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Laser Welder vs Traditional Welders – Why Laser Welding Is The Future
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Are you in the market for a new welding machine? With welding technology making huge leaps throughout the decades, you’ll find that modern welders are capable of so much more than they used to be.
Some of the purists may argue that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it and opt to stay with the traditional welders. However, we want to encourage you not to knock the laser welder before you try it. Both the traditional and laser welding machines, in their own right, have made a huge impact on the welding world, but how do the two compare?
We plan to help you access these two welders in order to help you make the best decision when buying a welder (or if you’re just curious). Here, we give you an overview of the benefits of using a laser welder over a traditional welder.
How do laser welders and arc welders operate?
First, to get an understanding of how different these two welding machines are, we need to understand how they operate.
How does a laser welder work?
Laser welding machines utilise a concentrated beam of light to merge metal parts, often with added material from a filler rod. The process begins with creating laser light directed through a collimator or optics head.
The focused beam is then aimed at the junction of the metal components, generating intense heat in a small area. A solid-state, fibre, or CO2 laser typically emits the laser beam, each offering distinct advantages. As the metal at the beam’s focus point reaches its melting temperature, it forms a pool. The laser beam is then moved along the joint, melting the leading edge while allowing the trailing edge to cool and solidify.
How does a traditional arc welder work?
Arc welding involves the use of an electric arc to fuse two metals. The power supplied to the arc can be either alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC). The electrode causes a current to flow into the metal, so when the welding rod touches it, an arc is formed, causing the metal to melt.
Regardless of the specific type, all arc welding processes share the same parts, like an electrode, electrode cable, work cable with clamp and power supply. The welding arc generated during any arc welding process reaches around 3500°C, which is why it’s so bright and welders need masks.
Benefits of using a Laser Welder vs Traditional Welders
Traditional welders have held their own for a long time and are still among the most popular welders on the market. But Laser welders are creeping in as the new kid on the block. Here are the benefits of using a laser welder in comparison to a traditional arc welder:
When comparing laser welders to traditional welders, one observation that people make is that the laser welders provide optimised precision and accuracy. How does it do this? The advantage is due to the laser beam’s ability to concentrate on smaller areas. This allows for better control over heat output, and as a result, it manages to reduce material deformation caused by heat, shortens the overall welding time and provides a more professional finish.
Sorry, traditional welder fans, the traditional welder is slow, and in an industry where time is definitely money, laser welders win. While the difference might seem insignificant, arc welders melt the metal at a slower rate, taking longer for the metals to fuse and resulting in a longer weld duration. The process also relies on the welder to have some skill in striking the welding stick and performing a clean weld.
Laser welders are far more effective in reducing waste. Because they’re so precise, these welders can weld materials like copper, steel, titanium, and aluminium without causing them to warp or have unnecessary damage.
Thus leading to less wasted materials and a more cost-effective welder. In contrast, arc welders can cause a huge mess if the current is set wrong. One could either melt through the metal or create a bunch of marks from striking and getting stuck.
Laser welders are capable of welding a whole range of materials, ranging from thick metals to thinner metals. This is all due to its three welding types: Continuous Wave, Shooting, and Pulse. Each function offers its own benefits, making it suitable for a range of different welding processes. Arc welders are limited to your standard, thicker metals.
Laser Welders operate differently from traditional welding methods. Instead of producing large flames, they use a fibre laser source to create a controlled laser beam. This beam’s size and pattern can be directly adjusted using wobble settings.
This makes the laser welder safer and easier to control, making them suitable even for beginners who can achieve proficient welding in just a few hours. With reduced risks to users, less safety equipment is needed. However, you can never be too safe, right? Rather, continue to use safety equipment just in case.
Final Thoughts
The future is in your hands (quite literally) when working with a laser welder. While the traditional welder has given the world the ability to do so much, nowadays, it can only take you so far, while the benefits of switching to laser welding keep increasing. Anyone interested in buying or renting a laser welder should check out Renteca for the best deals.
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