What is a Handheld Laser Welding Machine?

A handheld laser welding machine is a portable, operator-controlled welding system that uses a focused laser beam to join metal components. Unlike traditional stationary laser welding systems, handheld units feature a lightweight welding gun connected to a laser generator, allowing operators to move freely around workpieces and perform welding operations with unprecedented flexibility and precision.

What is a handheld laser welding machine?

The hand-held fiber laser welding machine is a new generation of laser welding equipment. It belongs to non-contact welding. It does not require pressure during the operation. , which melts the material inside, and then cools and crystallizes to form a weld.

The handheld fiber laser welding machine fills the gap of handheld welding in the laser equipment industry, subverts the working mode of the traditional laser welding machine, and replaces the previous fixed optical path with the handheld type. possible.

Hand-held welding is mainly aimed at laser welding of long-distance and large workpieces. It overcomes the limitation of the travel space of the worktable. The heat-affected area during welding is small, and it will not cause work deformation, blackening, and traces on the back. The welding depth is large, and the welding is Firm and fully melted, it can not only realize thermal conduction welding but also continuous deep penetration welding, spot welding, butt welding, stitch welding, sealing welding, seam welding, etc.

This process subverts the working mode of the traditional laser welding machine. It has the advantages of simple operation, beautiful welding seam, fast welding speed, and no consumables. It can be welded perfectly on thin stainless steel plates, iron plates, galvanized plates, and other metal materials It replaces traditional argon arc welding, stainless steel plate, iron plate, aluminum plate, and other metal materials welding.

What is the principle of a hand-held laser welding machine?

1. High voltage drives the xenon lamp to emit light, the YGA crystals installed together are illuminated by the laser, resonantly resonate through the total reflection and semi-reflection diaphragm, and then input to the optical fiber through the beam splitter and optical gate, and finally focus the laser to a point

2. The power density on the focal plane can reach 10 5 -1013 w/cm2. The hand-held laser welding machine uses the characteristics of the excellent directionality and high power density of the laser beam to work.

3. The laser beam is concentrated in a small area, and in a very short period of time, a local heat source area with high energy concentration is formed at the welded part, so that the welded object is melted and a firm welding spot and seam are formed.

Laser welding can be realized by the continuous or pulsed laser beam. The principle of laser welding can be divided into heat conduction welding and laser deep penetration welding. When the power density is less than 104~105 W/cm2, it is thermal conduction welding. At this time, the penetration depth is shallow and the welding speed is slow; when the power density is greater than 105~107 W/cm2, the metal surface is concave into “holes” under the action of heat, forming deep penetration welding, with The welding speed is fast and the aspect ratio is large.

Applications Across Industries

Metal Fabrication and Manufacturing

General Fabrication:

• Sheet Metal Assembly: Cabinet and enclosure manufacturing
• Structural Components: Frame and bracket fabrication
• Custom Metal Work: Architectural and artistic metalwork
• Prototype Development: Rapid prototyping and small batch production
• Repair Services: Component repair and refurbishment

Production Manufacturing:

• Kitchen Equipment: Stainless steel sinks, counters, and appliances
• Furniture Manufacturing: Metal chairs, tables, and frames
• Lighting Fixtures: Decorative and functional lighting assemblies
• Display Systems: Retail and exhibition display structures
• HVAC Components: Ductwork and ventilation system fabrication

Automotive and Transportation

Automotive Applications:

• Body Panel Repair: Collision repair and restoration
• Exhaust Systems: Muffler and pipe fabrication and repair
• Frame Repairs: Structural component restoration
• Custom Fabrication: Hot rod and custom vehicle building
• Trim and Accessories: Chrome and stainless detail work

Heavy Equipment:

• Agricultural Equipment: Tractor and implement repair.
• Construction Equipment: Bucket and attachment fabrication.
• Mining Equipment: Component repair and maintenance.
• Railroad Applications: Rail car and locomotive repair.
• Marine Vessels: Boat and ship fabrication and repair.

Specialized Industries

Aerospace and Defense:

• Aircraft Components: Structural repairs and modifications
• Precision Assemblies: Instrument and control system fabrication
• Lightweight Structures: Aluminum and titanium welding
• Repair and Maintenance: Field repair capabilities
• Prototype Development: R&D and testing applications

Medical Device Manufacturing:

• Surgical Instruments: Stainless steel instrument fabrication
• Medical Equipment: Hospital equipment and device assembly
• Implant Production: Titanium and specialty alloy welding
• Clean Room Applications: Minimal contamination process
• Prototype Medical Devices: Development and testing

Electronics and Technology:

• Battery Production: Electric vehicle battery pack assembly
• Electronics Enclosures: Server racks and equipment cabinets
• Heat Sinks: Thermal management component fabrication
• Shielding Applications: EMI/RFI shielding assemblies
• Precision Assemblies: Small component joining

Jewelry and Precious Metals

Jewelry Manufacturing:

• Gold and Silver Jewelry: Precision welding without damage
• Platinum Work: High-melting point material capability
• Repair Services: Restoration of valuable pieces
• Custom Design: Intricate and delicate assemblies
• Stone Setting: Minimal heat transfer protects gemstones

Watchmaking:

• Case Repair: Precise restoration work
• Bracelet Links: Small component assembly
• Component Fabrication: Custom parts manufacturing
• Restoration Projects: Antique timepiece repair

Advantages Over Traditional Welding Methods

Quality and Precision Benefits

Weld Quality Characteristics:

• Deep Penetration: Keyhole welding mode achieves excellent depth-to-width ratio
• Minimal Spatter: Clean process with virtually no spatter
• Reduced Porosity: Faster solidification reduces gas entrapment
• Consistent Results: Repeatable quality with programmed parameters
• Aesthetic Appearance: Smooth, uniform welds requiring minimal finishing

Precision Control:

• Focused Energy: Precise heat application to exact location
• Minimal Distortion: Low heat input reduces warping and stress
• Fine Detail Work: Capable of welding intricate geometries
• Thin Material Capability: Welds materials too thin for traditional methods

Advantages of Handheld Laser Welding Machines

1. Wide welding range: The handheld welding head is equipped with 5m-10M original optical fiber, which overcomes the limitation of the workbench space and can be used for outdoor welding and long-distance welding;

2. Convenient and flexible to use: Hand-held laser welding is equipped with moving pulleys, which are comfortable to hold, and can be adjusted at any time, without the need for fixed-point stations, free and flexible, and suitable for various working environment scenarios.

3. Various welding methods: Welding at any angle can be achieved: stitch welding, butt welding, vertical welding, flat fillet welding, inner fillet welding, outer fillet welding, etc. It can weld workpieces with various complex welds and irregular shapes of large workpieces. Welding at any angle can be achieved. In addition, he can also complete the cutting, welding and cutting can be switched freely, just change the welding copper nozzle to the cutting copper nozzle, which is very convenient.

4. Good welding effect: hand-held laser welding is hot-melt welding. Compared with traditional welding, laser welding has a higher energy density and can achieve a better welding effect. , The welding depth is large, the melting is sufficient, it is firm and reliable, and the strength of the weld reaches or even exceeds the base metal itself, which cannot be guaranteed by ordinary welding machines.

5. Welds do not need grinding: After traditional welding, the welding points need to be ground to ensure smoothness and no roughness. Hand-held laser welding just reflects more advantages in the processing effect: continuous welding, smooth without fish scales, beautiful without scars, and fewer subsequent grinding processes.

6. No consumables for welding: The welding operation in most people’s impressions are “left-hand goggles, right-hand clip welding wire”. However, with the hand-held laser welding machine, the welding can be easily completed, which reduces the material cost in production and processing.

7. With multiple safety alarms, the welding tip is only effective when the switch is touched when it touches the metal, the light is automatically locked after the workpiece is removed, and the touch switch has a body temperature sensor. High safety, ensuring the safety of operators during work.

8. Save labor cost: Compared with arc welding, the processing cost can be reduced by about 30%. The operation is simple and easy to learn and quick to learn, and the technical threshold of the operator is not high. Ordinary workers can be employed after a short training, and can easily achieve high-quality welding results.

Laser Welding Machine Buying Guide

If you’re buying a laser welding machine for the first time, it’s worth knowing some getting started tips. When choosing a laser welding machine, the following aspects can be considered.

1. How to choose the laser type

Your laser welding machine can be equipped with one of two types of lasers: pulsed or continuous. Which one to choose depends on the thickness of the material you are welding.
Pulsed lasers act on thin and light metals, preventing them from deforming or melting. This laser welding machine is mainly used for welding sheet metal, razor blades, gold jewelry chain links, and other materials.
CW lasers are mainly used for welding thick metal workpieces and are particularly effective for refractory metals. If you use this type of laser welding machine on a part that is too thin, it can damage the part.

2. How to choose the power of the laser welding machine

The laser generator is the core of the laser equipment. Generally speaking, the higher the power of the laser welding machine, the deeper the welding depth will be. E.g. If the welding depth is required to be 0.5mm-3mm, then a 1000W laser welding machine can meet the demand. But it should be noted that if it is penetration welding or spot welding, you can choose a 1000W laser welding machine; if it is continuous welding, it is better to use a higher power laser. It is more appropriate to choose a 1500W or 2000W laser welding machine.
If you are not sure which power laser welding machine to use, you can consult online, iGOLDENLaser will help you.

3. How to choose the configuration of laser welding

The configuration of laser welding machines involves many aspects, and the configuration of laser welding machines for different purposes is different. For example, mold welding of welding molds, jewelry welding of welding jewelry, optical fiber transmission laser welding machines, etc., the price naturally varies from equipment to equipment. When purchasing a laser welding machine, you should choose a suitable machine according to your own product type, processing technology, and processing requirements.

4. How to choose the best laser welding machine supplier

First of all, it is necessary to judge whether it is a professional laser equipment manufacturer, so as to fully guarantee the quality of the machine. Secondly, the after-sales service of the laser welding machine supplier is also very important. iGOLDEN Lase provides free technical support and training. During the use of the machine, we are ready to answer your technical questions and help you quickly become an experienced laser welding machine operator.

Operating Parameters and Techniques

Parameter Settings

Power Level Adjustment:

• Low Power (500-1000W): Thin materials, delicate work.
• Medium Power (1000-1500W): General fabrication, 1-2mm materials.
• High Power (1500-2500W): Thicker materials, faster speeds.
• Maximum Power (2500-3000W): Heavy materials, deep penetration.

Pulse Frequency Control:

• Continuous Wave (CW): Constant power for standard welding.
• Low Frequency (1-10Hz): Thin materials, reduced heat input.
• Medium Frequency (10-50Hz): General purpose applications.
• High Frequency (50-200Hz): Improved control for difficult materials.

Welding Speed Considerations:

• Slow Speed (100-300mm/min): Thick materials, deep penetration.
• Medium Speed (300-1000mm/min): Standard applications.
• Fast Speed (1000-3000mm/min): Thin materials, minimal heat input.
• Variable Speed: Operator control for changing conditions.

Welding Techniques

Joint Preparation:

• Surface Cleaning: Remove oil, rust, paint, and contamination.
• Fit-Up Requirements: Tighter tolerances than traditional welding.
• Gap Control: Maximum 10% of material thickness typically.
• Alignment: Precise positioning for optimal results.
• Tack Welding: Strategic tacks to maintain alignment.

Gun Positioning and Angle:

• Work Distance: Typically 8-15mm from material surface.
• Angle of Attack: Usually 70-90° to work surface.
• Torch Orientation: Perpendicular or slight leading angle.
• Focal Point: Adjust for material thickness and joint type.
• Travel Direction: Forehand or backhand depending on application.

Filler Wire Usage:

• When to Use Filler: Gap filling, dissimilar materials, build-up.
• Filler Selection: Match base metal or specific alloy requirements.
• Feed Methods: Manual cold wire or automated wire feeder.
• Feed Rate: Coordinate with welding speed and power.
• Wire Diameter: Typically 0.8-1.2mm for handheld applications.