TIG welding vs laser welding

Part 1 Laser Demo at a local welding supply

Part 2 Laser compared to TIG on Aluminum with Cut and ETch test

Recently,  learned about a laser welding demo going on at a welding supply near me so I made sure to go and film some clips.

If you are like me, you might have a few questions about laser welding.

(If not, I made sure to lead off this video with a very short concise video of TIG welding a stainless lap joint.)

I have a few questions myself like….

• how thick can A Laser welder weld?
• What metals can it weld?
• Can it weld dissimilar metals?
• What are the limitations?
• What are the safety issues?

If you are interested in learning more about whether your welding application is a good fit for laser welding, I have set up a form here where you can save some time getting in touch with a Denaliweld applications specialist

I plan on doing several more videos showing the capabilities and limitations of laser welding so stay tuned.

Hey are you going to Fabtech this year?

Fabtech is in Orlando FL this year October 15, 16, and 17

If you are going, I would love to meet you…shake your hand and talk with you about what type of work you do.

I have been to a lot of Fabtech shows and usually I walk around and check out the booths.  

But this year, I am going to park myself at the Denaliweld booth on October 15th from 1pm to 3pm so if you are going, look me up.

I will also be at the EZ Kleen booth on October 17 from 1 to 4 so if you going to be at fabtech on either October 15 or 17, I would love to meet you.

TIG welding stainless steel is not that much more difficult that tig welding carbon steel but you do need to use some different procedures to make sure you maintain corrosion resistance.

When 300 series stainless like 304L and 316L are heated in the 900F to 1200F range for too long, a process called carbide precipitation can begin.  

Carbide Precipitation means that carbon molecules combine with chromium molecules to for chromium carbides.  And that causes a loss of corrosion resistance.

So in order to prevent that from happening, control of heat input is important.

Obviously, you have to get the stainless hot enough to weld it but the main thing is to not keep the stainless too hot for too long.

One thing that helps with tig welding is to get the puddle established quickly and get moving quickly to avoid heat from building up.

What is quickly?  I like to use the 3 second rule.  Get that puddle established and moving within 3 seconds.