Stacy- laser welding

Bill DeShivs

Bill DeShivs

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Jun 6, 2000
Messages
12,892
Stacy- do you have a laser welder? These things are the bomb! Reprong rings while holding them in your hand!
I use one quite a bit in my knife restoration business. It has added a completely new dimension to my repairs-building up minute amounts of metal.
I even used it to fill a rust line on a pistol slide I was refinishing. The line ran right through the slide lettering, but we were able to weld up between the letters!
I don't know how much use a laser welder would be for most knifemakers, but having the option of micro welding without affecting heat treatment is a very good thing.
 
I've gotten a few new thermos bottles . [Aaah stainless steel ! , I remember the old glass liners years ago ] The steel is very thin , not much more than a few thousandths
thick. Wonderful example of laser welding. Over the years the steel has been made thinner, by half at least and much lighter of course.
Could you show use some examples of it's capabilities please .
 
No, I don't really have the room (or budget) for one at the store. I have thought of getting one for fun in the new shop, but there are so many things on the list before it. Hopefully, the price will drop before long and they will become affordable.
 
View attachment 962485 The handle on this knife was welded up using Titanium microspheres and a laser welder in a 3-D printer. It has 4 layers, but it is all one piece of metal. Would a laser welder also make a good cutting “torch”?
 
The laser welds in pulses, so it's not good for cutting. Prices have come down to under $8000 for the machines lately.
Here is a pistol slide that probably set in water-leaving a rust ring around it. We welded it up and I resurfaced it. After plating, the line won't be visible at all.IMG_4199.JPG IMG_4201.JPG
 
What is the model and cost of the unit you use, Bill?

Tiguy,
From what I know, it is the wrong type laser and power to cut with.
 
It's just a question of power, collimation and gas. Cutting lasers pulse as well. At least the high end industrial ones do, and the pulse frequency is one of the cutting parameters often adjusted to match current conditions.

The biggest difference between welding and cutting lasers is power density and gas nozzles/pressure. When cutting, you want to focus every watt of energy into the smallest point to liquify and vaporize material, and inject a stream of gas to assist in removing molten material from the kerf. In welding, that's too much energy and too focused, because you only want enough puddle for fusion, and the gas to create a oxygen free zone around the weld rather than push the puddle through the material.

I know you can weld with a cutting laser. Usually that means something is wrong :D
 
It's an older model Laser Star.
I think it's a model 7100.
Original cost was around 25-30 K, I am told.
 
I just googled now and Laser Star comes up high in the google search, made in USA it claims

Several models and power levels, but you have to give ALL the contact data just to download the catalogue


I hate the car dealer model, give me info and pricing without having to talk to you.
 
Yes, even Stuller has "Call for Price" in the online catalog that is only available to account holders. Last time I checked, the little benchtop models were about $15K plus accessories. Most good laser cutters I have heard of cost $100K and upward.
 
I've been working for a company on Titanium welding applications for a long time and am looking to add laser to my capabilities. We are constrained in a glovebox that has closed loop circulation and purification and really get clean welds but can't fit everything inside that we want to do. I think laser will help my customer realize improved quality, speed and eliminate distortion.
 
How much better is it than high frequency pulse TIG welding. Before I moved I had a jeweler who was going to let me use some gold to see if I could work out a welding procedure. I never got around to it but still want to.
 
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