Laser surface treatments can be used on almost all types of metals, including carbon steel, cast iron, aluminum, molybdenum, and magnesium. They can remove contaminants and coatings (laser cleaning), modify the surface roughness (laser texturing), harden surfaces (laser hardening), and add materials to surfaces to improve surface properties (laser cladding).
Not so long ago, CO2 lasers were the only lasers available for laser welding—and they had important limitations for automation. The arrival of fiber laser technology has drastically changed the landscape, offering high speed, high precision, low maintenance, and rock-solid stability through movements and vibrations.
Laser ablation occurs when a laser beam removes material from a localized area. Used in various industrial applications, this process can create permanent marks (laser marking), remove contaminants and coatings from surfaces (laser cleaning), modify a part’s roughness (laser texturing), cut through a surface (laser cutting) and much more.
Industrial laser welding of copper is in growing demand. One reason is the electrification of the automotive industry, where various electrical components are made of copper to improve electrical and thermal conductivity.
Lasers and robotics are both used by manufacturers for their speed and precision. It’s natural that these two technologies frequently work hand in hand in production lines to perform laser welding.
We’ve reached a time where laser welding is not only viable for high-volume production lines, but also for all types of manufacturers. With laser welding being so accessible, now is a good time to explore this proven process that promises precision, speed, and cost effectiveness.
To apply adhesives, manufacturers use a method called adhesive bonding. Due to its many benefits, it is widely used to replace welds and mechanical fasteners.
There are countless ways to blast a surface due to the variety of abrasive materials. In today’s industrial environments, grit blasting is often chosen because it is low cost and effective when cleaning several types of large surfaces, including metals, plastics, and ceramics.
Bonds are an important part of a wide range of products, from EV batteries to aerospace components. To ensure the products’ safety and long-term quality, these bonds must be reliable and durable. Especially when they are exposed to stresses, loads, and high levels of energy. To achieve this, strong bonds are needed.
While fiber lasers, CO2 lasers, and diode lasers can all be used to engrave metal, the kind of laser engraver you need depends on how you want to use it. If you run a production line, you’ll need a fiber laser. If you have small business or just want to do DIY projects as a beginner, a CO2 laser or a diode laser may be sufficient.
Oxide removal is essential to prevent weld contamination, maximize the bond strength of coatings and adhesives, and increase part durability. Laser cleaning, mechanical abrasives, pickling chemicals and other chemicals have all proven effective in cleaning oxidized aluminum.
While laser welding is known for its ability to produce high-quality welds at high speeds, integrating this technology into EV battery production lines presents unique challenges.
EV manufacturers need to work with laser and automation experts that know how to address these challenges if they want to achieve a high yield and produce at a high rate.
