LightWELD continues to impress people with the superior aesthetics of laser welding when compared to alternate welding techniques, but are the looks too good to be true?
To answer this question, IPG prepared some samples and sent them to Sturbridge Metallurgical Services, Inc., located in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, for third party evaluation. Accredited by NADCAP (National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program) and A2LA (American Association for Laboratory Accreditation), SMS was able to provide the service and experience to properly and independently evaluate the test sample.
Putting laser welds to the test
In 1993, the American Welding Society (AWS) formed a committee of experts from the aircraft and aerospace industries to form a welding committee in the aircraft and aerospace industries. The output of this committee and through periodic updates is AWS D17.1:2017, an American National Standard. While the standard covers several classes, samples were tested to Class A. The most demanding class, Class A covers critical aerospace applications, welds where a single failure would cause loss of system, major component or control resulting in endangerment to personnel.
In all cases, no cracking, incomplete fusion, porosity, inclusions, or other defects were noted during weld tests for butt joints in 304 stainless steel plates of 0.036 in., 0.075 in., and 0.120 in. The weld profiles passed all tests and no underfill was noted.
The findings from the third-party evaluation of the samples by Sturbridge Metallurgical Services indicate that LightWELD produces welds that meet rigorous industry standards, including critical aerospace applications; offering both efficiency and quality in welding applications. In summary, LightWELD offers a faster and more efficient welding solution compared to traditional MiG and TiG techniques, thanks to its high power density that enables deep penetration and faster welding speeds. Furthermore, when parts fit up well, filler wire can even be eliminated, resulting in an aesthetically pleasing and strong weld.
IPG Photonics: The Experts In Fiber Laser Solutions
Offering many advantages over traditional welding methods, hand-held laser welding and cleaning can help improve the quality and consistency of welds while reducing production time and costs. Contact IPG Photonics today to learn more about how fast and easy it is to implement laser welding and cleaning into your production process and take your products to the next level.
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