel and even within the 316L designation. These elements can affect the way the heat is distributed in the molten puddle and result in varying weld depth- to-width ratios.

Please contact us if you would like to review these laser welding issues prior to material selection. Call Engineering at 610-647-8744 or contact us by e-mail about your laser welding needs.