Laser welding services use high-powered laser welding equipment to fuse materials together. Laser beams provide a very narrow, concentrated energy source that melts a narrow region, resulting in a minimal heat-affected zone. Laser welds can be made without filler metals or consumable electrodes. Most laser welding equipment includes laser optics, workpiece sensors, pointing diodes or beam injectors, enclosures, XY or gantry tables, rotary tables, shuttle pallets and other part handlers or manipulators. Some laser welding services have equipment that provides versatility beyond two dimensional (2D) devices such as XY or gantry tables. For example, 3D laser welding is often available. Many laser welding systems include a CNC controller that runs automatically, or with little or no operator intervention. These machines change travel position, speed, laser power, air or gas flow, beam delivery factors and other parameters in a pre-programmed manner. Often, laser welding services control or program these machines with a personal computer (PC) interface.
Laser welding services are located across the United States and around the world. Most use machines with carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers; neodymium-doped, yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) lasers; or diode lasers. Pulsed or Q-switched lasers are also available. Suppliers differ in terms of services offered and process a variety of materials, many of which are made of aluminum, copper, or steel. Stainless steel is a family of corrosion-resistant steels that contain a minimum of 10% chromium. Structural steels are large, part-strength materials used to build components. Tool steel is a group of high-carbon steels that provides varying combinations of high hardness, toughness, or resistance at elevated temperatures. Some laser welding services specialize in exotic metals or alloys with special properties and applications. Others weld plastic or thermoplastic materials. Finished products include semiconductor wafers, electronic materials, and medical devices.
Laser welding services use high-powered laser welding equipment to fuse materials together. Laser beams provide a very narrow, concentrated energy source that melts a narrow region, resulting in a minimal heat-affected zone. Laser welds can be made without filler metals or consumable electrodes. Most laser welding equipment includes laser optics, workpiece sensors, pointing diodes or beam injectors, enclosures, XY or gantry tables, rotary tables, shuttle pallets and other part handlers or manipulators. Some laser welding services have equipment that provides versatility beyond two dimensional (2D) devices such as XY or gantry tables. For example, 3D laser welding is often available. Many laser welding systems include a CNC controller that runs automatically, or with little or no operator intervention. These machines change travel position, speed, laser power, air or gas flow, beam delivery factors and other parameters in a pre-programmed manner. Often, laser welding services control or program these machines with a personal computer (PC) interface.
Laser welding services are located across the United States and around the world. Most use machines with carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers; neodymium-doped, yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) lasers; or diode lasers. Pulsed or Q-switched lasers are also available. Suppliers differ in terms of services offered and process a variety of materials, many of which are made of aluminum, copper, or steel. Stainless steel is a family of corrosion-resistant steels that contain a minimum of 10% chromium. Structural steels are large, part-strength materials used to build components. Tool steel is a group of high-carbon steels that provides varying combinations of high hardness, toughness, or resistance at elevated temperatures. Some laser welding services specialize in exotic metals or alloys with special properties and applications. Others weld plastic or thermoplastic materials. Finished products include semiconductor wafers, electronic materials, and medical devices.
Laser welding services meet various certification and quality requirements. AS-9100 is a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standard for aerospace manufacturers. QS-9000 is a quality standard for suppliers of DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors Corporation. Both AS-9100 and QS-9000 are based on the 1994 edition of ISO 9001, but contain additional industry-specific requirements. ISO 14001 specifies requirements for environmental management systems. ISO 9001:2000 establishes requirements for a company's quality management systems. ISO/TS 16949:2002, an automotive standard that supersedes QS-9000, includes the process approach from ISO 9001:2000. Some suppliers are authorized by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) to U-stamp code-constructed, unfired pressure vessels. Others are authorized to repair and alter unfired pressure vessels and to register those vessels with the National Board of Pressure Vessel Inspectors (NBPVI). Department of Transportation (DOT) registration is an important certification for suppliers who fabricate and repair mobile tanks and vessels. MIL-SPEC vendors meet U.S. military specifications.
