Q. I have a welding application that I would like to have processed on a laser. The Material is .06 Inch thick 316 Stainless Steel. Can this material be laser welded and What type of laser would be best?
A. .316 stainless steel cam be welded with a variety of lasers the most common lasers used for welding would be Nd: Yag, or CO2. Both would do a good job. The power required to achieve 0.06 inch penetration would be in the 700 watt range. A rule of thumb for weld penetration is; at 30 Inches per minute 100 watts of power = .01 of an inche penetration.
Q. Is a shielding gas required for Laser Welding?
A. For a clean weld, shielding gas is required. Helium or Argon are common gasses used.
Q. How does a laser cut material?
A. The laser beam is focused to a small spot size known as the focal point. When the focused beam encounters a reactive material it causes melting and vaporization. An assist gas is used through a nozzle to remove the melted material leaving a clean cut edge.
Do you have a question for LaserGuide, Inc.? Complete the form below and we may post your question on the site.
