Embracing the Latest Welding Technology at Tadweld- Laser Welding

The world of welding has changed a lot over the last 40 years, and Tadweld has experienced these changes first hand. As technology has developed, the welding industry evolved to embrace robots and advanced welding equipment.  

Fostering innovation is one of our core values here at Tadweld, and we are continuously trying to embrace the latest technological advancements to deliver the best possible results. Upon receiving a grant through the Made Smarter programme back in 2023, we have been able to invest in cutting-edge laser welding technology. Laser welding is revolutionising the industry with its precision, versatility, and efficiency. Unlike traditional welding methods that rely on heat from electrical arcs or flames, laser welding causes minimal thermal distortion, making it ideal for delicate or complex assemblies.  Due to demand we’ve since bought another laser welder and invested in dedicated laser welding enclosures. 

Why Laser Welding?

Versatility- Laser welding can join a wide variety of materials and allows for the joining of materials with varying thicknesses.  

Speed- Laser welding has the ability to work continuously and is capable of achieving high welding speeds, reducing production times and allowing us to work to tight timeframes.  

Precision and accuracy- Making even the most challenging applications possible, laser welding is known for its high accuracy and positioning through the capability of focal spots down to 0.1mm.  

High quality- Laser welding produces high quality finishes that often don’t need further processing, it is a powerful tool for producing high quality welds with minimal distortion.  

How Laser Welding works

Laser welding works by introducing heat into a joint with a powerful laser beam, when the concentrated source of light strikes the metal, it generates heat, melting it to form a weld. Laser welding is a non-contact process meaning it doesn’t require physical contact with the materials being welded, allowing for precise control and nominal contamination. An inert gas, such as argon or helium, is often used to shield the molten pool from atmospheric contamination. 

Types of Laser Welding

Conduction Mode– Delivers low energy, resulting in shallow welds. It’s suitable for joints that don’t need high strength. They are usually wider than they are deep.  

Penetration Mode– Uses high energy to create deep welds, ideal for thicker materials. 

Conduction/Penetration Mode– A medium energy mode that offers a balance between depth and width of the weld. 

Applications

Laser welding is suited to industries that require high precision and minimal distortion, such as electronics, medical devices, high end consumer goods and technology industries like aerospace. With the affected area being small, it is also great for decorative steelwork or for any application where you’d like to minimise the visual appearance of the weld. 

Both laser welding and traditional welding have their own strengths and are suited to different applications. The choice between them depends on the specific requirements of the project, such as precision, speed, material thickness, and budget.  

Other Considerations

Cost – Laser welding equipment is currently significantly more expensive than traditional methods (MIG, TIG, MAG etc). In many cases the initial outlay can be over ten times more expensive.  

Safety – The safety requirements of handling a laser welder are very stringent. HSE regulations stipulate that you must always have a trained and appointed Laser Safety Officer (LSO) on site whilst the laser welder is in operation. To protect other staff members from potential eye-damage, laser welding should also be conducted in a ’light-tight’ enclosure, meaning it is unsuitable for use in an open workshop with other occupants.  

Whilst these considerations can appear daunting, at Tadweld we now have several years of experience using laser welders and exploiting their benefits. If you feel like your product could be a good fit for laser welding, or if you’re a fellow manufacturer interested in learning more about laser welding, then please get in touch and we’d be happy to offer any help and advice we can.