Laser welder?
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pamike
Well-known member
Whats your main useage? Really worth spending close to 10K on a welder? My understanding is the fit up has to be really good for laser to work well.
jack stand
Well-known member
It seems like it's too good to be true, or real watching the YouTube ****. No filler material or gas shielding!
I wish you the best that this is "a thing" and you get fantastic results.
I'll hop in line for one myself
I wish you the best that this is "a thing" and you get fantastic results.
I'll hop in line for one myself
customh
Well-known member
Your first concern with anything high power laser-related is that you are buying support and reliability, not a machine that can do a job - until it breaks or malfunctions.
IPG is a great company that works with many OEMs to integrate their laser systems along with selling their own products (like the LightWELD line)
Support after the sale is mostly non-existent with the inexpensive options. If someone has experience with a brand where that isn't the case I'd like to know about them.
Also, safety should be a massive concern. Full shielding and interlocks around the work area so someone isn't inadvertently blinded.
Source: I make sure that 3 fiber lasers and 2 CO2 lasers are producing good parts and have had hands on laser welding systems to evaluate.
IPG is a great company that works with many OEMs to integrate their laser systems along with selling their own products (like the LightWELD line)
Support after the sale is mostly non-existent with the inexpensive options. If someone has experience with a brand where that isn't the case I'd like to know about them.
Also, safety should be a massive concern. Full shielding and interlocks around the work area so someone isn't inadvertently blinded.
Source: I make sure that 3 fiber lasers and 2 CO2 lasers are producing good parts and have had hands on laser welding systems to evaluate.
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mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Woohoo! Share some info once it arrives
Looking forewarned on tring it out. My RSO already has the specs on it. Going to approach this very carefully as I think I understand most of the dangers from it. I still enjoy the ****** eyesight my 51 yo eyes provide. I will be working on an enclosure for it before it arrives. I have lots of 8020 left over from previous projects. Looking at possibilities for sheet products that will shield now.
californiamilleghia
Well-known member
How long does it take to get shipped ?
Please do a video on how it works out .
Good luck
Please do a video on how it works out .
Good luck
rsanter
Well-known member
Let us knowI want one as well but have been afraid to spend the money
American Locomotive
Well-known member
Subscribed
Got it uncrated today. Also came with a wire feeder and a 120 to 220 transformer. Laser glasses, hood, gloves, different tips, replacement lenses. No idea how often the lenses need replacement. Apparently there are 4 in the gun. Gun is a bit larger than I wanted, but has x and y wobble. Came with a thumb drive with some operating videos in Chinese. And a short operator manual in chinglish. This was no surprise, i don’t expect much on the manufacturer support side. I will be mounting the gun on an automated robot spin fixture that is currently using a tig. Tig temps and repeatable outcomes have not been great. Hopefully this will be more consistent. Will get a new 220 plug, or try the 120 transformer, few gallons of Distilled Water, and what fittings I need to hook up argon tomorrow. Need to fab a Mount for the gun onto the 5c spin welding rig. I’m pretty sure I want the beem to be vertical shooting down, vs the tig set up that is horizontal. Any way I’ll keep posting progress. This is all to seal Ti 0.188 od 0.150 Id tubes to little end caps. I really hope this doesn’t end up on the shelf of shame!
danielbuck
Well-known member
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- Apr 15, 2014
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I have no desire for one of these, but I'm going to follow along!! 
stinkity stoink
Well-known member
I have no desire for one of these, but I'm going to follow along!!
I’m with you. I just hope after seeing it I don’t want one.
WhoWhatNow
Well-known member
Dibs on this one if it doesn’t work out for the OP!
He can just send it to me and save the shelf space!
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
I have a friend who works in the industrial robotics field. They were testing a laser welder when someone smelled smoke on the other side of the shop. Reflection(?) was starting a fire far from where they were aiming it.
If you accidentally "pull the trigger" when you are not aimed at you intended target, that laser beam is like a bullet. When it hits something it will be bad!
Extra safety equipment is required
If you accidentally "pull the trigger" when you are not aimed at you intended target, that laser beam is like a bullet. When it hits something it will be bad!
Extra safety equipment is required
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Not really. The beam has a limited region where it can be focused, and needs to be adjusted for the specific workpiece. I find it hard to believe that a reflection from a laser welder caught something across the room on fore, the energy would have dissipated due to being unfocused.
I've spent weeks at laser welding shops, with multiple units grouped together. The only special equipment is the room is closed off, and once you cross the threshold you must be wearing proper glasses.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Anything with a laser is a death ray, obviously
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
That is EXACTLY my point !
I wouldn't consider rated safety glasses special safety equipment...
Hell you're supposed to wear them when using a laser level.
The fun stuff is when you watch the laser burn through a couple inches of steel!
American Locomotive
Well-known member
There's a big difference between "being too unfocused to weld" and "being too unfocused to not set things on fire and cause injury".
It's all about power density. Remember, the power doesn't "dissipate" - it just gets spread over a wider area. 1.5kw is A LOT of "light power". The beam's defocused spot size would have to be HUGE for it not be intense enough to burn things. A 6" diameter stove top element is 1.5kW and easily has enough power density to readily set just about anything on fire. Put it this way, the sun's solar intensity on the surface of the earth is about 1500 watt/square meter. So for this laser to have the same light intensity of noon day sun, the spot size would have to be about 3.7 feet, which is gigantic.
The laser welding area will need to be properly shielded and protected. Avoid kind of paper, wood or low temperature plastics around the area, and avoid dark colors if possible. At these power levels, things inadvertently catching on fire is a real risk.
Thanks for all the input. I’m walking into this with zero experience with class 4 lasers and learning on the journey. Fortunately we do have a RSO that is also qualified as LSO. I am going slow and trying to make sure that this is done safely. But I can’t wait to get a beam on target! Will start building a gun holder for our robot welder tomorrow.
I believe that the best orientation would to be to have the emitter straight down. This is my current plan. I built the tig torch holder to be horizontal as that made sense to be able to remove/sharp/adjust the tungsten. I think having the laser vertical would direct any reflection up and not at the operator. Anyone that knows more than me please chime in.
Thanks, doing my best to keep this safe!
Thanks, doing my best to keep this safe!
American Locomotive
Well-known member
any videos or pictures of it?
What laser did you end up with at the end of the day?
Do you have 2 profiles here?
Laser welding
I finally got it working. There is a tough learning curve. It is very smooth and leaves a narrow bead. I welded my name chris in script. I can pics this weekend. Anyone have any questions
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