Medical device and assembly joining is precise, repeatable, and reliable with laser welding. Components are laser welded utilizing a fixtured and automated method to produce spots with a diameter as small as .0007 inches. Laser welding is a tried-and-true technique for combining different types of metals and metal alloys, providing precision joining of coil wires and joining metal components for final assemblies. Here are the benefits:
Versatility
Laser welding is incredibly flexible. Various laser configurations may weld multiple materials, including heavy steel plates for the shipping industry, precious metals for jewelry, dissimilar metals like aluminum and steel, or copper contacts on electric car batteries. Even welding ceramics, a class of materials known for being difficult to weld, has seen some success (though this is still experimental).
The medical industry also benefits from laser welding. However, medical laser welding requires only specific metals because many of the components welded for the medical sector will be utilized within the body, either as a surgical tool or an implanted device.
Low heat input and distortion
Lasers generate a very focused heat source that can make a keyhole. The result is that samples deform less when welding with a laser than when welding with many other procedures because laser welding produces a small volume of weld metal and transmits only a small amount of heat into the surrounding material. The short width of the heat-impacted zones on either side of the weld, which reduces thermal damage and property loss in the parent material next to the weld, is another benefit of the low heat input.
Deep narrow welds
Laser welding enables the creation of welds with a high aspect ratio (big depth to narrow breadth). Therefore, laser welding is an option for joint designs where many conventional (conduction-constrained) welding processes are inappropriate, such as stake welding through lap joints. Compared to parts created with resistance spot welding, this enables smaller flanges.
It is appropriate for a variety of materials and thicknesses
Steels, stainless steels, Al, Ti, and Ni alloys, plastics, fabrics, and many other metallic and non-metallic materials can all be connected or welded using lasers. In addition, the thickness of the material that can be welded can range from less than a millimeter to over 30mm, depending on the laser’s type and power.
Swiftness and adaptability
Laser welding is a swift technique. Thin-section materials can be welded at rates of many meters per minute, depending on the type and power of the laser being utilized. Therefore, lasers are perfect for highly automated situations with great productivity.
Productivity advantages are also possible for thicker sections since the laser keyhole welding procedure may finish a joint in a single pass, whereas conventional methods require many passes. The optical fiber delivered beams from Nd: YAG, diode, fiber, and disk lasers, in particular, can readily be remotely adjusted utilizing multi-axis robotic delivery systems. That results in a geometrically flexible manufacturing process. Micro Weld, Inc welders almost always carry out laser welding as an automated process.
Less post-weld processing costs
Finally, laser welding is incredibly clean. Therefore products typically require no additional grinding since they are so flawless, significantly lowering the post-processing cost.