Wielding a handheld laser welder with a cobot enables highly precise, automated welds to be made when needed. (Image: Cobot Systems)
The solution is suited towards high-variety, low-volume, production runs, and can be used for both seam and spot welding
The test unit features a 4kW laser from IPG Photonics, and is designed to drill blast holes and break rock during mining. (Image: Sidney Resources)
The technology is intended to eliminate conventional methods of drilling and blasting, delivering savings in time, material and operating costs
Here a laser beam is being delivered via a flexible fibre to weld thin piping. (Image: Shutterstock/sspopov)
A brief introduction to laser welding, the technologies involved, and the advantages it offers over other joining methods
Handheld laser welding offers: low running costs; minimal set up requirements; ease of use; highly efficient, fast and flexible processing in spatially challenging environments; minimal consumables and post-processing requirements; and most importantly, high-quality welds of both similar and dissimilar materials of different types and thicknesses.
The LightWELD XR system delivers laser welding and cleaning in one handheld system
IPG has major production and R&D facilities as well as close to 2,000 employees located in Russia
The laser technology will be used to produce tubular products for the oil and gas industry. (Image: Shutterstock/bht2000)
Laser welding, cladding and hardening will be used in the manufacture and repair of pipe manufacturing parts, tools and accessories
Dr Valentin Gapontsev has been IPG’s chairman since the company’s founding and was its CEO until April 2021 (Image: IPG Photonics)
Gapontsev, 82, founded IRE-Polyus, IPG’s predecessor, in 1990. He has been IPG’s chairman since the company’s founding and was its CEO until April 2021
(Image: aapsky/Shutterstock)
Greg Blackman on how titanium laser welding can be used to replace rivet joints in aircraft
(Image: Andrey Armyagov/Shutterstock)
Greg Blackman asks experts how fibre lasers developed between 2010 to 2020, as well as what advancements the future may hold for the technology
The LightWELD product line enables fabricators to benefit from the greater flexibility, precision and ease of use enabled by laser-based solutions over traditional welding products
Lino Costa, Brian Canfield, and Trevor Moeller describe how ultrafast laser micromachining enables the creation of next-generation thrusters for nanosatellites
Lino Costa, Brian Canfield, and Trevor Moeller describe how ultrafast laser micromachining enables the creation of next-generation thrusters for nanosatellites
Christian Geiger and Tony Weiss highlight the need for advanced laser welding and process monitoring techniques to optimise bipolar plate joining
Christian Geiger and Tony Weiss highlight the need for advanced laser welding and process monitoring techniques to optimise bipolar plate joining
Gwenn Pallier and Yoan Di Maio highlight the challenges of laser surface texturing and propose a strategy for increasing its efficiency
Gwenn Pallier and Yoan Di Maio highlight the challenges of laser surface texturing and propose a strategy for increasing its efficiency
Christian Nowroth, Jan Grajczak, and Sarah Nothdurft investigate the potential of using ultrasonic vibrations to improve the properties of dissimilar metal welds
Christian Nowroth, Jan Grajczak, and Sarah Nothdurft investigate the potential of using ultrasonic vibrations to improve the properties of dissimilar metal welds
Peter Kazansky and Yuhao Lei describe how direct laser writing of glass can enable 5D optical data storage and high-efficiency beam shaping
Peter Kazansky and Yuhao Lei describe how direct laser writing of glass can enable 5D optical data storage and high-efficiency beam shaping
Leonardo Caprio, Claudio Orlandi and Ali Gӧkhan Demir assess the applicability of handheld laser welding for the flexible production of components with aesthetic requirements
Leonardo Caprio, Claudio Orlandi and Ali Gӧkhan Demir assess the applicability of handheld laser welding for the flexible production of components with aesthetic requirements
With 802 exhibitors and 29,581 visitors in attendance at Formnext this year, the AM industry has clearly returned to its pre-Covid levels of enthusiasm for live networking. (Image: Mesago)
Matthew Dale on some of the key innovations seen at Formnext this year
Numerous 30kW systems were at EuroBLECH 2022 and generating plenty of interest, as seen here at Cutlite Penta’s booth.
Matthew Dale reports on the increase in 30kW+ flatbed cutting systems seen at EuroBLECH, Hannover this year
Velo3D has customers using multiple AM systems under one roof to facilitate serial production. (Image: Velo3D)
In a recent webinar, experts shared how additive technologies are already being deployed in specialist sub-sectors for volume manufacturing
Stent manufacturing is one of the biggest applications of laser technology in medical device manufacturing.
(Image: Shutterstock/Christoph Burgstedt)
Sharon Ann Holgate identifies the key advantages and developing applications of femtosecond lasers in the medical industry
Marcel Bachman, of BAM, describes the behaviour and influence of weld pool shape when joining thick materials
Marcel Bachman, of BAM, describes the behaviour and influence of weld pool shape when joining thick materials
Micromarking on a gold dubloon for anti-counterfeiting purposes, made using QiOVA’s structured light beam (Credit: QiOVA)
Anita Chandran explores the latest challenges facing manufacturers and users of laser marking systems
An experimental setup for laser peen forming. Water is used to confine the miniature explosions generated at the material surface, increasing the overall process efficiency (Credit: Helmholtz Zentrum hereon GmbH)
Researchers are investigating the potential of laser peening for the manipulation of titanium alloy sheets in the aerospace sector
