2D LASER WELDING

Laser welding exploits the capability to concentrate high energy in a punctiform and very small spot, melting the material of the parts and creating a highly stable and resistant joint between them. The energy brought to the part is focused on the joint and therefore the heat affected zone and the part distorsion are minimal.

The are two kinds of welded joints: lap joints or butt joints. In any case, and in particular for butt joints, the quality and the presentation of the edges to be welded is of the greatest importance: they must be accurately prepared, referred, joint and clamped during the process.

Often it is better to make some tack-welds to be sure that the edges are kept joint during the process. This means that reference and clamping devices play a leading role in the welding process, much more than in the cutting one.

Generally, laser welding is autogenouos. Sometimes, for metallurgical reasons (e.g. for some kinds of aluminium) or when the joining is not perfect and needs to be filled, filler material can be used.  The laser welded joints are generally thin and can be cleaned and/or smoothed more easily than the joints obtained with other welding techniques. Consequently, laser welding is particularly suitable when the appearance of the articles is essential (e.g. tableware, kitchenware, furnishing) or for hygenic reasons (e.g. gaps or extra material which can become "biological traps" in the food or medical industry).

Among the most widespread applications in 2D laser welding there is the preparation of spot or serpentine welded double-wall panels used in containers for liquids (heating or cooling tanks). In the automotive sector, the welding of Tailored Blanks (butt welding of multi-thickness and/or multi-material sheets) is very important. For this application PRIMA INDUSTRIE offers MOSAICO: a system which prepares, joins and welds the edges in a single cycle.


For 2D laser welding PRIMA INDUSTRIE offers:

- DOMINO
- MOSAICO