Metal welding is a regular process. We need it for many purposes. Do you want to create tools, furniture, auto parts, kitchen utensils, construction buildings, or electronics? You will need welding in every place that involves metals. Among different types, a handheld laser welder is one of the most commonly used devices.
People are replacing laser welding with many traditional welding methods. But why? There are several reasons behind it. And this article is going to highlight those reasons. It explains nine critical reasons why you should use a handheld laser welder. This article can greatly help you if you plan to invest in a welding machine.
Overview of Handheld Welder
A handheld welder is a welding machine used with hands. It is primarily compact and portable, unlike bulky traditional machines, which are heavy and difficult to maneuver.
The handheld welding machine comes with an electric welding gun. This gun directs the heat to the desired spot. As a result, you can work on various materials to create shapes and sizes. This gun generally makes it ideal for use in many industries.
A handheld laser welder is one of the most common welding devices today. Its purpose is the same as others, joining metals. It works with almost all types of metals, including Al, SS, and Cu. It can handle diverse thicknesses and gives the same result throughout the process.
So, how does a handheld laser welder work? It joins two pieces of metal together with a focused laser beam. In this case, the laser gun shoots an intense beam directly on the spot you want to weld. At that location, the beam generates a fast temperature increase that reaches the melting point of the metal. With just a block of an eye, two metals fuse.
The welding gun electric in this device is very easy to operate. You can control the power, speed, and focus of the laser. This control feature generally reduces error and helps you ensure a clean weld.
Handheld lasers work quickly and efficiently. People use this technology in place of many traditional methods. The following section will explain why this device replaces the other techniques.
Are Laser Welders Any Good?
Handheld laser welders have made many complex works possible. Before the twentieth century, welding complex metals was nearly impossible. In today’s world, most precision industries widely use this technology for various works. So, there are many reasons to use a handheld laser welder.
If you are considering investing in handheld laser welding, you might wonder whether it is worth it. To clear up this confusion, this section presents the nine most critical reasons for using it. It compares handheld laser welders with other traditional methods to make things easy to understand.
Faster Welding Speed
One of the best things about handheld laser welding is its speed. No other method can achieve the speed it can. This device offers faster processing times than other traditional methods.
A highly focused laser beam can precisely focus on a small area. With just a blink of an eye, the projected area quickly melts and fuses. In this case, traditional methods, like TIG or MIG, require more time.
You can continuously operate handheld laser welding machines. It means you don’t have to worry about changing the fillers. This factor speeds up the whole creation process. No matter how big or small your output is, a mobile laser welder can meet all your needs.
Easy to Operate
A handheld laser welder is easy to operate—like a plug-and-play thing. Laser welding technology is typically designed to be user-friendly.
On the other hand, traditional methods need expert hands, especially TIG or MIG. Working with these methods is not a children’s play. You must have enough experience to get the desired result. That’s why most construction sites need people with sufficient expertise.
Most handheld laser welders are equipped with automated functions. Because of this, you can easily change the device’s power, focus, and pulse rate. This controlling feature is especially necessary when you deal with diverse metal parts.
High Quality Weld
Another great advantage of using a handheld laser welder is the high-quality weld. This device melts the particular metal spot using a concentrated laser beam. Therefore, this method doesn’t affect areas near the joint. Although it does, the intensity is relatively low. Usually, the laser’s accuracy produces robust, clean, smooth surfaces for welding.
The HAZ area is a common issue when working with other traditional methods. HAZ means heat-affected zones. The intense heat affects the surroundings when you use a handheld welding gun. As a result, the area surrounding the weld seam swells or sometimes breaks if the heat is too high. The HAZ area affects not only the quality of the joint but also its durability.
Laser welds are much stronger and more durable than welds produced by traditional methods. The material can maintain its properties since a handheld laser machine creates less HAZ.
Versatility in Material and Thickness
A handheld laser welder can deal with all types of thicknesses and materials. However, you will need a higher-power laser to weld thick metals. For medium-thickness metals, handheld laser welders are excellent.
Laser welding is relatively flexible regarding the choice of materials. Surprisingly, you can work with most types of metals under this device. Because of their adaptability, portable laser welders are usually perfect for all-in-one solutions.
Therefore, you can achieve high-quality results on diverse materials with laser welding. You will need filler for specific metals if you take other traditional methods. Also, conventional methods are not suitable for thin metals.
Safety in Welding
Safety is always the priority in metalworking. You can not overlook its importance. A portable laser welder offers a better safety substitute for conventional techniques.
Laser welding reduces the possibility of fire. Moreover, the exact control of the process typically lowers the risk of mishaps.
Moreover, you can work with a handheld laser welder from a safe distance. As a result, it reduces their exposure to dangerous fumes or intense heat. Therefore, handheld laser welding provides a safer work environment than traditional methods.
Flexibility and Portability
A handheld laser welding machine is often more compact and portable than a traditional device. This flexibility generally allows you to move the machine anywhere. Therefore, you can perform various tasks depending on your needs.
Many laser welding systems are designed to transport and set up quickly. This compact design typically makes the job convenient.
In addition to portability, handheld laser welders can be used differently. You can either manually use them or automate them to get faster results. Regarding automation, handheld laser welders can easily be integrated with production lines. This factor is also one of the critical reasons why you should use a handheld laser welder.
Lower Heat Input and Less Material Deformation
Handheld laser welders benefit from heat input. Like TIG or arc welding, traditional welding melts the material with much heat. The heat produced is usually too high, which is unfavorable. It generates various problems like warping and distortion.
However, you don’t have to worry about these problems when you deal with handheld laser welders. These devices use a concentrated beam of light. This technique generally produces lower heat input. As a result, these devices lower the risk of deformation. Ultimately, you can ensure your part maintains its shape and integrity.
Environmentally Friendly
Laser welding is much cleaner than other traditional methods. If you consider TIG or arc welding, they all produce fumes. These fumes or contaminants may create issues if you inhale them.
Traditional methods, on the other hand, create sparks that can cause fire. On the other hand, handheld laser welding is also energy-efficient. It uses less power than other methods.
Cost-effective Solution
It is true! Handheld laser welders need a higher initial cost. However, if you consider the long-term operation, you will find it very cost-effective. There are several pointers for laser welding being a cost-effective solution.
- Handheld laser welding is easy to use. Therefore, you don’t have to spend much on an expert’s hands. It also reduces labor costs because operating this device is easy.
- A handheld laser welder mostly does not need filler materials. It directly melts the metal parts and fuses them. So you can save on the consumable costs for these types of laser devices.
- Since these devices produce lower heat input, they produce less material waste. Less material waste means higher efficiency. And higher efficiency means lower cost.
- A handheld laser welder also needs less maintenance. Once purchased, it operates for a long time without maintaining them periodically.
- Automated portable laser welders are perfect for large-volume production. This type of integration generally creates less cost per part.
Summary
Do you intend to invest in welding machines? Considering your project needs, you may be ready to decide on a portable welder. The above nine points clearly state why you should choose a handheld laser welder.
A handheld laser welder is always an intelligent choice. It is portable and straightforward to use. You can take it anywhere and anytime you want. Precision? Can a handheld laser welding machine give you the best shot? Versatility? You can work with most types of materials without needing the filler. What about the cost? Pointer #9 clearly states five reasons a handheld laser welder is cost-effective.
Choose smarter and work smarter. A handheld laser welder is hassle-free. There are no fumes, no consumables, and it’s plug-and-play. Please don’t hesitate to contact our customer service staff with any queries.