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Laser WeldingSpeeds up to 100"/min
Laser Welding Sheet Metal
Northern's trade secret laser welding process creates high-quality welds, full penetration. We have been developing our laser welding capabilities on steel and stainless steel fabrications since 2000.
Laser Welding Features
Low Heat Input
Ideal joint geometry to reduces part distortion. Heat input and distortion is proportional to the volume of weld metal. Laser welding melts very little extra material on either side of the faying zone.
High Productivity
High welding speeds in the hundreds of inches per minute with CNC reproducibility.
Improved Weld Quality
Aesthetically pleasing welds with increased weld penetration, consistency, and repeatability.
Laser Welding Capabilities
- Thickness: 0.024"-0.5"
- Speed >200"/min
- Materials:
- Stainless Steels
- Carbon Steels
Autogenous Laser Welding
No Filler Metal
Austenitic stainless steels (304, 316, etc) and carbon steels love autogenous laser welding. No filler metal is required for strength or corrosion concerns. Sheets can be seamed together without any edge preparation with full weld penetration from one side.
Hybrid Laser Welding
GMAW wire feed + Laser Welding
Hybrid laser welding is useful for very specific applications when filler metal is required. The laser beam is combined with the MIG welding weld puddle to push the molten filler metal deep into the weld joint. This process adds more heat and distortion than autogenous laser welding. It is generally used when the alloying filler metal is required for corrosion or strength, but can also be used to increase the weld speed or depth of penetration.
Remote Laser Welding Video
Case Study
Problem:
A customer's air nozzle assembly had 110 individual components with 3 different sheet metal thicknesses. The prints required the assembly to be riveted and then silicone sealed.
Solution:
Northern was able to reduce all of the sheet metal parts to a single thickness through creative press brake forming. We also eliminated the riveting and sealing requirements by replacing them with gas tight laser welding. Total components reduced from 110 to 28.
Results:
We were able to reduce the number of components in the assembly from 110 to 28 and the laser weld was functionally superior to the previous sealing process. These efforts gave our customer a 22% cost reduction
Laser Welding Photo Gallery
