Laser Welding Gaseous Minerals and Submersed - Assignment Example

Laser Welding Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Laser Welding Definition Laser welding is the methodology in manufacturing that involves the joining of two metals together using the laser beam. Apparently, the laser represents ‘Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.’ The process is non-contact and requires that a person accesses the weld zone from one side of the parts being welded. To form the weld, the intense laser lights heats up the material in milliseconds. The laser welders are capable of joining various steel, aluminum, nickel, copper, alloys, and titanium. The material must have reflectivity, cycling in high thermal, and volatile alloying element vaporization. Laser welds achieve three types of laser welding which are the conduction, keyhole, and conduction/penetration (Erdős et al., 2013).In short, laser welding involves the use of the right amount of heat required for melting the materials that are expected to be joined. How It Works The most fundamental aspect of laser welding is raising the metal temperatures that when subjected to the laser energy, then they can absorb it. Additionally, the person focuses the laser to the material just like the sun through the magnifying glass, though it is many ways have a magnitude higher at around 106W/cm2. The laser light photons get into a material where they are partly or wholly absorbed so that they can cause waves within in it. At times the light photons cause the repeated absorption that enables the lattice melting and breakup. Interestingly, even in metals that absorb the laser light such a steel, it is always reflected. However, at the time goes by and the metal absorbs more so does it reflect less leading to a snowball of absorption of light energy (Erdős et al., 2013). At the peak, the laser power density either causes conduction or keyhole welding. Notably, laser welding works through two fundamental modes which are; keyhole welding and limited conduction welding. Apparently, the power density determines how the laser beam interacts with the solder material. Conduction limited welding occurs when a person is using less than 105W/cm2, and thus the radiation is only absorbed at the surface of the material and completely does not penetrate. As a result, there is a high width to depth ratio in limited conduction welding. Usually, the laser welding is accompanied by elevated levels of power in the keyhole mechanism (Amada Miyachi, 2017). A person targets a small spot with a laser beam that produces a power density greater 106-107W/cm2, thus making the surface to evaporate even before the heat is removed by conduction. As a result, the laser beam can penetrate the workpiece and form a cavity which is later referred to as a keyhole. The keyhole, in turn, is filled with metal vapor or plasma. Consequently, the plasma is what prevents the molten keyhole walls from collapsing. Also, the laser beam and the workpiece are drastically improved by the keyhole. One achieves deep penetrating if they allow the traversing of the keyhole on the joint made since its results in a high width to depth. In the process the surface tension and vapor pressure, the molten material is allowed to flow through the edge of the keyhole created by the beam to the back, thus, solidifying to make the weld. Interestingly, only a top bead with a chevron pattern that is left showing the start of the weld (Erdős et al., 2013). Schematic Diagram Figure 1. Welding Schematic Diagram Source, Laser Welding Diagram, 2017. Figure 2. Welding Schematic Diagram Source, Laser Welding Diagram, 2017. Name of Equipment Used/Function The material used is gas and solid lasers. The gas lasers are a mixture of gasses such as nitrogen and helium, although there are also carbon monoxide and dioxide. The gas lasers use the lowest current through high-voltage so that they can excite the mixture of gasses in the lasing medium. These gasses operate in either a pulsed or a continuous mode. Apparently, carbon dioxide lasers are usually a mixture of pure carbon dioxide with nitrogen and helium using the lasing medium; the carbon dioxide lasers are also applicable in the dual beam laser welding when the beam is divided into equal power beams. On the other hand, the solid state lasers (Nd: YAG type and ruby lasers only work on one-micrometer wavelengths. The lasers have the capability of being operated and pulsed continuously (Erdős et al., 2013). Notably, the lasers can form spot welds of similar joints with complete penetration. The solid lasers use one to hundred Joules in pulse rate of one to ten milliseconds. The diode lasers are well-established and are used for plastic welding applications. Mostly, the diode lasers are used in the automotive industry for rear light housing. Additionally, with the growth in the plastic industry to be able to develop transparent plastics, the diode lasers are more famous. Notably, the diode lasers are now available at multikilowatt levels for metal welding. Finally, there are also fiber lasers that offer enable high flexibility in the designing of welding dimensions. So far the best penetration is watt performance that allows high-speed seam welding. For instance, a 300W fiber laser is capable of welding seam weld of 0.01 inch thick per second. Usages and Applications According to Amada Miyachi (2017), laser welding is applicable in some ways; Jewelry welding and other high-value items: due to the ability to control heat and avoid negligible outcomes of use of heat; laser welding is best welding technique for the expensive items. The materials that use laser welding and the producers are guaranteed of safety since they can control the heat and therefore avoid unnecessary destruction. Limited access; the laser beam enables its user to do welding in places that the other welding techniques cannot access. For instance, in enclosed machines, the laser beam can be used since it requires minimal space to penetrate. Solenoids and machined items: mechanisms such as solenoids are involved and at the same time sensitive to any distortion. As a result, since laser welding can produce less heat it is used to join machined components that need no or less distortion. Medical devices: the medical equipment is very sensitive and thus requires non-contact welding; no welding splatters so that it can be easier to maintain hygiene in the medical facilities. Laser welding is the best choice because it is possible to weld without the spatter and absolutely no contact. Precision parts: laser welding is the best technique for welding all the delicate and beautiful metal components so as to generate less internal stresses since they can generate less heat input. Advantages and Disadvantages The laser welding has the following benefits. First of all, the lasers produce minimal heat that is precisely focused on a surface, thus leading to small welds. As a result, laser welding can be used in joining thin products such as electronics and glass. Additionally, laser welding is very fast and thus most applicable in making arcs for gaseous metals and submerged ones. Also, when using laser technology a person can access the location since they are not debris produced during the process. On the other hand, laser welding can replace the spot welding that accesses from one side only. The laser can weld on thin areas, making it possible to do one side welding. Additionally, laser works on deformation or shrinking objects. Lasers penetrate tightly closed laser beams for micro-welding of small components (Erdős et al., 2013). Finally, laser welding works on most of the metals successfully and generates low volumes of scrap. If the person using it requires less waste, then it is possible. The laser welding has several disadvantages; the first disadvantage is the fact that laser equipment is very expensive. Amada Miyachi (2017) noted that the filler material is also relatively costly and must be used in most of the welding process. When welding, the weld position is very accurate and is controlled by ensuring the laser beam is focused. Failure to that, the work be done will not be effective. Sometimes the weld requires that the welding is fixed by the fixture and thus requires the welder to accurately point the appropriate position. The plasma controller must be used to get rid of the ionized gas surrounding so as to fulfill the laser beam welding in the middle and high energy. While using the laser power, there is low energy conversion efficiency which is usually even below 10%. Also, there are rapid cooling escapades while cracking some metals. Finally, to maintain a laser welding is very costly, therefore, the inability of many people to afford. Figure 3. Laser System (Source, Laser Welding Diagram, 2017). References Erdős, G., Kemény, Z., Kovács, A., & Váncza, J. (2013). Planning of remote laser welding processes. Procedia CIRP, 7, 222-227. Laser Welding Diagram. (2017). Wiring diagram. Retrieved 21 April 2017, from http://pneuhiver.info/laser-welding-diagram/ Laser Welding Fundamentals. (2017). Amada Miyachi. Retrieved 22 April 2017, from http://www.amadamiyachi.com/servlet/servlet.FileDownload?retURL=%2Fapex%2Feducationalresources_articles&file=01580000001Jz8A Read More