While cutting is a major laser application, laser welding is gathering new applications day-by-day. The current diode laser technology supports ongoing process developments and improves existing welding applications. This is driven by low investment and cost of ownership, but now process results show incredible improvements concerning spatter, homegenous welds and adaptive in-situ process control.

In many applications diode laser technology is thought of as the legitimate successor of CO2 lasers. The presentation includes some application results to demonstrate the above, along with a general update on the current range of welding applications.

The presentation explains the different methods of generating (via additive manufacturing) and cladding products using diode lasers. Various samples are shown and discussed. In the second part of the presentation, the principle of laser hardening and its advantages compared to conventional methods are explained and demonstrated with examples.

In addition, the presentation provides updates on the latest developments in diode laser technology, and explains why an increasing number of applications can be performed with these systems. Diode lasers are more efficient than CO2, fibre and disk lasers, and therefore face brilliant outlook in the market, underlined by several independent experts.