Laser welding is important welding method in modern manufacturing industry. Laser welding enables greater amount of joint types than traditional welding methods. It is also possible to weld two pieces with very different thickness together which is difficult to do with traditional welding methods. When manufacturing technology don’t set too many limitations, increases designers possibility to design components. Laser welding is also significantly faster welding method than traditional welding techniques which decrease components welding time.
The mechanical quality of laser welded joint is at least as good as or even better than arc welded joints quality. Small welding distortions and welds good strength and fatigue strength are typical qualities of laser weld. Rapid cooling is typical for laser welding which lead to welds fine microstructure, but rapid cooling can also cause martensite formation to weld metal. Martensite formation is not usually a problem because microstructure is fine grained due to rapid cooling and this how forming martensite is not brittle.
Laser welding can be divided in three categories: keyhole laser welding, conduction laser welding and hybrid welding. Deep and narrow weld, low heat input and high welding speed are typical characters of keyhole weld. Conduction limited welding resembles gas tungsten arc welding. This process produce shallower and wider weld than keyhole welding. Hybrid welding is combination of laser welding and some other process, such as GTAW, MIG/MAG or plasma welding.
Remote welding
Conduction Laser Welding
Hybrid Welding
Keyhole Welding
Laser Welding of Polymers