What Are the Advantages of Using a Laser for Welding?
The use of handheld laser welding systems is becoming increasingly popular, with laser welding offering key advantages in comparison to traditional welding techniques:
- Precision: laser welding is extremely precise, allowing for pinpoint accuracy and control over the welding process which is particularly useful for welding intricate or delicate components where traditional methods may be less accurate.
- Speed: laser welding is typically faster than traditional welding techniques, with the concentrated heat source of the laser allowing for rapid heating and cooling of the material, resulting in quicker welds and higher productivity.
- Minimal Heat Affected Zone (HAZ): laser welding produces a smaller heat affected zone compared to traditional welding methods. This reduces the risk of distortion, warping, and damage to surrounding materials, making it ideal for welding heat-sensitive materials or thin components.
- Non-Contact Process: being a non-contact process, there is no physical contact between the welding tool and the workpiece. This reduces the risk of contamination and damage to the welding equipment and eliminates the need for consumable materials such as welding rods or wires.
- Versatility: laser welding can be used to join a wide range of materials, including metals, plastics, ceramics, and composites. It is particularly well-suited for welding dissimilar materials that may be difficult to join using traditional methods.
- Automation: laser welding can be easily integrated into automated manufacturing processes. This allows for high-speed, consistent, and repeatable welds which help to reduce labour costs and make improvements in overall efficiency in production environments.
- Quality: laser welding produces high-quality welds with excellent strength, precision, and aesthetics. The absence of filler materials reduces the risk of defects such as porosity or splatter, resulting in cleaner welds and superior mechanical properties.
The Laser Safety Requirements
Whilst the hazards of traditional welding are well understood and safety requirements are captured under the EN166 and EN169 standards, when working with lasers we also need to consider safety requirements in accordance with the EN207 standard for laser safety.
The Uvex group is a well-known supplier of industrial safety equipment that includes traditional welding safety equipment. Uvex’s subsidiary Laservision is a specialist manufacturer of laser safety equipment and has recently launched the FS1 Laser Welding Safety Face Shield to address the safety requirements for those performing handheld laser welding.
The FS1 is based on Uvex’s industrial safety visor, and protects not only the wearer’s eyes but also their face from hazards caused by laser radiation. The FS1 laser safety visor is a lightweight and safe solution that has been designed for working with handheld welding lasers. The entire visor is certified to EN207 and protects against accidental exposure to laser radiation, but like all laser safety filters, it is not intended to protect against permanent, direct exposure. The large visor ensures an unobstructed field of vision and comfortable working.
Depending on the materials to be welded and the associated characteristic plasma brightness, you can choose between three filter variants to suit your application.
The Key Advantages of the FS1 Laser Welding Face Shield
- Full face protection
- Lightweight: only 386g
- Laser filters certified according to EN207
- Carrier certified to EN207
- Welding filters certified to EN169 (depending on model)
- Basic requirements and mechanical protection according to EN166
- Adjustable fit and height
- Anti-fog coating on the inside
- Scratch-resistant coating on the outside
- Ergonomically optimised, semi-automatic, spring-loaded visor mechanism
